Question about breathing exercises......

[Guest guest]

Hi gang!!

I have a question for you post-ops. I know that while you are in the hospital, you have to do some sort of breathing exercise. I was just wondering what exactly it is, and how do you do it. Also, is done to prevent you from getting pulmonary embolisms, pnuemonia, or what?

Thanks for the info!!

Pam

Pre-op in MD

Dr. Vanguri

Surgery date July 9, 2001

[Guest guest]

Hi- In the hospital they give you a little machine where you blow into it and

try to raise the balls in it. This keeps your lungs clear. I took mine home

to continue while I was sitiing around getting better. It is a good thing to

do. Ellen(Pam

[Guest guest]

> Hi gang!!

>

> I have a question for you post-ops. I know that while you are in

the

> hospital, you have to do some sort of breathing exercise. I was

just

> wondering what exactly it is, and how do you do it. Also, is done

to prevent

> you from getting pulmonary embolisms, pnuemonia, or what?

>

> Thanks for the info!!

>

Pam-

Most post-surgical patients are given a little machine/toy called an

incentive spirometer. You are to use this toy every hour or so while

awake, 10 times each use. One important bit of info- you SUCK on the

tube- blowing does NOT work! The reason for using this fun toy is

multifold:

1) it removes the last vestiges of any inhaled anethesia

2) it reinflates your lungs

3) it prevents your lungs from a)collapsing, or b)filling up with

mucous/fluid, etc, leading to pneumonia

4) it can prevent/reduce postop fevers

When you do it correctly, at least in the beginning, it WILL MAKE YOU

COUGH- This is GOOD, but it will hurt- so use a pillow to hold over

your incisions when you cough, & if you have your pain pump, take a

hit before doing it. Basically when you first start using it, the

cylinder-thingie (you'll understand when you see it) won't rise very

much.. I tell my patients to make it a self- challenge- each time you

use it, try to make the column rise higher overall.there's a little

yellow sliding marker so you can mark how far you've come- adjust it

up as your lungs get stronger, & make your next session goal to get

that column just a tiny bit higher past that marker (or, if you're an

overachiever, a LOT higher, lol). This thing is a valuable tool. And

for you two-parters- if you got one your first stay, hang onto it!!

those lil' suckers are expensive.

Hope that helped,

Hugs-

Liane J. French

Preop, Dr. Warden

Ocean Springs, MS

May 30, 2001

Starting BMI 60

[Guest guest]

Pam:

Liane already gave a very good answer to your question. I just

wanted to add that a good little exercise you can do as a pre-op to

help strenghten your lungs is to blow up balloons. You can take a

balloon and blow it up, let out the air and blow it up until it gets

stretched out, then get a new balloon. It is cheap and easy to do,

Start early because you will get that " new exercise soreness " at

first.

Jo

> Hi gang!!

>

> I have a question for you post-ops. I know that while you are in

the

> hospital, you have to do some sort of breathing exercise. I was

just

> wondering what exactly it is, and how do you do it. Also, is done

to prevent

> you from getting pulmonary embolisms, pnuemonia, or what?

>

> Thanks for the info!!

>

>

>

> Pam

> Pre-op in MD

> Dr. Vanguri

> Surgery date July 9, 2001

[Guest guest]

There are also some breathing exercises in a document I put in our files

section. You can find them at (may have to cut 'n paste into your browser

if clicking on the url does not take you directly there):

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/duodenalswitch/files/DS%20Frequently%20Asked%2

0Questions.doc

Kris G

Cincinnati, Ohio

5'7 " , 40 years old

8/22 - 283 - BMI 44.3

05/22 - 152 - BMI 23.8

ciao to 131 lbs. & 134.25 inches in 9 months

Open BPD/DS 08/22/00

Bowel obstruction surgery 4/21/01

Dr. Maguire, Kettering OH

HumanaFreedom Plus Plan

iwillbefit@...

http://www.newlifeteams.org

Re: Question about breathing exercises......

| Hi- In the hospital they give you a little machine where you blow into it

and

| try to raise the balls in it. This keeps your lungs clear. I took mine

home

| to continue while I was sitiing around getting better. It is a good thing

to

| do. Ellen(Pam

|

| ----------------------------------------------------------------------

|

[Guest guest]

hmmmmmm, blowing? raising balls? this sounds like it could be

fun! or is it just my dirty mind?

mary y st. louis

> Hi- In the hospital they give you a little machine where you blow

into it and

> try to raise the balls in it. This keeps your lungs clear. I took

mine home

> to continue while I was sitiing around getting better. It is a

good thing to

> do. Ellen(Pam

[Guest guest]

Liane,

Thanks for the info. Another thing I can be prepared for BEFORE surgery!!!!

Pam

Pre-op in MD

Dr. Vanguri

Surgery date July 9, 2001