pain breathing in after gall bladder surgery

[LarryBrooks55]

After having my gall bladder removed I have extreme pain breathing in, involuntary quick breaths and yawning that is very painful with a dagger type pain under my right ribs.   I have been to E.R. for being unable to breathe.  My surgeon is acting like he has never heard of this?????   This surgeon messed something up !    I don't know how long this will last and what I should do about it.   Has anyone ever had this, what did you do?   Did it go away?  How did you treat it?

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your predicament.
Check to see if there is an infection of the lower respiratory tract or a lower lobe pneumonia, this could cause problems with breathing and pain. An X ray and blood tests could help determine this. Please discuss this with your doctor to rule out these conditions.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[LarryBrooks55]

The extreme pain which kept me from taking a deep breathe had me ending up in the emergency room.  My surgeon and other doctors seem to be either poorly trained or playing dumb.   After about 7 days I slowly began to be able to get more than 1/4 breathe, this ordeal did not do much for my PTSD condition.  Some people on the internet said they had doctors tell them it was a nerve that affects the diaphram being irritated, others said belly and chest gas.  It was not the gas.   On my 15th day after surgery the breathing problem started to come back, then gone again the next day.   If anyone out there has this problem, don't expect doctors to help any.   I think the surgeons know why but don't want to set themselves up for a lawsuit so they play dumb, nice huh?   I don't know what they did to me while they were in there but it messed me up, if i had known what I would have to go through i would have kept my gall bladder.

[Rebby1963]

Thank God I found you guys because I thought I was going crazy. on 2-27-17 I had my gallbladder out via my naval. When I got home from the hospital the same day, my incision was opening. I notified my surgeon who told me to cover it and let him know if it was like that tomorrow. I woke up on 2-28-17 and my naval incision was wide open. Went back to the surgeon who cleaned it and re-stitched it. on 3-7-17, the skin around my incision was red and hot and the incision was AGAIN opening and leaking pus. I went back to my surgeon who took a few of the stitches out (he thought it would cause less irritation) and  prescribed me an antibiotic.Two days later I began having issues with pain on my right side (which I had not had yet) and a low grade fever of 100.4. Fevers are unusual for me, even when I'm very sick. I have had 14 surgeries and never once had a complication so I began to freak out as my surgeon was out of state on vacation. I went to the ER. They ran blood tests which showed high white blood count, but my liver levels were normal. They did a cat scan on my right abdomen looking for a lesion on my liver... a complication of this type of surgery. No lesions were found, but the Dr stated that there were spots on the bottom of my lungs, which could indicate Atelectasis (collapsing of the lungs) which is common after surgery. (I had this once after my appendix was out in 1982) He told me to take deeper breaths and it would help resolve this. They could do nothing for my incision stating to sew it up would seal the infection inside. I tried to take deep breaths but it is very painful.I have acquire a shallow cough.. so I'm beginning to think it is my lungs... I'll likely be going back to the ER if it doesn't get better. Four days on antibiotics I should be feeling better... per the ER Dr.

[Clg124]

Atelectasis- shows up on a CT of the chest.  I have suffered from not being able to breathe well for 11 months, woke up that way in the recovery room.  Been told by many doctors that it must be anxiety, but I knew it wasn't. Finally went to see a pulmonary doctor and she ordered a CT which showed 2 spots, Atelectasis is a result of surgery.  I started treatment with a inhaler (ventalin) every 4 to 5 hours and I can finally breathe after 11 months of hell. I started feeling better within 48 hours.   Do your research and get help from a pulmonary doctor, insists on a chest CT.  

[diBirk1]

i am suffering with breathing problems after gall bladder surgery 14 months ago my consultant says its nerve damage and that my doctor needs to refer me for pain management so that i can have an injection in the nerve

[BennaC]

My gallbladder was removed 2 years sgo. I still am having breathing issues. I have been to numerous specialists,  ER visits too many tests to count. I am at a loss on where to go next, apparently my PCP is also at a loss. Also, my weight has gone up 40lbs. Belueve me, this is not from over eating, as food still goes straight through me...I just want relief and to be able to walk across a room without having to gasp for air...

[cabiallen]

I am 3 weeks from gallbladder removal and am at about 85% del breath before pain stops me.  It's getting better.  I'm still very swollen/bloated inside though and do still have some pain,  especially in my right shoulder blade.  Doctor wouldn't refill Norco, or so the pharmacy said.  I'm taking Tylenol and 600 MG ibuprofen (surgeon said up to 800 every 8 hours) at night and naproxen for the first time today.  It seems to help.  Hippie you are now pain free

[RAINYZ]

My daughter just had her gallbladder removed and is having the same problem  (Pain. In ribcage and breathing) . My question is did you ever get relief or did they ever figure out why it was giving you problems. Thanks for any help you can give.
LL

[LarryBrooks55]

Oh and if they give you lortabs (hydrocodone) just take them for a few days then stop.   They are one of the most abused drugs in america, addictive as heck and they are narcotics.   They are evil, beware because they sneak up on you then the next thing you know you will do anything to get more.

[Gabbi718]

That's fear mongering. You'll only get a week or 10 days at the most with no refills, and you can not get addicted to it that quickly. It's proven you heal faster and better when you are in less pain. I had this surgery, and it was a very hard post op  experience, with a lot of pain.  If you're worried, and addiction is hereditary, then ask for Tylenol with codeine if your that worried. Talk with your doctor about any concerns. Sometimes pain meds are actually necessary, and surgery is usually one of those times Not all opiates are evil, and everyone does not get addicted.
Especial in a few days.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Like I already mentioned the pain could be due to postsurgical inflammation. But sometimes the pleura, the lining of the chest cavity and lungs can get inflamed causing pain with coughing or yawning or taking a deep breath. It can occur due to local causes like lung infections. Check with your doctor to rule out this condition. In the meantime take OTC naproxen for relief from pain.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.