Scare Calcification??

Has anyone hear of this? I went to my surgeon to today find out the results of a CT that was done last week for a couple of small hernias along my incision, and the doctor acted like the hernias were no big deal but was concerned about the hardening of the scare just below my sternum. My PCP had noticed it and acted like it was no big deal, so I have not been too concerned. However, my surgeon used the word "mass" and then proceeded to try to reassure me that everything would be OK (when I really did not need reassurance). Which of course, made me wonder why he thought I needed reassurance . Anyway, I am getting scheduled for a bone scan, so hopefully I will find out more after that. I do not recall anyone discussing this type of complication on the board, and I was curious I any of you had heard of it. BTW, today is my anniversary. Not the best way to start it out, but the day is still young

Happy Anniversary Jim! Can't help you with this one sorry, but good luck! Hope it turns out to be nothing. Wendy

Thanks Wendy. I did a little web research, and it appears that very few people may have this. From what I can tell it is something called "Heterotopic Ossification of Abdominal Incision" (say that 5 times fast). It seems that this occurs very rarely, mostly in men (check), around the age of 40 (check), that have had abdominal surgery with a midline incision (check, check). Anyway, if this is a correct diagnosis, I am basically trying to grow a new rib along my incision just below my sternum. It is nothing serious, but more of a strange medical anomaly. So I guess now I can say that I have a spare rib...get it...Spare Rib...I kill me... I'll know more after I get the bone scan done, but it looks like it may just be something that can be taken care of when I have the hernia surgery.

Wow Jim...I've never heard of such a thing! Congratulations though on your year anniversary. Doesn't it feel amazing? ~Kerri

It does feel amazing! Yesterday afternoon I had a little reminder of how far I have come. I went to the store to pick up some bags of salt for my pool (uses salt to make chlorine) and I picked up 4 x 40 lb bags. Since I have lost over 200 lbs, I was curious what it would feel like to try to carry all 160 lbs at once. I could lift it, but it was exhausting to walk. I could only go 20 -30 feet before I had to stop and rest. Kind of make me wonder how I was even getting around a year ago...

Jim, You are too funny, I always enjoy reading your posts. Good luck on the extra rib thing. Hopefully it will not cause you any problems. Happy one year anniversary. I just celebrated mine and I am soooo happy, I cant believe what a difference a year makes. Good luck on the bone scan. I am jealous of your hernia surgery. I was kinda hoping I would have a hernia so that I could get a tt without the insurance hassle. Lynn

Funny you should mention the TT. My good friend (and co-worker) who is over 2 years post-op (and would also like to have a TT) told me that I was "luckly" to have a hernia. So basically, it is easier to deal with a hole in your abdominal wall than it is to deal with the insurance company?? Sad but true...

I just got back from the bone scan and it does appear that I have a bone where I'm not supposed to (that did not sound right ). Anyway, It was kind of funny trying to explain to the technician why I was there. He did not understand why the doctor wanted to do a bone scan of my abdomen. I explained to him what I had found on the internet and he had never heard of anything like this before. After the bone in question showed up on his scan, he told me that he had been doing this for 11 years and this was the first time he had seen anything like this. I'm not sure how I feel about that, but at least now I know what I am dealing with for sure. I will see the surgeon on Thursday to discuss what he wants to do next.