Question:
Has anyone suffered from this complication post op?

I am 2 weeks post op and began having severe chest pain and pain under my left rib cage. I was also running a temp of 102. After much testing I was told I had fluid or effusions on my lungs and places of partial collapse from lack of oxygen. Any suggestions on ways to recover quickly from this complication?    — Mary D. (posted on May 11, 2004)

May 11, 2004
Mary, there isn't much of anything you can do about the effusions, but where you have atelectasis, (areas of collapse) there are a few things you can do. If they gave you an incentive spirometer (breathing machine)in the hospital, use that about every hour, and really, really suck in the air to fill your lungs. If not, cough and deep breathe every hour while you are awake. Or have someone get you some balloons and try to blow one up with one breath. (you can use the same one a few times). What happens is that the little air sacs in your lungs have filled with sticky mucous, and are stuck shut, like a balloon full of glue. What you have to do is suck in enough air to pop them back open, get the mucous moving out of your lungs, so that the oxygen exchange can take place in the little sacs. The temp means there is an infectious process going on that your body is trying to fight - the stagnant mucous is a good place for bacteria to grow and your body is trying to fight it off. It is going to hurt to cough and deep breathe, so get yourself a big, folded towel or small pillow, and hold it to your chest or abdomen (where ever it hurts!) and cough HARD!
   — koogy