Redhead1

Looking for anyone who has experienced this, I have had left shoulder pain since banding on June 30th. I know it is normal from the CO2 they put in your abdomen, but 4 weeks out and it still bothers me. When I burp or hiccup it is a killer. I have talked to my doctor and he said it will pass. I have also talked with a orthopedic dr and he says some times the nerves in our stomach refer the pain. It is driving me crazy. Just wondering if anyone else has experienced it. I have lost 11lbs since surgery. Hey, but can't get my fill for a few more weeks, cuz I'm going out of town the day I was scheduled and was afraid to leave state if something went wrong. I'm still a scaried cat sometimes. Red:ohmy:

Hi, my doctor says no and no drinking through straws. I occasionally with have one, but it gives me bad gas, taste great, but I don't know if it is worth it. Good luck

Wondering if I'm tight enough or should get a little more. I have 7 cc and it has been 2 months from the fill from hell and bruised so bad I've barely recovered, so I'm not fill scared! I have lost 10 pounds since, but wonder if it is time for more fluid. I am really tight in morning and can't eat much, lunch I can eat pretty good and at night I'm kinda tight, I get the hiccups and my left shoulder hurts when I eat to tight and too fast. That nerve is very sensitive. I'm I'm almost 7 months out and down 50 pounds. Any ideas would be great!!

Thanks I appreciate the comments. My doctor moved and I dont' get to see him often, so good to bounce things off of others. I don't feel to tight,and I have daughter getting married in May, I want to look good!!!!!!

Hi I have replied to many concerning shoulder pain,now I'm sending out a thread, I have come to find that my nerve by diaphram is trapped or my band is rubbing aginst it and when I eat and just doing nothing I get the pain in my left shoulder. It is quite painful and if I eat to fast or too much it is my indication to stop. I have been told that it usually lasts up to 3 months. I'm now 5 months out, has anyone had this longer and did it eventually go away? I've been told it will probably always be there unless he goes in and readjusts band, which would mean another surgery and money, since I paid this myself, really don't want to have to come up with more. I can live with the pain most of the time, but it seems to be more often now. I have 7 cc's in but don't really want any taken out, cuz I finally feel restriction. But it maybe too much,. Would love to hear if anyone has had similiar situation. Thanks

Shoulder pain from the air they use to do the surgery is way different than this pain. I work in the OR, where we do this surgery, that pain from the air should only last 3-4 days. This pain is from the nerve around the place where they put the band. It is the same nerve that when people are having a heart attack it radiates to their left shoulder and neck. So if shoulder pain is longer than a week out, it is the nerve irritating the band. Mine seems to be right up against it or trapped in the band. Crazy! Thanks for your reply./

Good Luck to you! Hope all goes well.

Welcome and good luck. I was banded 6-30-08 and immedtiately had left shoulder pain. At first thought it was from the gas they put in your abdomen to fill to do the band, but now have found out the nerve in the area appears to be trapped in my band. It is the same nerve that tells people when you are having a heart attack. Mine comes and goes, after a fill it is worse and when I eat it is my que to stop. There isn't much that can be done, unless readjust the band, but that would be surgery. Anti inflammatories meds help, heat and cold packs help. Some say it goes away in a few months, but mine hasn't. Hopefull yours will get better, sometimes it is the band rubbing against the nerver. But I'm still very glad I had it done. 46 lbs down and still going. Good Luck.

Hi congrats on becoming a bandsters. I'm out 5 months. They pain could just be everything settling. Sometime when you move the sutures to hold the band and port in place pull a little. Give it time and good luck.

Oh my, I am 3 1/2 months out and this morning was the first time I ever got anything stuck. I always feel tighter in am and pm, but in middle of day I feel like I'm starving. I had a scrambled egg this morning and all of a sudden my shoulder and chest started hurting so bad I couldn't hardly breathe. I walked around, drank water and nothing. I finally made myself throw up and hardly anything came up.. I don't get it. I have been sore all day and what's ironic is I'm suppose to have a fill this afternoon. Life with a band! But don't regret it. I have lost 39 pounds, but in last month have only lost 2, but I am losing inches. I feel like I have plateaued with the scale.

Thanks for replying. I had the fill from hell that same day. I now think it was a sign. It took the dr. 30 minutes he was sweating , I was sweating, but finally got it, I am way bruised and sore, he has never had a problem before. After 5 days of liquids and mushies, I actually ate normal today. I finally feel restriction and have lost 4lbs. Go Band.

Hi I Have had pain in my left shoulder from day 1. 3 1/2 months out. It is from the band rubbing on a nerve where they put it. It is refered pain. Mine has subsided some, but if I eat to much or early in am it hurts, Good luck. Heat helps some.

