Consultant gives me a call

As I did have my consultant's secretary's number, I did leave a message yesterday and this morning I got a phone call from my consultant himself! 

I explained what had happened abd said that the battery area was tender yet the implant all still works properly, and he said he wasn't too worried about it and that it would be fine for him to check things over on our follow up appointment on 4th March. I asked if I shouldn't have been stretching at the gym, and he said I should be able to do that and not to worry about doing those things in the future. 

He asked how the implant was working and I said that for everyday it works really well and that I don't feel the pain but when it is really bad pain I haven't found a program to help as this doesn't happen often enough to try lots of programs. 

He suggested that he will contact the rep to reprogram on the date I have the follow up appointment. 

So overall, my worries are relieved and again he is very easy going about what I can do, which is perhaps why I didn't really get any advise at the hospital.  

Oh no!!! The lead has pulled off my ribs!!

Uh oh!!

I think the lead has pulled off my ribs area as now you can see a bump when I move in certain ways and can feel the wire and even move it!

The only thing I can think is that I recently returned to the gym to begin a rehabilitation back to exercise again. I was just using the stepper and walking on an incline but my personal trainer got me doing some work on the step and with 2kg weights (which is nothing compared to the 5kg I was using before the operation). 

I didn't notice that day or even for 2 days later, but I was in a lot of muscle pain around the back of the ribs, which was just from the exercise itself.

Not sure what to do about it! Surely it will secure itself back down again with new scarring?? 

I have got an unrelated doctors appointment on Tuesday so maybe I will ask about it then. 

UPDATE: Tuesday 17th February 2015

Well that was a waste of time!!!!

I explained the problem and she asked to see. I lifted up my top and showed her, I even put my finger where to wires sticking out were but she said she didn't know what she away supposed to be feeling as she doesn't know what the wires feel like. I asked her to touch gently, but press down, as then you squash the wires and won't feel them, but she didn't do that. 

She then quizzed me about what I'd had done but didn't really ask why or how it was, or even check my scars at all! 

She then palmed it off on me calling my consultant's secretary and printed off letters which I have a copy of, with out of date phone numbers due to the hospital changing sites last year. 

So I am none the wiser about what is recommended or advise for the future. Great!!!!! 

Chest scar

As you can see, one half of my scar is flat and really neat but the other half is raised and overgrown from the original incision size. I discussed this with my GP over the phone and he wants me to see a nurse tomorrow about it. 

I will update once I have been to the appointment.

Update: 13th February 2015

It was an interesting visit to see the nurse the other day. She was so bemused by the scar that she got another nurse in to look at it too. They couldn't work out why half is completely perfect and the other half raised, especially as it is completely healed at this stage. 

She agreed that it is keloid like (but can't diagnose as a nurse) and really understood just how sensitive it is! 

After a bit of googling to find out its name, she prescribed my Haelan tape. It is a thin tale, much like sellotape, but is impregnated with a steroid. She felt this might not only protect from clothes running it but also press the scar down whilst hoping to improve it with the steroid.

I've now tried it for 4 days, just during the day, and it does seem to lighten my skin temporarily which of course make its all look better. By morning the colour has returned to normal but I think the scar is slightly flatter than it was. 

I have had some redness from wearing the tape but it isn't a rash so I am continuing to use it daily.

We shall just see what happens now.