Short of breath, any thoughts?

I'm about seven months out and for the past three to four weeks have noticed that I don't have the air to laugh or cough right.  I have a rather large hernia just above my umbilicus.  I've noticed that I feel short of breath more after I eat, even a small amount.  Isn't really painful, my chest just feels "full".  I was talking to my niece who is an RN about what is going on and while talking to her I put my arm over my head to scratch my back and realized that I could get a full breath.  What could be putting pressure on my diaphram?  My hernia is hard and painful at times, and I know it will need to be repaired, but am hoping to put it off until my weight stabilizes and I can also get some plastics done on my flab.  And can't think why the hernia would have anything to do with my breathing.  Any suggestion.  I don't see my bariatric surgeon until July.  Thanks for any help or suggestion. Nancy J.

Perhaps it is the hernia putting pressure on your diaphragm, but I think you should have it checked out by a doc.  It could be a sign of something more serious....lung mass, blood clot in the lung, are things that come to my mind.  I am an RN, and that is my thought, what did your niece say?

Hi, I have been having the same problem since last october. I have had lung scans and pressure test on my lungs and they said it is not my lungs. I know it is not my heart because I had a stress test and they looked at my valves . My chest always feels tight and it gets worse when I eat anything.  I am calling my doc this week for another appt. I went to him months ago but he had me drink the white stuff and he said everything was fine and it was something else. But after tons of blood test test and xrays and  we know it is not the lungs or heart. I know that it does get worse when I eat. If I push down on something with my arms - it takes the weight off my chest for a minute - then I can take a deep breath. And now my band feels like it has gotten tighter on it's own. Too tight . You are the first person tht I know of who is having the same breathing problem as me. I have had 3 doctors tell me it's just anxiety and to take some pills for it. I didn't because I know that's not the problem. Please keep in touch and tell me what you find out.  I can't believe I have found someone else going thru the samething as me and that I'm not alone anymore. Take care - Shea

Shea:  I'm an RN and I'm smart enough just to get myself in trouble.  So here is my dx for myself, and it is making my DH nuts.  I have a huge hernia and I think that when I eat it pushes on my diaphram.  Today we were moving furniture, and I smashed my finger good and I hardly had any breath to cry.  A couple of times today, I've tried to laugh at something idiot DH was doing and my laugh was like a low whisper.  I can run up and down the stairs no problem, bend over - no problem.  And I'm like you I think it is more after I eat.  Sometimes I have had to loosen this danged hernia belt because it rides really high because that is where my hernia is and puts pressure right under my boobs.  Well, that is Dr. Nancy's guess. I really need to let my surgeon know what is going on, but since I don't seem to be in any immediate danger!  What the heck!  Is annoying as heck though!!!  The other thing is some times I bend over and get lighted headed and breathless.  I too think that is because I haven't had enough to eat and drink!  I've had a stress test and lung are great, so what is it? Your guess is as good as mine.  Am I anxious, heck no!  Having the time of my life.  I'm sorry your are in this fix also.  Hoping we will both just out grow the darn stuff.  I'd better hurry because I'm going to be 57 in a few.  Hope things will be better soon. Nancy J. 

Did you ever find out what is causing your breathing problems, as I am also having the same problems, but my are shortness of breath, sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and I cant breath, I have an appointment to go to a lung Dr. before i had the surgery I was able to work out 4-5 times per week and also roller blade 5 t0 10 miles per session and now at this time I dont have the breath to even roller blade. I try to go for a 2 hr bike ride however I have to push myself to do this as Im out of breath.

You scare the heck out of me.  Please let me know what you find out at the lung doctors.  Don't let them try and talk to you like it is "mental, anxiety, imaginary, etc.  They did this to me on two occasions and both times I ended up having surgery!!!! How old are you and do you have any other diagnosis that might be causing the SOB? I really think mine is related to how I'm walking bent over and this huge hernia.  I was scheduled to have it repaired and a lumpectomy on right boob, but my mom just came up with a dx of leukemia and I'm putting off the hernia indefinitely and the lumpectomy until end of July.  The breathlessness comes at the weirdest times and it takes me a while to get my air back.  By then, I'm a little nervous and tend to try and take deep breaths and more rapidly and it makes it even worse.  My hernia sticks out really far and if I walk straight up it seems to hurt me more, so I'm walking bent.  Well, that is what my DH says anyway.  My mother was put in for emergency surgery on Monday for a trach and I was just trying to eat, my stomach knotted up and seemed like I couldn't get a full breath.  I swear for the first time in my life that I had a big fat anxiety attack.  Then my fingers and feet were tingling, like I wasn't getting enough oxygen to them.  Took quite a while to get myself settled down and a normal breath. Please let me know what you find out.  I'm sorry you are have trouble breathing, scares the heck out of you doesn't it?!   I'll keep you in my prayers. Nancy J.