Breathing Trouble

I had a LSH 5 days ago, and I started having a lot of trouble breathing yesterday. I have a very painful stitch in my right side, and I cannot take in a deep breath. When I do it really really hurts and makes me want to cough, and coughing is out of the question with my belly being so sore. Is this caused by the gas they pumped in me? It just seems weird that it would start a few days after the surgery. I have been thinking of going to the hospital for it, but I am not sure if I am overreacting.

BuzzOfThoughts

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this.

I don't wish to scare you but, since blood clots are a very real possibility following major surgery, it's vital that you seek medical advice without delay ~ preferably by going straight to your local ER.

Will you let us know later how you got on? Take good care!

you should at least call your dr and tell him exactly how youre feeling and see what he tells you to do. you cant be too careful about the possibility of blood clots after surgery.

Just to update this... late the night after I wrote this post, my breathing pain got so bad that I did drive to the ER, and they told me it might be a blood clot. They ambulanced me to the nearest big hospital, an hour and a half away, and kept me overnight, doing about fifteen billion tests. Thank goodness it wasn't a blood clot, it is pleuresy (sp?), which is very very painful but treatable with anti-inflammatories and bed rest. Apparently it is relatively common after a hysterectomy because of things settling in your belly. But they said it was very good that I had come in, because blood clots can happen and can be fatal, and I should have gone in earlier. So if anyone else has breathing problems, go to the ER! It is definitely better safe than sorry.

I know I've heard the word but what exactly is pleuresy?

I'm glad to hear it wasn't a blood clot.

It is swelling of the lining around your lung, it compresses your lung and makes it hard and painful to breathe. It can also be a swelling inside your lung.

Did they say what caused this, maybe anesthesia??

Apparently it is caused by everything settling in your abdomen after surgery, it just causes stress on all your organs.