Thursday, August 28, 2008 nate930 asks

Q: Breathing problems after Laproscopic Nissen Fundoplication. Help!!

I am a 37 year old woman with a thin build. I had the surgery two weeks ago. They also fixed a slight hiatal hernia. I am having a tight, constricting feeling in the area below my breast bone. Because of this tightness, I am having a hard time breathing. I can get a deep breath but it takes quite a lot out of me to do it. This doesn't seem like a normal side effect to the surgery and I am scared. Could someone please help me understand what is going on and what I can do to help this? I need to get my life back for myself and my family. Thank you very much!!

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Answers (4)

Jan Gambino, Health Guide

8/29/08 6:14am

Hello!

You should have the problem evaluated by the doctor to make sure it isn't a complication from the surgery. Ask the doctor if you could be experiencing gas bloat.

A common side effect of the surgery is gas bloat. Air becomes trapped in the stomach, causing pain and discomfort. Gas bloat occurs when the fundo is doing its job and preventing you from burping/belching/vomiting. So the good news is your fundo is working and the gas bloat will go away over time. Meanwhile, it might help to eat slowly and carefully. Chew your food well. Eat small meals. Avoid carbonation (soda) and drinking from a straw. All of these will increase the air in your stomach.

Good Luck!

Jan Gambino

The Reflux Mom

nate930

8/29/08 11:47am

Thank you for your response! I will talk to my dr about possible gas bloat. My abdomen doesn't look or feel bloated though and I am burping alot. I am experiencing a pulling, tight feeling right below my breastbone, but my dr thinks I might just be sensitive. I am doing a CT scan today to rule out a blood clot. This is giving me some extreme anxiety, the thought that I might stay like this. It's been like this since about three days after the surgery. Just horrible! By the way, lying down does seem to relieve the pressure some if that gives any clue. Thank you again, you're an angel!!

Jan Gambino, Health Guide

8/30/08 6:06am

Hello! I am glad you have consulted the doctor. You certainly need to rule out a complication from surgery. Did you consult the surgeon or the primary care doctor? I would recommend consulting with the surgeon too.

Gas bloat and the sensation of food getting caught in the esophagus are common complications. Adhesions are rare complications.

I am hoping the testing for the blood clot will be negative.

If so, you might want to experiment with a bland diet and easy to digest food. Carbs are easy to digest and leave the stomach quickly. High fat foods and fried foods are harder to digest and stay in the stomach longer. Maybe go light on the dairy, especially dairy with a high fat content (half and half, ice cream,etc). There are many soy based and low fat dairy products on the shelf, you should be able to eat well.

My daughter really, really needed to eat slowly and carefully after her surgery. She ate like a bird during the first few weeks. It really helped her stomach adjust to the new way of digesting.

Let me know what the CAt scan reveals.

Jan

nate930

8/30/08 1:00pm

Hi Jan!

Thanks for checking in again. My CT scan came back normal. Whew! My surgeon has me on an anti-inflammatory (Motrin) and muscle relaxers(Flexeril). That does seem to help. Unfortunately, the muscle relaxers make me feel a bit tired and high, not a big deal though! I just hope things will calm down soon and I'll be able to be mom and wife again! Thank you so much!

Q: Breathing problems after Laproscopic Nissen Fundoplication. Help!!

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