Question:
I'm 6 days post op and just recently it started to hurt when I breathe in very deep.

Does anyone know why that is, did i tear something in there or anything? Other than that i feel fine.    — alicialeew (posted on October 14, 2001)

October 14, 2001
Hello, You didn't say where you are hurting? I went through the surgery and was hurting in my left back area above my kidney's. It got alot worse. Taken deep breaths and sneezing. I thought I was going to die. I ended up going to my local doctor and it was pneumonia. I was put on antibotics and using the breathing matching like the ones in the hospital, The ones you use to prevent pneumonia. Which I did use. I had it for a total of four weeks. Hope this helps. If your pain is either left or right rear, near your lungs, then you could have it too. No matter where it is hurting you need to see you doctor. Let me know how things are going. Hope you get better real soon!! Wanda
   — Wanda B.

October 14, 2001
That happened to me also. It is because "we" did not exercise properly in the hospital with the breathing machine. Just keep taking deep breaths and it will go away. I saw my surgeon because of it and that's what he told me.
   — Pat B.

October 14, 2001
By all means, go see a doc to make sure it's nothing serious....but bear in mind that when we have this surgery they seriously retract the costal ribs to get to the stomach. So much so that our diaphrams lay flat!! These hurt days and even weeks after and for good reason. But, go make sure all is well first....at 3 weeks post I developed Costochondritis (infamation of the ribs) and it was the most searing tearing pain I'd ever had. A week or so of Vioxx did the trick.
   — Jo (Part 2) C.

October 14, 2001
I had the same exact thing. It hurt on my left side when I took a deep breath (or moved a certain way). I constantly walked around with my hand on my side because it got worse and worse. I went to the doc after day 3 and he did a full cat scan, dye test, etc. Turned out to be nothing more than trapped air (from moving everything around in there). It went away a couple days later. I agree with the other posters, though, call your doc. Better to be safe than sorry! Jen
   — Jen S.

March 6, 2002
I had the same problems after my surgery, but I had a cold and was hard to breath. Contact your doctor and let him know the problems you're having.
   — dolphins94

July 2, 2003
Call your doctor immediately - don't mess with anything that could be related to lung issues, blood clots, pneumonia or other infections. Have yourself checked out professionally - if it's nothing then ok - at least you checked. Better to be safe than sorry.
   — Deborah F.

July 2, 2003
I am just over 2 weeks post-op and I suffered from the same thing! I asked my surgeon and my pcp and both said it was trapped air. Be patient....it will get better!!
   — Terri G.

July 2, 2003
I also experienced severe pain when breathing after early post op. Mine was also on the left side and increased in severity. It was really bad and I got worried enough to call my surgeon. I had an appointment 2 days later and he told to try to hold out for that and it was better by the time I went in. It lasted almost a week from start to finish.
   — Noreen M.