This surgery does tend to encourage shallow breathing. In the first 24 hours after surgery I was requesting the max dose of morphine as without it my breathing was very shallow and diaphragmatic only. There was no rib excursion and I was (and am) concerned about developing pneumonia. Today, chest is very tight like there is a band around the lower rib cage and it is difficult to get comfortable.
I was surprised that they did not give me spirometer ( clear plastic apparatus with blue balls that you attempt to float in a tube by exhaling into straw) to encourage deep breathing. I am sitting semireclined with arms resting on my head to effect mechanical rib raising and excursion to assist deep breaths.
And speaking of diaphragmatic..........like in some surgeries where you experience severe gas pain, I have hiccups on occasion that rock my world.
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