shortness of breath

pretty plum · August 1, 2006

Morning all,

Im new to this forum and am so grateful to have a forum specifically for the lapband. I had surgery on 7/25. But found myself int he ER on 7.28 due to shortness of breath, tightness in the chest and tingling in my legs. They ruled out a blood clot. Thankfully and told me I had excessive gas (which I knew) and low potassium. Yet they couldnt answer the issue with the shortness of breath which I still have. I visite my surgeon yesterday and strangely enough he told me to go back to the ER if it continues. He suggested it could be anxiety of some sort. But I want to know how many of you experienced this at all ? Im starting to wonder a bit or otherwise I feel great. Just a little port site...but that's coming along day by day. Please :help:

Plum

leatha_g · August 1, 2006

You're not far out of surgery. Are you using the Spirometer that they give you to breathe into after surgery? It's a small, plastic apparatus that helps to strengthen your lungs and clear them out after anesthesia. Did you have an issue with shortness of breathe before surgery? Are you walking? I'm certainly glad they ruled out any blood clots. I hope that included a lung scan, since that's the only way they could tell anything might have moved to the lung. Did they do chest xrays to rule out pneumonia?

I hope you're feeling better!

pretty plum · August 2, 2006

Thanks so much for your replies. I wasnt given a lung scan. But I was given a chest x-ray and a CT scan. There may be some truth to this being psycho-emotional as well. I think Im afraid to deep breath because of the pain. I have been using my spirometer. I cant get it to go very high...but my PCP told me today to use it as often as possible. Im gonna do that from here on out. Great advice !

VelvetKiss · August 2, 2006

I was banded the same day as you were and I had shortness of breath coming right out of the OR and for a few days afterward. I found out it was excess gas in my lungs from the anesthia (sp?) and some anxiety as well. Using the spirometer helped releave it some for me. Good Luck and I hope you feel better soon!

NurseTeresa · August 2, 2006

I have not been banded but have been taking care of bariatric patients and this seems to be very normal specially if they aren't breathing deeply and have some excess gas built up. Continue to use your incentive spirometer. Walking or changing positions sometimes helps as well. Glad you went to the ED to have everything else checked out. Keep up the good work. It does get better with time.

shop-alot-kid · August 3, 2006

Hi if it helps I too am experiencing what you are, I was banded ont eh 29th July and am only a few days post op. I have a feeling of pinching/stitch mainly on my left side that tends to get worse from time to time, its as if when you breath in you are really short of breath, I understand this is from gas, ive not really had any burps yet (also had Gastric Reflux Op at the same time) and have only passed a little wind (usually this is all day everyday!) I am helping this by doing gentle stretches and trying to do plenty of walking, im hoping this will shift the gas, either that or when I was under the knife they whipped one of my lungs out! Opps shouldn't joke! I hope you feel better.:eek: