Gosh...I'm so sorry that no one at the hospital told you guys about the gas pains residing in the shoulders! AFter my surgery they actually put me on the heart patient floor (the one they go to after ICU)! The nurses were all so sweet and said that because lapband is so high in the abdomen that we have the same sorts of side effects as heart patients. The CO2 is supposed to absorb into your blood stream....but works better if you move around, i.e. walk.
Also, my doc sent me home with an RX of acid reducer. It was a yummy liquid that really seemed to help. I have a little left over and when the pain in the shoulder even creeps in a little, I take a swig of that RX stuff!!!