Breathing hurts

I am on my 4th post op day and I am having a hell of a time going to sleep because I am having a hard time breathing. I went to the doc yesterday and he gave me a device to exercise my lungs because I have more fluid than usual in there he said. Also, I´m from Florida where it is below sealevel and am now in Bogota, Colombia for the surgery and it is 2000 meters above sealevel. I´m trying to remain calm, but everytime I fall asleep I wake up with major breathing pains. Does anyone else have this? I am so tired since I can´t sleep and I try everything, sleeping sitting in the chair, 5 pillows, on my side with extra pillows, nothing works. I seem to get more anxious when I think about it which just makes it worse. I can´t have solids yet, but I wonder if an ambien would help. If you have any suggestions please share!!! SandraB

DON'T take any meds without your docs ok, first of all, and secondly have you tried a recliner?? Robin R

I went in for surgery a lil over a year ago to have some teeth pulled i was put under kinda thing and all i can say i had to literally look and see if my whole chest was bruised it felt like i was. I even asked the doc if he stradled my chest to yank out my teeth. :P~ I then had a thought that maybe that my heart stopped and they had to do chest compressions or something on it and thats why I am in such pain. I talked with an or nurse and she assured me that had that happened I would have known and she said in heavier paitients its quite common to have a sore chest for about a week afterwards. It helped me to get off the pain medications especially with codien in it. Keep doing the breathing excersises to strengthen your lungs and best of luck for a speedy recovery

Sandra, A few of the Alabama members posted these comments. I hope they help. RE: someone in need of answers Difficulty breathing and pain post-op when breathing???? DEMAND a Scan to determing that there she does not have pulmonary emboli or blood clots. Don't settle for anyting less! RE: someone in need of answers tug on the breathing machine as much as possible, Also ask for "breathing treatments" at the Hospital if possible. They help a lot. RE: someone in need of answers YIKESSS!!! Is all I can say. Sandra needs to make sure to walk to keep pneumonia from setting in...that is one thing I know for ALL post ops. I dunno what to tell her other than she needs to keep on top of her M.D. about her symptoms....especially if they get worse!!! Jackie RE: I agree with Carolyn. The first thing that came to my mind when I read a new post -op and breathing problems was blood clots. Make them check you.