One week post op, is this normal?

[buckeyegirl76 8]

For the past few days I have had pain in my sternum area, I feels like I needs to belch but I rarely do. The pain radiates around to my back. I never had heartburn or GERD prior to the surgery so I'm not sure if this is what I'm feeling. I also have a sharp pain on my left side when I take a deep breath in. I'm taking my PPI daily, meeting my fluid goals but not my protien. I've been walking, slowly, for 30-40 minutes per day. Two questions; has anyone else had this feeling? Could it still be gas pain? My surgery was last Tuesday.

Thanks in advance.

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[Middus 491]

For the past few days I have had pain in my sternum area, I feels like I needs to belch but I rarely do. The pain radiates around to my back. I never had heartburn or GERD prior to the surgery so I'm not sure if this is what I'm feeling. I also have a sharp pain on my left side when I take a deep breath in. I'm taking my PPI daily, meeting my Fluid goals but not my protien. I've been walking, slowly, for 30-40 minutes per day. Two questions; has anyone else had this feeling? Could it still be gas pain? My surgery was last Tuesday.

Thanks in advance.

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Call your doc. From what you explained, it sounds like GERD, but pain in left chest/shoulder indicates a possible leak.

I don't think you have a leak though.

[DisneyMom2El 120]

Could it possibly be gas? I'm four weeks post op and had something very similar the other day. I was worried about it being a leak too after searching for similar symptoms on this board. Mine did go away, and I did notice one time it went away right after burping. My other thoughts for you, since you said radiating, is possible your gall bladder - though that is rather quick after surgery unless it was already in bad shape. I had my gall bladder taken out more than a decade ago and the pain definitely radiated around and felt like squeezing, though it was in my upper stomach, not sternum.

Another suggestion, it could be esophageal spasms. I just thought of this and I did have them for about two weeks after surgery, starting in the hospital. It does feel painful and a bit like trapped gas. My surgeon gave me meds to relax the esophagus, and they helped tremendously. That would actually be my first guess for you so close after surgery. This is especially true if you had a hiatal hernia repaired as well (though it could still happen without).

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[buckeyegirl76 8]

Thanks to those who replied to my post. It turns out I was just cutting out my pain killers too soon. Got the pain under control last night and felt so much better. Today has been my best day yet since surgery, I'm on track to meet my Fluid, Protein and Vitamin goals!


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