epallen

Hi everyone, My name is Ellon. I had my band placed 8/25/2010 and did really well until it prolapsed in June. I went from 233 pounds pre lap band to a low of 160, while I was going through the diagnostics to figure out what was wrong. Once we knew, I had all of the fluid removed and waited to see Dr. Paul Wizman in Wellington, FL. Dr. Wizman confirmed the need to remove the band and prepared me mentally that insurance would likely only approve replacing the band. I wanted a sleeve (from day one that's what I wanted but insurance would not cover it in 2010). Gwen, his coordinator, worked her magic, and BCBS approved the sleeve without delay. While I waited for surgery, I put 26 pounds back on and felt miserable. Surgery was 10/22 and as of this past Sunday, I am already down 15 pounds. I'm excited about my new lease on life. My only concern at this point is left shoulder pain that feels like nerve pain. At times I also feel nerve like pain in my left middle quadrant simultaneously. I'm learning that in an adult the whole diaphragm is innervated by the pair of phrenic nerves (C3, C4, and C5). From embryo to adult, "the growing diaphragm drags the phrenic nerves down from the cervical region to the thoracic region. Irritation to the diaphragm frequently presents as neck and shoulder pain due to facilitation in the cervical cord induced by the phrenic nerves." (my source of information is from cranialintelligence.com/2010/03/23/embryology-of-the-diaphragm) and from a neurosurgeon that I work with. If any of you out there are dealing with this but did not know why, I hope this helps.