Question:
Sick to my stomach wehn breathing deeply

Hello! Pre-Op here. I am trying to practice beathing deeply before my possible Decemeber surgery and am experiencing a weird sensation. A bit of a background: I was a smoker off and on for the past 10 years. I was diagnosed with asthma in November 2001 and put on Albuterol. I quit smoking then but started smoking again in January. I quit again about 9 weeks ago. (YAY!) I am trying to take really deep breaths but when I do I get this weird sensation in my belly and my back...it is so hard to describe. The only way I can describe it is that I fell "ansy, queasy, and grossed out." Have any of you felt something similar? Thanks!!!    — Brenda L. (posted on September 19, 2002)

September 18, 2002
Thank goodness I'm not losing my mind. I have had the same problem on and off for years. I was diagnosed with chronic asthma when I was 5 and was on medications for years and years. I finally learned to live with it and for a while I was a smoker (how stupid can one get, huh). I stopped smoking several years ago and for the first year or so I had the same sick feeling when I breathed deeply. I still get it every once in a while when I'm getting bronchitis or a bad cold. You might want to make sure your surgeon refers you to a pulmonologist just to make sure everything is OK. Good luck.
   — Vicki H.

September 18, 2002
Hi Brenda, I'm not sure why you are feeling this way but I wanted to congratulate you on quitting smoking! That's awesome :) Jan
   — Jan D.

September 19, 2002
Another way to strengthen the lungs is to buy balloons, this way you are forcing more air and thus strengthening your lungs far better than just deep breathing. Congrats on being smoke free, I quit about 2 1/2 years ago and that and WLS are the best decisions I've ever made (other than dear hubby and kids) Happy breathing!
   — Dana B.

September 19, 2002
If you are doing too many deep breaths in succession, you could be hyperventilating. It will make you queasy and dizzy to the point of blacking out. The balloon is a great idea. Getting an incentive spirometer is also helpful, but even too many times on that can make you dizzy. Congratulations on quitting smoking.
   — Sue A.