Question:
has anyone went through where they had a hard time catching there breath

I was doing great untill last night, I am having a hard time catching my breath. When I sleep on my side I wake up out of breath. I still have my staples in my insicion so I am kinda limited to how I can sleep. When I take a deep breath then I am dizzy. What is going on?    — renee J. (posted on June 26, 2001)

June 26, 2001
Please talk w/ your DR. one of the fears is fluid build up we can get in our lungs from being inactive for long periods and the fuild retention we have. Please follow up ok?
   — Dawn R.

June 26, 2001
You need to check with your doctor. I became out of breath a week after my surgery and had to return for another 3 day stay in the hospital. You cannot be to careful during this time of healing.
   — Penny Smith

June 26, 2001
Renee - Ditto the other posts. Two days post op, I felt like i was being suffocated - It was congestive heart failure....fluid in my lungs from all the fluids they pump into us during and after surgery. It can be remedied quickly, but never mess around with the shortness of breathe. Good Luck!!
   — [Anonymous]

June 26, 2001
By the third day after surgery, I was gasping for breath. They x-rayed my chest again, and started me on a water pill. That helped some. THey kept me two days longer. and sent me home on oxygen. I was freaked, I called the pulmonary specialist that did my sleep apnea test and he was concerned enough to order another chest x-ray and a lung scan. He was worried about a blood clot. My oxygen level was blow 85% when I would slowly walk. So he put me on this med. that I inhaled thru my mouth. and came back in a week. My oxygen level was up to 92% and at 6 weeks I'm breathing normal. PS My LAST cigarette was the morning of surgery. I had planned to quit anyways, BUT gasping for breath was REALLY SCARY. Great incentive!!! I have a new respect for those people that have to carry oxygen around with them all the time. Not an easy thing to do.
   — Sue H.