Ribs and sternum bruising from gallbladder surgery

[laura1967]

I am 2 weeks post op as of today. I still feel very sore in my ribs and sternum and feel bruised throughout my chest cavity. My dr put me on a z pack because I had so much pain in the middle of my chest and thought maybe an infection was brewing from the breathing tube, or beginning of pleurisy. Still kind of labored breathing every so often.
Did anyone else have so much soreness in their ribcage front and back and middle of sternum and chest?? Wondering if it could be lingering gas from surgery this long after, or if the gas and pressure actually bruised me. I am thin and don't have a lot of body fat on me.

[Tkbuster]

I have what feels like bruising too, had soreness since surgery, 8 weeks now. I too am thin.  Had yours improved?

[Michelerae]

Hi Laura,  I'm sorry to hear that you are suffering.  I too thought laproscopic surgery would be a breeze since everyone said so but I was laid out and very thankful for pain meds and believe me I only take a pill when I absolutley have to.  I don't know that this will help but here is my experience. I had surgery and then we flew to Alaska and I was very sore.  When we got to the hotel I was exhausted, drew a bath and got in and fell asleep.  My husband woke me four hours later(the water was COLD) but the soreness at my incisions was gone.  It was weird and probalby woulnd't happen to anyone else cause no one would stay in the tub that long.  I was just exhausted and the time change from east coast to Alaska made everyone else sleep so there I was, asleep in the tub.  I'm thankful it happened but water does heal.  I hope you are well soon.  

[laura1967]

You are absolutely correct....this was major surgery. I played it off as something simple. I just didn't realize because you think laproscopic as an easy surgery.
The rib and sternum pain is a little better today. But today I had a weird attack: I had immense pain and pressure in my sternum area that traveled a little ways down. It felt like a bubble of pain and pressure. It literally took 5-10 mins to pass and I felt sore and exhausted the rest of the day.
I wonder if it is possible that some of the CO2 gas could have gotten trapped in my body and is still moving around in there. I am a hypothyroid autoimmune patient, so my body does not metabolize things properly. Could it be possible after 2 weeks? Hmmmm.
Thank you for the encouragement and kind words! :)

[sillyvixen]

it does get better with time and everyone heals at different rates.. while you have had lap surgery you have still had an organ removed, this can be quite brutal depending on your own circumstances and there is every possibility that they may have caused bruising during the op. just because the laproscopic proceedure is easier the op and recovery can be just as traumatic as open surgery.

take care and i hope you are feeling better soon.

vix