Joshua's Photos

Catie B  I hope you get relief from the rib and back pain, Josh. It's good to hear things are normal otherwise, but I know you'd like to get out of pain. Hope it's soon!

Kate Watson  How are you feeling now? I had rib pain that brought me to the ER too- I went to physical therapy for that for a month, which really helped. It took a good 5-6 weeks for that to heal, and I still have some residual pain there. Hope it heals quickly for you! So many surprises this process brings..

Joshua Trimberger  Thanks guys. The anti-inflammatory pills they gave me thurs-sunday seemed to do the trick. I have had only fleeting rib and back pain since. I meet tuesday with my surgeon for my weekly wound check and we talked about the ER visit and he reviewed the blood and X-rays they took and he couldn't see any reason for the pain. He said he doesn't even think it was inflammation like the ER doc thought. In his best medical opinion it was just a really really really bad muscle spasm(s) that kept going into spasm over several days. So his advice was to go get a massage which is scheduled for tomorrow. He also wants me to drink a ton of protein drinks as he thinks that lack of protein is hindering my recovery. So I'm choking down a few different protein work out drinks until I can find one that doesn't taste awful. I have never been a fan of those drinks!

Amy Dorsey  Let me know how your massage goes this soon after surgery. I want to get one but I wasn't sure when I can. Forgot to ask my doc.

Darlene Smith  Does it need to be "fixed" or are you good? Personally I don't care what my incision looks like, but curious if that could split open.

Joshua Trimberger  They said I just have to pack it with gauze and cover it. Changing it twice a day and it still should "heal normal" but i would imagine the scare tissue would be wide where the hole is. Not ideal...but in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter as long as it heals.

Paul Wells  Should heal if it does not get infected. If an infection gets to your sternum. Bone infections can be tough to treat.

Joshua Trimberger  I believe mine was glued too. That dark spot towards the bottom is residual glue...but whatever they used didn't hold long enough or I twisted the wrong way or something. I didn't feel it open up or anything. I just went in 2 days earlier then my post surgery check up due to a small amount of blood and leakage. I didn't even know bone infections were a thing but I HAVE to avoid that!!! :( Im keeping it as clean as possible and they are re-checking it next week. Hopefully everything goes well...these set backs have to come to an end sometime!!!

David C  Yowch...man, I am sorry dude. That looks brutal to have to care for. Worth seeing if you can get a nurse to come by to help care for it/make sure it's ok?

Joshua Trimberger  They said it should be fine as long as i keep it clean and packed and switch out the packing 2x a day. If something happens I'll go to the ER or have the nurses at rehab check it out. I go back for the recheck on tuesday and I imagine they will have me come by again after that until its more "stable". I think the worst of it right now is its gross and unsettling to look at. It doesn't really hurt or anything which is great!

Steven A Husted  yes i would keep checking with the doctors and nurse's to make sure it is not infected i know we all heal different some of us heal slow and some heal fast i am lucky i heal fast mine was gluded also but the last section to heal on mine was that same spot so keep having it looked at by a doctor until it is healed up and not open best wishes and prayers heart brother