Can't Take Deep Breaths yet 1 week Post Op

I am one week Post Op from having a gastric (lap) band surgery with 5 incissions-no hernia repair in Detroit Harper Hospital which is 120+ miles from me.  3 days ago under my left lower rib cage, I started having a lot of pain.  I thought it might be the gas they warned me about and did everything I could to get rid of gas so the pain doesn`t come from that.  It hurts on that area with no incission directly over it. I can`t catch my breath and even with a pillow to brace, coughing causes me to cry.  Feels like my ribs are broken.  No fever any more.  Just saw my regular primary care doctor and he said that I should expect pain with what I went through and gave me  a prescription for more pain pills.  He was pretty happy that I had lost 25 pounds in 1 month.  I was on the liquid diet for 4 weeks prior to surgery so that helped me loose a lot quickly.  I hardly want to eat anything and have trouble getting the protein in.   I hope the band hasn't slipped and the port isn't sticking me in the ribs.  Any thoughts?

I think you need to call your surgeon ASAP. Did you PCP do any tests for a blood clot? Not to alarm you, but that is a possibility.

Thank you for that information and it scared me.  No, my PC Doctor didn't even mention blood test.  I have been off two medicines that used to thin my blood two weeks before surgery and they told me not to go back on them for at least 5 more weeks.  They were giving me shots for blood thinner in the hospital and I asked if I should take some of it home, they said no and to make sure I walked around a lot.  If I call my surgeon he will make me come all the way to Detroit which is 120+ miles and I really don't want to have to do that.  It isn't getting any worse today and might be getting a little easier to breathe or I am getting used to the pain.  It's always worse in the evenings which makes me think it is muscular. 

Did your PCP do a chest xray to see if you have pneumonia or bronchitis?

I would call the surgeon. Perhaps he can work with your local hospital to get you there and get the testing done for a blood clot or a chest xray. I would rather be safe than sorry in this situation. *hugs*

Thank you so much for caring. *hugs* I promise that if I start running a fever or the pain gets worse again, that I will insist on a chest xray.  That is a good idea about having the xrays done here and the surgeon could get the report in Detroit.

I don't know if it's the same thing or not since I had LAP RNY, but I had similar pain on the left side, in the rib cage area.  It was a searing, burning pain.  This developed about a week after my surgery and caused me to go to the ER where I had my surgery, which was nearly 2 hours from my house.  They did a CAT scan to make sure I didn't have a hernia.  As it turned out, the pain I was experiencing was caused by deep muscle healing.  The area where I had the pain, was an area where they used the tools for LAP to spread muscle.  I was told it would hurt like that as it was healing from the inside out.  They gave me a shot of morphine and sent me home.  I felt better a few days later.  The pain returned a few days after that, but it was not NEARLY as severe and only lasted a day.  I've been fine since then!  I hope you figure out what is causing you this pain!  I would, at least, call your doctor if you are at all concerned.  Tina

I hope you are feeling better today!

I am feeling a little better today.  I can breathe deeper too.  The pain still is there though but not as severe so I am hoping whatever it is, it is now healing.  I finally remember the night after surgery that spot bothered me really bad and they did give me a shot of morphine for it.  The nurse demonstrated a jabbing motion they use to jam the tubes for the camera in and told me I will be sore around there.  Last night when I laid down on my back, I could breathe a little deeper and it is in the sitting position when it hurts the most.  So I still think it might be muscular and will keep a close eye on it.  I will continue to practice on my breathing machine they sent me home with to prevent pnuemonia.