new shortness of breath

I am almost to week six post-op and went to the doctor for checkup yesterday. Starting a little over a week ago I began experiencing the following symptoms: shortness of breath when moving around, lightheaded, a lot of and quite thirsty. Also my energy was not rebounding the way I had hoped. I attributed the breathing/lightheadedness to my asthma (even though there has been no wheezing or full blown attacks) and continued to take my meds, knowing I was headed to the doctor shortly. I couldn't explain the thirsty as I drink two cups of coffee and one cup of juice in the A.M. and drink water the rest of the day, but I wasn't as worried about that.

When I went in for my check up doc said that all of the surgery issues looked really good and then he listened to my lungs. "Clear as a bell" was his verdict. So why can't I breathe? He ordered some blood tests and said he would call me today. Said maybe anemic. Also said he would not release me for work at all until the mystery was solved. A good thing even though I am not happy about it. I liked it better when I thought it was asthma, at least that is a known entity. Anyone else have similar symptoms show up at 5 weeks? Thanks ahead of time.

I agree that it may be anemia. I have also had a friend that had a low sodium level several weeks postop that caused shortness of breath and once treated all was well. The thirstiness would make me wonder about your blood glucose levels. Sounds like the doctor has things under control and will be able to advise you further once the results are in.

Armyof1,

I also had a TAH on 12/18/08. As far as my energy level, I am still not 100 percent like I thought I would be. I get "winded" at times when I do simple tasks. Prior to my surgery my medical doctor diagnosed me with anemia. He knew right away when I told him that I crave ice. It wasn't that I was thirsty, I just had the need to eat ice chips all day long. So when you said you were thirsty all the time, I was wonder if it was the "ice" that you crave or just water. Needless to say, he put me on iron pills and the craving for ice went away and so did the anemia. My blood levels went back up and I didn't have a problem when it came to my surgery.

I too had my TVH/BSO on Dec. 18. Tomorrow will be 6 weeks and still some days I feel like I've been run over by a truck. I started experiencing weird heart palpitations at week 4.5. They are intermittent and usually occur at night when I'm just resting on the sofa watching TV. In addition I've been feeling the shortness of breath, not all the time, but intermittently. Yesterday I went up two flights of stairs and felt fine. This morning I woke up and felt short of breath upon arising. Go figure. I have seen my doctor for the heart stuff and he had me do a holter monitor last week and I'm still awaiting the results for that. I find that if I don't drink enough liquids the heart stuff and shortness of breath is worse. Plus, we're having crazy weather here in So. Cal. One day it's cold and raining, the next day it's sunny and warm and very dry.

My one thought on this is we are still healing and our bodies are still trying to detox all the meds and anesthesia and junk they pump into our bodies during surgery. But I'm going back to my doctor find out what's up just in case. I wasn't in the best condition before surgery, so it's probably taking me longer to get back to 'normal' than some of the gals who were very fit before surgery.

Just wanted you to know you're not alone.

That's so odd HysterHarley, when I was in the hospital they couldn't keep enough ice chips in my room, but no one seemed to think anything about it. Even in the recovery room I didn't really want the Sprite they were trying to give me, but the ice chips were the best thing I ever tasted! pre-op I drank a lot of water, but without ice - long time habit from running and not wanting to cool down too fast. Now I don't want it without ice. Still waiting for doc to call, hopefully it's something like that.

My son has asthma, so the following came to mind: have you seen an asthma or lung specialist just in case?

kara