Cotton sternum ties....has anyone else had them?

[Rbemail]

I had a very bad reaction to the sternum wires after my second heart surgery, so they used cotton sternum ties this time. I loved them post op because they seemed to hold the sternum together better than the wires. (I didn't feel the bones move this time) However, 9 weeks post op, I can feel the knots from the ties when I lay on my stomach. Has anyone else had the same issue with cotton ties?

 

[Rbemail]

Just an update - I am meeting with the surgeon next week to get the ties removed. They are starting to push through my chest, like the wire ones did, and causing a great deal of pain.