Question:
I woke up this morning with an intense pain that is under my right breast and goes

down to my waist area...and a little to the side. I am 17 days post-op. The pain is only when I breathe in deeply. At first I thought gas pains or maybe I pulled something sinc I returned t work 2 days ago and it has been a rough week so far. Any ideas? I took a percoset which helped a little but now the pain is back.....otherwise I feel great. Anyone experience anything like this before? I don't think it has anything to do with the pain but I got my girly thing yesterday and also have cramps...Ughh!!    — Bobbi R. (posted on May 17, 2001)

May 17, 2001
bobbi, do you still have your gall bladder? when I had a gall bladder attack, that is where I hurt. it could only be gas, but one key for me was after the attack subsided, my rib cage was sore. I couldn't figure out why. My sister who had had gall bladder surgery said that it is because of severe trapped gas. It causes your rib cage to expand. please don't take this as medical advise, but it might be something to look into. patti meadows
   — peppermintp

May 17, 2001
The medical sign they look for when they first think it may be your gall bladder is rebound tenderness. Push down on the area below your rib cage (apx where you feel the pain) If the pain is WORSE when you let off it, this is rebound tenderness and a very good sign that it may be your gallbladder.
   — paula B.

May 18, 2001
Bobbi, When I was 2 weeks post-op, I developed a pain under my rib cage on my left side (the side where my drainage tube was). I thought I had pulled a muscle from overexerting myself while exercising. The pain was really bad only if I breathed deeply. So, I began breathing in such a way as to not cause me much pain - short choppy breaths. Sure enough, within a week, I was back in the hospital with pneumonia. I don't know what is causing your pain, but if it is keeping you from breathing correctly (nice, deep breaths), you are running the risk of pneumonia. It turns out that the cause of my original pain was an abcess I developed around my drainage tube. Please get this pain diagnosed, as it can lead to further complications. Good luck !! Kevin
   — meilankev