Day after surgery - chest pain when drinking anything

[ozgirl14 6]

Hi! I had my surgery yesterday and I'm still at the hospital where I've been cleared to have Clear Liquids. I've only tried Water so far but even when I take a super small sip it hurts my chest as it's going down. Did anyone else have this? If so, how long before it went away?

[tracywag 27]

I had the same thing. I was getting air in with every sip and it killed. As the swelling went down and I learned to sip without swallowing air, it got better quickly. Less than a week, with big improvements every day.

[ozgirl14 6]

I'll try sipping more carefully to make sure I'm not getting air in...thanks for the tip! The chest pain has been the hardest thing - my stomach hasn't hurt at all!

[GirlOnFire 111]

The more you walk and sit up the better that will get. During surgery they pump air inside you to see things clearly. The gas pain was the worst part for me too... Have to walk.

[mclorrie 219]

My nurses told me it was due to the swelling, I had hiatal hernia repaired too. I think air had a lot to do with it too, because they had me drinking with a straw. Once I ditched the straw it was better.