I'm kind of concerned for you, because I work in surgery where we do bands and had mine done at my work and I have never heard or had anyone put Fluid in band with the surgery. Where did you have the surgery? Have you talked to your doctor. I don't mean to be negative at you, but in the post op phase your sutures have to heal around the band and shouldn't have any pressure on it for several weeks before a fill. Hope you are doing okay. Concerned Bander

Hi Congrats and Good Luck. One thing I have noticed is that some people who also have weight issues, don't like or get jealous about your weight loss. My sister was very supportive at first, but now I can't talk to her about it at all, she gets really depressed. She can't afford the surgery. Some people maybe not intentially offer you foods you shouldn't have or have food like that around all the time, it is definetly a mind game.

HI Did you get the 6cc put in your band at surgery or when. I had shoulder pain immeditaly in recovery room and I still have occasionally. There is a nerve close to the area they put the band and the band irritates it, if you eat to much it also irritates it. It is refered pain. There is not much you can do about it. Mine was pretty bad for first 2 months, has gotten better, but still bothers me. Heat packs help. Gas X none of that stuff helps, cuz it is from the nerver and refering pain. Good luck

Bless your heart. I know you are very frustrated. What does your doctor say? Where did you have your band done. I heard a crazy story that a patient had her band somewhere in Mexico and came back to states for fills. She was having problems and found out they put the port in, but no band. I was banded in July and have lost 39, I feel kinda frustrated,I have 6cc and don't feel much restriction at all, I am getting another fill this week. Good luck. Keep reading this site, because there are great ideas.

Hi I have had 2 fills, I'm at 5cc and have not got to that point yet. Getting a fill on Friday, hope to get there soon. Some say you just feel it when you are there, that 1 bite is okay and the next is too much. Hope we get there soon.

Hi I'm planning to attend conference, just want to make sure which Wyndam Hotel it is at, there are 3 in the Dallas area. Thanks

Hi I'm 3 months post op from my band and have only lost 32lbs. Only 2 since 2 fills in the last month. I was late getting my first fill and I have 5cc at present. I don't really fill alot of constriction when I eat. But I'm sticking to the low portions and correct foods. I'm very frustrated, cuz I pretty much am doing exactly what I'm suppose to do. Maybe I'm getting too much sodium, or not drinking as much water, I don't know, but I'm kinda getting depressed about it. People tell me there are plateaus, but I hate to think I've hit one already. I'm getting another fill in 2 weeks. Anyone feel this way or have had similar experience would love to hear. Need some incouragement. I'm going on a need long awaited vacation with husband to Florida in November and was hoping to have lots more off. HELP! :tongue2: Redhead

Thanks so much for the encouragement!

Thanks so much to all for the encouragement, just what I need this morning. I have been walking 3-5 times a week since week 3 30-60minutes a time. Just barely started doing sit ups, was kinda scared cuz I could fill my port move when I did them. Maybe I just need to step up exercising. Now that it is cooler at night it is easier, but sometimes not enough hours in the day. I do feel better than I did before band, I have much more energy. Thanks again for encouragement. Redhead

HI I had my surgery 3 months a go. I'm a nurse and help with lap bands, so I knew exactly what to expect. I had left shoulder pain immediately in recovery room. I had a hiatal hernia repair. The shoulder pain was the worst post op compared to incsion area. I and the doctors I work with have decided it is from the diaphram and the area that the band sits, it is either up against the diaphram or occasionally rubs against it and it is referring pain. I continue to get it and it isn't as bad, there is nothing they can do unless readjust band. Ibuprofen helps and heat pack. After I get a fill immediately hurts. It is not as painful, but I still have it. My doctor said eventually it will get better, and I just suck it up and deal with it. At first I posted it and didn't get many replies, most everyone said it was from CO2, but not the case with me. It will get easier. Good LUck. Redhead

I am out 2 1/2 months and have had 1 fill, I have lost my crave for carbs also. Beef is weird to chew, I don't get it. I mostly eat chicken or fish. Good Luck

Help! I went for my first fill at 6 weeks(was suppose to be earlier, but had to go out of town). Dr. couldn't find port, he poked around with needed and hands and it has hurt ever since. He is not the Dr who put my band in, that doctor moved away, this doctor has put some in others. I tried to tell him where it was. So he has to do it under Xray. Ever since the visit last Thursday I have had pain in my mid chest and back, with some nausea. Called the Dr who put it in and he is coming to town in a few weeks, so he said to wait for him. NOw I think the pain I'm having is Gallbladder! I have done exactly what I was suppose to eat and do post op, and I'm very frustrated and scared. I'm drinking lemon Water which I have heard helps with stones. Would love any advice. I have lost 25#in 8 weeks. Trying to be positive. Help:sad: Red

Hi When you had GB surgery, did you have any Fluid in band? Did you have any nausea after surgery. Just trying to look at what I'm up against. I'm pretty sure it is my gallbladder. Thanks Red