My surgery was Friday, the 27th of July and I just came home from the hospital tonight. I am having some pretty intense pain when trying to breathe deeply. Could this just be gas?

Did they send you home with a little breathing device? (can't remember the name of it), but you are supposed to slowly blow into it until you push a little floater to a target in the device.) I had the same problem you are experiencing on my second night in the hospital. The nurse had me get up and walk as much as I could and do my breathing exercises at least once an hour for 10 times. It helped a lot.

Yes, I have been breathing into the device (probably just not enough) and walking. It is comforting to hear that I'm not the only one that has had this problem. How long did it take yours to resolve?

I had it too. Especially trying to use that thingie. It was at least two weeks before I had clear deep breaths, i am 5 weeks out now.

It happened to me in the middle of the night (thought I was having a heart attack, just to add to the drama, lol!) Anyway, I made an effort to walk really frequently after that and do the breathing exercises hourly. After I walked and used the breathing device once, it the heaviness went away pretty quickly. I've heard the gas pain can hang around for a while though....the more you move, the quicker you move it out of you. When I got home, I would walk to the end of the street and back, walk to the mailbox, and other short stints on a pretty regular basis. The more I moved (without overdoing) the better I started to feel. I hope you feel better quick!

Did they send you home with a little breathing device? (can't remember the name of it)' date=' but you are supposed to slowly blow into it until you push a little floater to a target in the device.) I had the same problem you are experiencing on my second night in the hospital. The nurse had me get up and walk as much as I could and do my breathing exercises at least once an hour for 10 times. It helped a lot.[/quote']

It's called an incentive spirometer. Keeps us from getting pneumonia

Same problem here. I'm two weeks out today and can finally take a deep breath without discomfort. My doctor said the pain was from irritation to the diaphragm. I also had a lot of throat pain, which I'm guessing was from the tubes during surgery.