Sternum Pain 15 weeks post valve surgery

I am 54, healthy and fit, non smoker all my life and non drinker, got a mytril valve problem from Gladular feaver and Ross river feaver in 1995, was ok until I got the flu in March 2010, it was all down dill from there. I had the op 15 weeks ago. Post op I had a funny rogue stitch in chest wound at the top, I asked for it to be removed at day 4 before discharge, I was told it will disolve and fall out, at 2 weeks it was still there and sore so I asked the GP to remove it, he said it looked infected, possably that it wicked sweat and water in and under the wound, on week 3, I was back in Hospital on a drip for 6 days and on oral antibiotics at home, at week 9, I had a large amount of swelling like a ball, at the top of the sternum and in both sides of my neck and it was very red, back in Hospital for 8 days on a drip and then back at home on a drip for 6 weeks, managed by Hospital in the home. currently at 15 weeks and both sides of my neck are still red and up, but about 20% of what it was. Problem is now my chest has been very sore for about 4 days, like it was at week 2. It happens on each breath in and it feels like it is the sternum bone that is sore and not muscle. I see the surgeon next week, but I think I should try to see him earlier as the pain is making me feel a bit sick.


This discussion is related to healing of sternum after bypass surgery.