One of my patients elected to have a much-needed heart valve replacement within the past year. Fortunately, as weeks went by following the procedure she continued to improve. At a certain point, however, she realized that the sites where wires had been placed to close her chest were continuing to bother her. She could not lie on her chest, and they actually were visible under her skin. The skin was also reddened and sore to the touch. Her surgeon told her that it was typical procedure to leave the wires in, even though they were no longer necessary.
What to Do?
My patient realized that she was not only uncomfortable physically with the wires, but emotionally. They were not allowing her to “get on with her life,” and move on from the surgery. They also were visually unattractive and she felt she had to keep the site covered with scarves or clothing. The thought of going back into surgery was not attractive, but not doing so seemed worse.
Being Proactive
She went back into her surgeon and said that if it was possible she needed to have the wires taken out. Her surgeon agreed to go forward with the procedure of removal.
Success
My patient was able to have the wires successfully removed. She has them in a little box and is planning to have a special piece of jewelry made from them to bring blessing and closure to the whole experience.
Getting Your Needs Met Following Medical Procedures
If my patient had not had the courage to go forward and convince her surgeon that the wires needed to be removed she might still be suffering with their ill effect. It is hard to say what the long range impact would be on her physical and mental health.
Always be courageous and speak up for what you believe is best for you. Don’t be afraid to listen to your intuition if something does not seem right. Whether you are dealing with alternative or conventional medicine it is always appropriate to step forward for the healthiest outcome. After all, this is the only body you have!
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