I was banded on May 19th. I stayed overnight and went home not feeling horrible. I got home and slowly felt like I was going to die! I took my pain medication at 10pm. I couldnt sleep all night, could not sit still. By the morning, I was short of breath and felt tight in the middle of my chest and maxed out on the gas strips. When I took a breath in it hurt and felt like someone had there foot right in the middle of my chest. I called the doctor and he said to go to the er. I did and they did CT scan, chest xray, ekg, and workup and everything looked good except that they noticed I had a ruptured ovarian cyst. I stayed overnight and got out today. They gave me morphine in the er and it made me feel so much better. I stil get this chest pain when the pain medication wears off. I wondering if this might have something to do with the anesthesia portion of the surgery. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Sherry

I was banded on May 19th. I stayed overnight and went home not feeling horrible. I got home and slowly felt like I was going to die! I took my pain medication at 10pm. I couldnt sleep all night, could not sit still. By the morning, I was short of breath and felt tight in the middle of my chest and maxed out on the gas strips. When I took a breath in it hurt and felt like someone had there foot right in the middle of my chest. I called the doctor and he said to go to the er. I did and they did CT scan, chest xray, ekg, and workup and everything looked good except that they noticed I had a ruptured ovarian cyst. I stayed overnight and got out today. They gave me morphine in the er and it made me feel so much better. I stil get this chest pain when the pain medication wears off. I wondering if this might have something to do with the anesthesia portion of the surgery. Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Sherry

Hi Sherry,

First, I am sorry you have been feeling this way. I was banded on May 18th, and MAN, can we say pressure right at the bottom of rib cage in the middle? Here is what I think it could be, and please don't consider this a medical advice (this was my own experience):

1. Air trapped in my system, and it also ended up radiating all the way up to my left shoulder - it did create a significant amount of pressure in my chest.

2. When I take deep breaths, I utter little noises because it creates pressure and it causes some discomfort still.

My surgeon gave me pain medication to deal with the overall pain from the surgery in general - they are not the regular kinds that you hear about, so they came in very small sizes so I don't have to crush them. I would take my pain medication, stay in bed with my upper area and head raised. Also, my anesthesia knocked me on my butt big time. I have been under before, and I do not recall taking so long to get back on my feet as I have this time.

Please also keep in my mind that it could simply be radiating pain from elsewhere that has to do with overall air in your system from the surgery and you are still swollen internally.

Let us know how you are doing!

** I went home 6 hours after the surgery - I got up and walked/used the restroom/could keep ice down/was able to swallow pain medication. I just wanted to get home and get away from all the noise in the hospital, and be close to my family.

Did they have you use the little breath measuring device? I was given one and told to use it every two hours and it really helped alleviate the tight feeling in my chest. But essentially all it does is give you a goal air capacity when you inhale. Slow deep breaths should help just a little at first and then try a little deeper until you work it out.thats my advice..

I am glad you went to the ER because what you mentioned are classical symptoms of a heart attack (MI). Now that they have discarded that, what you may have experienced is pain from the 'chest' (endotracheal) tube that is inserted during anesthesia. If that is the case, this pain will subside if you give it a little time. If this pain persists, and/or it gets worse, go to the ER again, or at least notify your surgeon.

I hope you get better...

I was banded on the 20th and have been having the same chest pain/pressure, especially when I lay down. The only cause I could think of was the gas just being stuck in my chest. I'm having trouble getting it all out. Walking does help, and it has been feeling a little better every day. I slept in a recliner for the first two nights after surgery and I didn't have much trouble with the pressure then. I think when I lay down flat, the gas just rises right up to my throat. How are you feeling otherwise? My stomach still looks like a freakshow! lol

I was banded on the 20th and have been having the same chest pain/pressure, especially when I lay down. The only cause I could think of was the gas just being stuck in my chest. I'm having trouble getting it all out. Walking does help, and it has been feeling a little better every day. I slept in a recliner for the first two nights after surgery and I didn't have much trouble with the pressure then. I think when I lay down flat, the gas just rises right up to my throat. How are you feeling otherwise? My stomach still looks like a freakshow! lol

It is feeling much better today. Not gone entirely. If it gets bad I take the pain meds "oxycodone elixer", I just hate to take medication in general so I wait on it. I was thinking that it could be some trapped gas, but my belly seems so soft. I decided that whatever it is, I am just going to have to wait it out and let it resolve on its own.

Whats wrong with your belly? You said it looks like a "freak show"?

Sherry

I am glad you went to the ER because what you mentioned are classical symptoms of a heart attack (MI). Now that they have discarded that, what you may have experienced is pain from the 'chest' (endotracheal) tube that is inserted during anesthesia. If that is the case, this pain will subside if you give it a little time. If this pain persists, and/or it gets worse, go to the ER again, or at least notify your surgeon.

I hope you get better...

Thanks,

I am glad that they saw nothing to cause concern. I guess whatever it is I will have to wait it out, but either way it is improving.

Thanks!

Sherry

Did they have you use the little breath measuring device? I was given one and told to use it every two hours and it really helped alleviate the tight feeling in my chest. But essentially all it does is give you a goal air capacity when you inhale. Slow deep breaths should help just a little at first and then try a little deeper until you work it out.thats my advice..

Thanks Betty,

I have been very diligent about using the incentive spirometer from the begining, and as the pain decreased it allowed me to improve in my breathing.

So things are doing well in the lung department.

I have been improving, but its not entirely gone yet, but getting better each day!

Thanks for you reply!

Sherry