i am 3 days post op and should probably feel better than i do. i am doing well except for being unable to take a deep breath (still). yawning is too painful and i can never finish a good yawn. when i try to take a deep breath, i feel like someone is squeezing me all around my abdomen and forcing that air right back out again before it has a chance to get all the way in.

another poster told me that they suture the port to your ab muscle. is this common? could this be why i feel a painful tightening in my abdomen when i breathe deeply? my surgeon said that as long as the pain and tightness isn't in my chest..it is just a matter of a few more days healing. but i find it very uncomfortable.

any thoughts?

I had the same feeling. A couple of things helped me to catch my breath: 1. I would stand up and bend slightly at the waist and hold on to the counter. I could then get a complete yawn or a full breath. 2. I would sit in the recliner and just slightly recline back with my legs out. Again, I could breathe that way.

After about a week, I was able to catch breaths on my own. I figured it was a little trapped gas along with the swelling that contributed to the tightness. Gas X seemed to help me breathe a little easier too.

I hope you feel better soon! If it doesn't get better in a couple of days, you might try the doc again.

thanks Rutglius, i haven't tried the gasx yet, but think i will:)

My port is sutured to my abdomen. I had a port revision a week and a half ago because my original surgeon did not "install it properly." I guess they are suppose to put a little mesh behind it and a slid it againist the ab walls or suture it to the muscles and my original surgeon did neither. I went to get my first fill and it had turned upside down.

Now all is good. I didn't have any trouble breathing though. Most of that is probably from gas. Get the Gas X. I didn't use it, but I heard it works great.

My port is sutured to my abdomen. I had a port revision a week and a half ago because my original surgeon did not "install it properly." I guess they are suppose to put a little mesh behind it and a slid it againist the ab walls or suture it to the muscles and my original surgeon did neither. I went to get my first fill and it had turned upside down.

Now all is good. I didn't have any trouble breathing though. Most of that is probably from gas. Get the Gas X. I didn't use it, but I heard it works great.

Hi Savannahsmommie. Did your insurance cover the port revision or did you pay out of pocket?

I had the issue with deep breaths for the first few weeks after surgery. It eventually went away. :smile:

Hi Savannahsmommie. Did your insurance cover the port revision or did you pay out of pocket?

My insurance paid for it. Thank goodness. I know that some insurances do not. Tricare has been pretty darn great thus far.

katwmn63, did they give you a breathing machine at the hospital? I know it sounds crazy because you are in pain, but if you use the breating machine, it will help you.

Do the Gas-X... I know exactly what you're talking about, especially since I had the hiatial hernia fixed as well. I lived religiously on the gas-x for a good two weeks. Thank god I was able to get a case of it from costco. I still use it time to time when I'm not mindful of the hiccups (indication that you're full). It was also a better solution then the liquid vicadin that put me out for hours at a time and made me feel like I had a hangover when I did wake up.

And yes! Use the breathing thing they gave to you, it prevents constriction and promotes healthy healing from having a tube jammed down there during the surgery! :smile: