Shortness of breath may result from a slipped Nissen fundoplication, aka recurrent hiatal hernia. Shortness of breath may be precipitated by a heavy meal or gas accumulation in stomach. Obviously, shortness of breath is worse with a larger herniated stomach size.
A common side effect of the surgery is gas bloat. Air becomes trapped in the stomach, causing pain and discomfort.
GERD is not just uncomfortable; over time, it can also cause inflammation to your esophagus and lungs and cause difficulty breathing.
Esophageal strictures can make it feel like food is stuck in your throat. Severe cases can lead to choking episodes, breathing problems, malnutrition and dehydration. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any trouble swallowing or breathing. If you have an esophageal stricture, dilation can help.
Acid reflux can cause shortness of breath when stomach acid reenters the esophagus. This is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) . GERD symptoms include wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea.
As stomach acid inches up your food pipe, there's a possibility that some of it can sneak into your lungs too, causing respiratory issues ranging from no big deal (like persistent coughing, chest congestion, and hoarseness) to totally unexpected (like asthma, laryngitis, pneumonia, or wheezing).
Possible causes of shortness of breath after eating include food allergies, inhaling food particles, and acid reflux. There are many possible reasons why a person may feel out of breath after eating. It can be an uncomfortable or distressing experience but is typically not a cause for concern.
The primary risk of Nissen fundoplication surgery is that symptom relief does not always last. Some patients need another surgery after two to three years. Like all surgeries, Nissen fundoplication also carries a risk of infection at the incision site.
Avoid any foods that cause stomach gas and distention. These foods include corn, dried beans, peas, lentils, onions, broccoli, cauliflower and any food from the cabbage family. Avoid carbonated drinks, alcohol, citrus and tomato products.
Fortunately, dysphagia usually resolves spontaneously within 2 to 3 months. Persistent dysphagia (PD), however, occurs in 3% to 24% of patients after Nissen fundoplication. The laparoscopic approach may be associated with a higher rate of PD than its open counterpart. The precise etiology of PD is unclear.
Breathing Difficulty
Anesthesia temporarily changes the way you breathe as well as controls any coughing urges during surgery. Some people develop a build-up of mucus in their lungs due to anesthesia and experience pain when they push air out of their nose and mouth or breathe air in.
Sometimes lung problems happen because you don't do deep breathing and coughing exercises after your surgery. They may also happen from pneumonia or from inhaling food, water, or blood into the airways. Symptoms may include wheezing, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, and cough.
Breathing Problems
Anesthesia hampers your normal breathing and stifles your urge to cough. After chest or abdominal surgery, it could hurt to breathe in deeply or push air out. Mucus may build up in your lungs.
Shortness of breath does not equal saturation (SaO2%)
In other words, your level of dyspnea, or air hunger, does not always correlate with your oxygen saturation. This means that you can be short of breath, even extremely short of breath, even in the presence of normal oxygen saturation.
Common causes of feeling short of breath are: lung problems, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) heart problems, such as a cardiovascular disease and heart failure. infections in the airways, such as croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, COVID-19, the flu and even a cold.
Extra fat on your neck, chest, or across your abdomen can make it difficult to breathe deeply and may produce hormone that affect your body's breathing patterns. You may also have a problem with the way your brain controls your breathing.
The damage caused by mild GERD can be possibly reversed or reduced by following a healthy lifestyle and taking medications.
Instead Of Coughing, Try Forcefully Breathing Out
So instead of coughing, try to breathe out of your nose forcefully. That will not only get rid of the mucus that has built up in your throat but will also give you the relieving sensation of an unblocked throat and nose.
GERD can cause chest pain that mimics a heart attack. Described as a squeezing pressure behind the breast bone, GERD-related chest pain can last for hours. And like a heart attack, it can also radiate down your arm to your back.
Use Pursed Lip Breathing when walking. Inhale through your nose and exhale through pursed lips. Exhale slowly and comfortably, not forcibly, breathing out twice as long as you breath in. This will keep your breathing slow and restore oxygen to your body more rapidly.
There is some evidence to suggest that stress and anxiety may provoke acid reflux or make the symptoms worse. For instance, a 2018 study involving more than 19,000 people found that those with anxiety were more likely to experience GERD symptoms.