How long after surgery were you using it? I made the STUPID mistake of not doing it for a few days after surgery and couldn't find out why I was in pain every time I breathed until doc told me. But three weeks out tomorrow and I'm still doing it. I feel like when I go to sleep, and wake up that all the progress I made the day before is gone. Anyone else still doing it weeks out?

I don't think I used mine for more than 2 weeks post op. Your morning symptoms may be something else. GERD maybe? I never had heartburn symptoms, but mine looked more like asthma\breathing difficulty (10 years pre-op) and was way worse at night. It got much worse before it got better post op even on Omeprazole. I raised the head of my bed with 6" lifts from a Bed and Bath store and it helped immensely the first month. After that, the problem got better on its own. Still take the Omeprazole but no more breathing problems!

I don't think I used mine for more than 2 weeks post op. Your morning symptoms may be something else. GERD maybe? I never had heartburn symptoms, but mine looked more like asthma\breathing difficulty (10 years pre-op) and was way worse at night. It got much worse before it got better post op even on Omeprazole. I raised the head of my bed with 6" lifts from a Bed and Bath store and it helped immensely the first month. After that, the problem got better on its own. Still take the Omeprazole but no more breathing problems! Ask your doc.

By now the effects of anesthesia should be out of your system. What problems are you having?

Its just the deep breathing that is tough. I didn't do it as much as I should have when they sent me home from the hospital with the breathing spirometer. And I couldn't get in deep breaths. I was as my surgeons office and told him and he said that I need to do that. So I started doing it and it has gotten way better....but not 100%.

Hospitals and doctors offices are great places to get sick, maybe you have picked something up? I used mine for 2-weeks and I am fine.

I used mine for a week.

Rocky - I was given one at my pre-op appointment.

@@boosh10 Do/did you have hiatal hernia, if so was it repaired?

Edited February 11, 201511 yr by peteyrulz

No, I didn't have one.

Incentive spirometers are great devices. While the anesthesia should be out of your system by now, continuing the use the incentive should not hurt you. Make sure you are doing it correctly: Sit up, make a seal with your mouth around the mouth piece and breathe in slowly, which raises the balls up- try to hold your breath to keep the balls up at least a few seconds and then exhale normally. Wait at least a few seconds between each breath. Repeat 10 times.

For any pre-oppers who may read this: be sure to get an incentive spirometer. The nurse should offer it, however, if she does not, ask for it. Every hospital has one. Bariatric patients are especially at risk for lung complications after surgery.

@@boosh10 Probably would be a good idea to call the doctor's office and let them know what is going on.