chest pain GB surgery

[No01Nanna]

My 21 year old daughter had gall bladder surgery on Thursday, along with an umbilical hernia repair. She is still having difficulty getting around (1 week ago today) & says it hurts to take big breaths or stand up straight. She also complains of back pain. Are these symptoms normal, or should we be concerned. She still cannot bend over or move at a normal pace.

[KRasmus]

I had my gallbladder and appendix removed Feb 8th, 2008. It took about 2 weeks before I was able to walk upright without any pain. The belly button tenderness and swelling is just now starting to go away. I had back pain, shoulder pain, chest pain, and pain on both sides of my abdomen. Most of that is from the C02 that they pump into you during surgery(it raises the abdominal wall, and gives the surgeon a better view of your insides).

It did hurt to breath in deep during that first week, but what I did was get on my knees in the bed(that was the most comfortable position for me) hold a pillow against my stomach, and cough as deeply as I could to clear the lungs.

Also I practiced breathing in deeply a few times a day to expand the lungs. My mom was a nurse, so she used to make us do this after surgery to help prevent pneumonia. If the pain is persistent, and sharp with deep breaths, they can x-ray her chest to make sure there isn't a blood clot, or a pocket of infection forming in the lungs..

It is going on week 3, and most of my pain has gone away, but I'm still struggling with trying to get comfortable at night when going to sleep because of tenderness.

[No01Nanna]

Thanks for your thoughts. Her appt is tomorrow with the surgeon. I hope she gets the answers she's looking for and he doesn't treat her like a baby for hurting. They (the nurses) act like she shouldn't be in pain & she's just wanting the meds. Unfortunately she works in the office of the hospital and knows all these gals who seem to not believe her pain. I hope the doc listens.

What is the CO2 gas from. Do they actually put gas into the cavity?

[Jaybay]

There could still be some CO2 gas in her abdomen leftover from the surgery.  Sometimes it can take a few days before the body absorbs it.  If the pain is better when she's laying down with her hips higher than her head, it's probably the gas.  When is her followup appointment scheduled?  It won't hurt to give the doc's office a call tomorrow and run these questions by them.