gardenschooler Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I was just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, because I've been thinking my symptoms were just plain old anxiety. But tonight I was very relaxed, dh & I gave the baby a bath, the girls were baking cookies, and all was fine, when it happened again. I was carrying the baby across the room to her changing area after her bath, and all of a sudden it hit me again - I couldn't take a full breath, had to sit down, felt like I was being stabbed in the back (in the lungs). Now I'm wondering if all or most of what I've been feeling for the last week isn't anxiety as I'd thought, but something else. Maybe a lingering side effect of some sort? Is this a common after effect of a c-section? TIA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 You'll want to ask your doctor. You're at increased risk for blood clots in the immediate postpartum period anyway, but I think c-section increases those risks even more. I had symptoms like what you're experiencing after the birth of my third baby. It turned out not to be clots, but those aren't symptoms you want to sit on because they could mean something serious is going on. :grouphug: FYI, had a CT scan and was told that I couldn't nurse for 48 hours. I pumped and dumped and then nursed her afterward. I now know that I would have been fine to nurse her much sooner than that. http://www.kellymom.com has good info on stuff like that. I hope you feel better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Please go to emergency tonight. You're at a higher risk for blood clots postpartem and sudden, severe shortness of breath can indicate pulmonary embolism. Pain is usually in the chest, but it can present as stabbing back pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Coast Mom Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I'm a new comer here, but I encourage you to get this checked out. I had my third c-section last summer. A few days after going home I had the same symptoms you described. I ignored them for days. (Baby was severely jaundice and I was trying to nurse him as much as possible to avoid hospitalization). It got to the point where I could only sit up or stand. If I reclined at all I could not catch my breath and felt like I was drowning. I slept sitting up for 3 days. I was also retaining a ton of water and had pain when taking a breath. I finally went to the er, walked in and passed out. They said I was in congestive heart failure. They gave me lasix and I recovered in a few days. Please get yourself checked. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyJudyJudy Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Please go to emergency tonight. I totally agree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battlemaiden Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I'm hoping you already had this checked out, but please keep us posted. Any sudden shortness of breath like you described within a week of surgery would send me to the clinic. Pulmonary embolism was my first thought. Please let us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I just read this and wanted to see if there was an update? I'm praying for you and your family gardenschooler!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.S. Burrow Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I just read this and wanted to see if there was an update? I'm praying for you and your family gardenschooler!!!! :iagree:Hugs and prayers here too. If you didn't see a doctor last night, please go see one this morning. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 :iagree:Hugs and prayers here too. If you didn't see a doctor last night, please go see one this morning. :grouphug: Agreed. Praying everything is okay here too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 (edited) How are you today Nora? I hope everything checks out fine. :grouphug: Edited September 1, 2009 by nmoira Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nakia Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Oh no!! I hope you went to the ER. As a postpartum nurse, I would consider shortness of breath after C/S an emergency! Let us know how you are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Bear Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 Praying, dearie. Please update as you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
torikei Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I hope you went straight to the emergency room. My brother died a few months ago when a blood clot went to his lungs. Shortness of breath was his main complaint. It had gone on for several weeks. Please update us and let us know how you are feeling. Tori Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenschooler Posted September 1, 2009 Author Share Posted September 1, 2009 I'm going now, after finally getting through to the dr.'s office. I would have gone last night if I'd read these follow ups, but I didn't think it was an emergency, so I went to bed. It does feel worse today, so I'm going. Thanks. I'll update when I get back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colleen in NS Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 all of a sudden it hit me again - I couldn't take a full breath, had to sit down, felt like I was being stabbed in the back (in the lungs). I'm going now, after finally getting through to the dr.'s office. I would have gone last night if I'd read these follow ups, but I didn't think it was an emergency, so I went to bed. It does feel worse today, so I'm going. Thanks. I'll update when I get back. I'll be interested to hear your update, because I experienced the EXACT same things after my c-sections. No problems came of it, though. It has been a few years, but I seem to remember the doctor telling me it was a combination of aftereffects of anesthesia (sp?) and my back muscles getting used to carrying a baby around and holding baby for nursing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JudyJudyJudy Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 You're in my thoughts. Please update when you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 You are in my thoughts and prayers. I had an embolism this year. I'm glad you are getting things checked out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leah Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I'm going now, after finally getting through to the dr.'s office. I would have gone last night if I'd read these follow ups, but I didn't think it was an emergency, so I went to bed. It does feel worse today, so I'm going. Thanks. I'll update when I get back. :grouphug: Praying for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamturner Posted September 1, 2009 Share Posted September 1, 2009 I experienced severe shortness of breath when I had my last baby via c-section after I got home from the hospital. I felt like I couldn't catch my breath or breath very deeply. They had changed my pain med at the time I was discharged so I began the new meds once I got home. I immediately called the pharmacy and my doctor. I stopped taking that med and they prescribed something else so the symptoms I was experiencing went away. I wish I could remember what it was I was taking but I don't. Just thought I'd offer this as a possibility. I hope you speak to or see a professional very soon!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenschooler Posted September 2, 2009 Author Share Posted September 2, 2009 I'm home. I felt a whole lot better after they gave me the Lasix, so I'm hoping it was just fluid. Also, my bp was pretty high when I got there (177/91), but lower when I left. They also did an EKG, x-rays, and a breathing treatment. I was sent to get a CT, but I couldn't do it. I tried 3-4 times, and they were very nice, I just started freaking out and couldn't do it. I'm still having trouble figuring out which symptoms are emotional/panic attacks (related to things that happened during the c-section that were pretty anxiety-producing, with lingering stress over it all) and which are physical, but trying to lie down in that big donut thing was too much, and I just couldn't do it. I really tried, but I couldn't be still enough, anyway. Michelle, they didn't say if it could have been my medication, but I wondered that. I am on a substitute from the pharmacy (hydrocodone instead of loritab), so I wonder. Thanks, everyone. Dr. Hive to the rescue, again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I'm home. I felt a whole lot better after they gave me the Lasix, so I'm hoping it was just fluid.Phew. I wish you a calm, pain free night. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nancy Ann Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 Do you have sinus problems? I can have very slight short of breath when my sinus cavities start causing me problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 I'm glad you're home and doing better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted September 2, 2009 Share Posted September 2, 2009 How are you feeling today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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