cant take deep breaths

Hi everyone! I am new here and am scheduled for a TAH on June 3rd. I am ready. I have lived in pain for 2 years. I have a uterus that is about 16 weeks with mulitiple fibroids. I am now feeling as though I can't get enough air in while I am sitting down. I don't feel as though I can take deep breaths. I have been checked out and nothing was wrong. I was wondering if anyone else felt this prior to surgery. I am a little worried since my surgery is less than 2 weeks away.

Thanks,
Leigh

I am also having surgery on June 3 (day after my birthday) and have been short of breath. I think for me it is because I think about what is going to happen (surgery) and I become a little or alot afraid. I work where I will be having my surgery. I have other concerns. I feel like they have not made any final decisions about other possible surgeries I will be having. I am going to see physician for preop appt. I have written down all my questions, but I still get short of breath. Any advice on bladder sling??

Hi Leigh,

I know that anxiety can make me very emotional, tense and short of breath. But, even though you've been checked out , I think that if it changes or gets more pronounced you should tell your dr about it. Just as a precaution. It's usually better to be cautious

Have you checked outthe Pre Op or Post Op Articles ? There's a ton of info to be found there.

Also would you please add your date to your profile so that you'll be included in that day's best wishes?

s

I am not a doctor, but I am a speech pathologist. You have to be able move your diaphragm freely to take deep breaths. Your diaphram is by your abdomen, and if your uterus is enlarged, it makes sense to me that your uterus would press on other organs, which might in turn press on your diaphragm and make it more difficult to get deep breaths. I would definitly check with your doctor, but this might be what is going on. If you find yourself raising your shoulders to try and get a deeper breath, that is an inefficient way to get a deep breath. Try to sit a little reclined, arch your back a little and move your stomach out when you breath in. See if that gets you a deeper breath. The same thing happens when people get pregnant, but they naturally lean back, put their hand on their abdomen and breathe for some reason. (Like it is soo cute? and they have a baby in there pushing things around?) Well, we have fibroid babies and they can push things around too, I think.

I have an enlarged uterus also, and fibroids and pelvic pain. Now lately I have noticed that I have to lift my upper body (my breasts and rib cage) up and out to be able get a good deep breath. Also, I have been having trouble with upper back aches when I sit too long, like at work. It's all connected!

OKay Ladies, Now Breathe!

NO Slouching forward with your body posture.

Tops of ears pointed to the sky.

Tip hips back a little.

Lift up those boobs!

Poke that abdomen out a little.

Now breathe in slowly through your nose 1-2-3-4-5.

Now breathe out slowly through your mouth count to 10.

There. Now do it again!

Feel better?

It might help to find a diagram of the diaphram (isn't that a cute phrase?)

A 16 week size uterus could almost definitely cause shortness of breath. Hope things ease up for you after your surgery!