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“Constant Shortness of Breath After Tummy Tuck - Can It Be Undone?”

RexJaya

Not Worth It
Spent: $7,000 in Ohio

Comments (26)

Updated 26 Jan 2010

Posted 24 Jan 2010

I had a full abdominopasty done 2 years ago. I am very pleased with the results. However, from the minute I got up from the surgery to date, I suffer from constant shortness of breath. It is very uncomfortable. I have had physicals and checkups to rule out any other problems. I am now convinced that the shortness of breath is because of the tigtning of the abdominal muscles, which in my case being petite was perhaps too much. My breath seems like it is blocked all the time. I am miserable. I almost feel like I wish the tummy tuck could be undone.

Why - To tighten stomach muscles after 2 kids and 2 c-sections

Pros - Tummy looks great now

Cons - Traded off for constant shortness of breath

My question is at this point what options do I have? I do not want to live with this constant breathlessness feeling all the time.

This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.

Helpful review?

My Doctor: name not provided

Yes, he is a very good surgeon. But not sure why I landed up with shortness of breath?

Comments (26)

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eric1973again 26 Jan 2010

Same here - I had mine 5 months ago and have similar issues with shortness of breath, though mine is somewhat slight whereas yours sounds more serious. Also, don't know if you have the same, but I have this unpleasant feeling like the ab muscles are constantly "engaged", that I have to consciously release them to relax the area a bit. It looks great, but I could do without these unpleasant side-effects. Would be very curious about guidance on this question...

tracy in vb 31 Jan 2010

i had my sutures taken out w a little improvement. it didnt change the look. it also didnt hurt much. i would recommend taking them out

RexJaya 4 Feb 2010

Yes Tracy, Would appreciate any more details about getting the sutures out. Is it like having to have the surgery all over again? Did you go to your original PS? How is your breathing now. Please tell me I feel miserable all the time, with this constatnt shortness of breath feeling. I had to actually go on Lexapro because of the anxiety caused by the breathing, and it has been 2 years for me now. Your input will really help people like myself. Thanks

tracy in vb 7 Feb 2010

It was the original ps. He went in a small hole thru the belly button w a camera and removed the stitches. It was nowhere near as painful as the original surgery. I went back to work in 2 days. I don't think he got all the stitches though, because I can feel a knot of stitches in there. So I may have to go back. I would definitely go for it, its worth a try. My breathing is a little improved, and I also had slow digestion and reflux because all of my organs were pushed up in the original surgery. It has all gotten a little better.

RexJaya 8 Feb 2010

Thanks a million for your reply. I was relieved to hear that he was able to do it via the belly button. I will also consult with my original PS. I hope and pray that it will continue to get better for you. I will update this post with my journey. Thanks again.

RexJaya 8 Feb 2010

Tracy, one more question - was the surgery to remove the sutures done under a local anesthesia or general? Thanks

tracy in vb 10 Feb 2010

it was done under general anesthesia

eric1973again 31 Jan 2010

Tracy, I had been wondering if that was an option. Could you go into a bit more detail as to what was involved? Did you use your original PS? Did they have to reopen and relift just like last time? How long after your procedure did you have this done? How long was your recovery from this? Thanks for any info...

girlly310 31 Jan 2010

I am having my surgery done on February 12, and I am having second thaughts about getting it done.

RexJaya 4 Feb 2010

grilly, the shortness of breath is a very uncommon side effect as per the doctors I have consulted, but in some of us if the body structure changes significantly, there is a possibility that it changes the dynamics of the breathing mechanism. I had seen similar complaints before my tummy tuck, but crossed my fingers hoping that it does not happen to me, but I was not that lucky.

lisian 9 Feb 2010

I had my tt 5 weeks ago (1-5-10) I had extreme painful shortness of breath. I found out that my ribs were out of place and pushing into my lungs, I saw a chiropracter and the problem was solved.

RexJaya 12 Feb 2010

could you please share what kind of treatment the chiropracter did? Did he take X-rays that showed that the ribs were pushing into the lungs. Thanks for your inputs.

lisian 15 Feb 2010

Yes she did x-rays that showed it, also when she felt along the spine, she and I knew instantly when she touched the ribs that were out of place. She also told me that it is very common for this to happen for alot of people, but when you have surgery and tighten up the muscles around the rib cage it can actually take a rib that it slightly out of place and make more out of place which is what happened to me. Shedid push or crack my back to move the ribs back into place, she said that normally she would grab the hib and twist it back into place but because of my surgery she couldn't do that so it would a little bit longer. But the first time she cracked my back I was out of pain and could breath normally

RexJaya 17 Feb 2010

thanks so much for sharing.

mamaags 12 May 2010

hello all. i have this same feeling im almost 4mos out i had the mini tt w muscle repair. if i drink any alcohol it makes it come on faster. i also took a flite from jersey to IL and had anxiety and had it in the car not long ago. i never used to be this way and i wonder if its from surgery. as i have never had this before. its kinda scary too. so perhaps i shuld go get cked out too. wow. im not alone here. im also very tiny and have a short torso and this is also why he didnt want to do the full tt on me id most likely be worse

tracy in vb 27 Aug 2010

I just learned I have a hiatal hernia. It is where the tightness of the tummy tuck squeezes everything up and into your diaghpram making it hard to fully inflate your lungs. I have been complaining of tightness for years but mysteriously no doctors could diagnose me. I also have gastroparesis, GERD, and esophagitis. The hiatal hernia can lead to headaches, tiredness, and lots of other problems. This was all caused by my tummy tuck. It also makes your stomach feel hard and painful after eating, and you have a feeling of fullness and shortness of breath after eating.

Micheli's Belly 20 Sep 2011

This sounds exactly like me. Did you have hernia surgery to correct it?

tracy in vb 21 Sep 2011

not yet

468660anon 22 Sep 2010

It all sounds so familiar to me. I had a tummy tuck last year about 12 months ago. I am in excellent health and am an aerobics instructor and am very petite. I have the shortness of breath and pains in the chest. Had a full check up with my heart and blood tests and all was fine. Then went to see an ear nose and throat doc who said I may have reflux. Am now on reflux medication which makes a huge difference. My question is, does anyone know if having another baby would stretch everything back out so I don't have to deal with this any more. I don't want to have another operation to undo this and there is still room in my family for one more. I know it seems extreme, but if I dont have to feel this way anymore and so I would get a beautiful baby and feel how I used to feel before the tummy tuck.

tracy in vb 23 Sep 2010

I think if you get pregnant you won't be able to breathe even more. It will create more intra abdominal pressure and constrict everything even more. There are also permanent stitches that they use, and they may not pop while pregnant.

mamaags 18 Nov 2010

oh hun to have a baby after tt i would think will make the skin come back. tt is really only suppsoed to be for when ur done having babies. thats why i did mine im done having more kids

Gladys3224 6 Dec 2011

Hello i would like to know if you had the tummy tuck undone? Because i had a tummy tuck about 6 months ago and im experiencing the same things you are. And if you did r u ok now.

stephanie17 30 Jan 2012

Hellooo everyone I'm going in on Feb.15th to go get my tt undone ..do to all the same symptoms u are all having.... I got my tt done in 2006

Micheli's Belly 30 Jan 2012

What kind of procedure did you and your Dr. decide on? Please let us know, this constant suffocating feeling is so difficult to get used to and now I'm stuck on xanax for the panic attacks. How much is this costing you? Thanks so much for sharing.