shortness of breath

[reginemichel 1]

I got banded on 3-26-10 and surgery went very well. I have a lot of pressure in my epigastric area, which is expected. My only problem is that I'm having a little difficulty breathing. I feel like I have shortness of breath. When I'm trying to talk for a while I'm gapsing for air.:smilielol5: I've also notice that when I'm breath in deeply, it's really not that deep. So has anyone gone through this? If so how long did it last?

[Megg40 0]

Hi...I had surgery on the 24th and I know what you mean. Mine has gotten better. I feel like I am breathing better and deeper. The only time it still bothers me is when I first stand up. I guess when I stand up, everything has got to kinda re adjust and then it passes.

Keep up the good work....

Take Care,

Meg

[tjgibson1968 1]

That was a question i had to my surgery was the March 26th and i am short of breath to, when I talk and its really bad if i try talking and walking at the same time. I to hope this passes fast.

Tammy

[riggs99 0]

Hi,

I had my surgery 27 january in the UK and they told us that the surgery pushes the lungs out of their normal position,

so post surgery you have to do all these breathing exercises on a small plastic contraption to get them back to normal

maybe this might be related ?

rgds

[BetsyB 9]

Surgery/general anesthesia carries with it the risk of atelectasis--collapse of the little air sacs in the lungs. This sounds scarier than it needs to sound---most of us experience this, to a minimal extent, without lasting effects.

But that's why they give you an incentive spirometer (the breathing device), encourage you to cough and deep breathe, and get up to walk as much as possible. All of these actions work to keep the tiny air sacs inflated, promoting good oxygenation.

Pain compounds the problem, because we tend to breathe more shallowly when we have abdominal pain. Deep breathing can up our pain---so we unconsciously avoid it. Pain meds to control the pain are very helpful for this---but also can contribute, because they can depress respiration.

There are lots of things conspiring to make you feel the way you're feeling!

The key to good postop respiratory health, though, is deep breathing. If it hurts, splint your incisions by pressing a pillow against your abdomen. But make a point, every 20 minutes or so, to take a series of deep, deep breaths, expelling the air forcefully. You may cough--this is actually helpful.

Did you receive a spirometer? If you brought it home with you, it would be a good idea to use it, as well.

And moving around as much as you can is important, too.

If this sensation persists, I would place a call to the doctor. Chances are s/he'll reassure you---particularly if you're able to report that you're doing all of the above (and have hopefully noted some improvement). But it's important to keep on top of it, so that you avoid some of the nastier postop respiratory complications.

I hope you're feeling better very, very soon. I know I was---but I also know that it's scary when it's going on if you don't quite know what's happening to your body.

[reginemichel 1]

Thank you everyone for giving me an updated on my breathing issue. I'm really afraid of having any breathing complications because it runs in my family. So nice to know this will go away.