Pain under left rib!!!! OUCH

[jen36 1]

I was banded on May 3rd and everything has been pretty good except the gas!!!! GROSS!!!! But last night I started getting this pain under my left rib almost feels like something pinching, is this the port area and is this normal since I haven't felt it before? Thanks for any help you can offer.:confused:

[Sue Magoo 71]

Hi:

I think your band is actually below your left rib, so it is probably normal to feel some pain in that area a few days post op.

As always, anytime you are concerned, you should call your doctor's office. Feel better soon!

Sue

[k-baby 0]

When I eat a bit too much I get a pain like you describe - and I think it is because I have stretched my pouch a little and get like a pinching, stretched muscle sensation. I have had my band about a year - have only felt this in the last 6 months or so, I think there are times when I am a bit complacent. Have you been on liquids so far? If you are moving to more solid foods it may have caused a bit of stretching and pulling.

[AllieBearRocks 0]

I had surgery on the 6th, and feel this exact same pain. I think it's just gas, but am not 100% sure. I haven't eaten enough of anything to stretch my pouch, so I don't think that's it. But then sometimes when I drink Water it happens, so I think it might be because I took 2 big of a drink, or drank 2 quickly. I'm going to call my doctor about it in a few hours.

[jen36 1]

I am on full liquids now so not eating anything solid. It feels better right now, I did do alot of walking and being on my feet yesterday so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. I have my follow up appt on Wed so if it is still occurring I will def ask. Thanks guys:biggrin:

[gracesmom1 0]

Hey, Jen. I get this pain too. The port is in the Rectus Abdominal Muscle - this is the "6-pack" set of muscles. The highest section lays right under your rib cage and this is were they sink the port. This is more likely what your feeling. Mine comes and goes too. Otherwise you doing well?

[jen36 1]

Thanks Gracesmom1, I guess it was a surprise since I didn't feel any of this before. I called and left a message for the dr anyway just to be sure. I am feeling good otherwise, still have alot of pain in my left shoulder not sure if its trapped gas or its just pulled muscles can't really tell. How are you doing?

[gracesmom1 0]

Pretty good. Loving the new full liquid diet. I was getting real tired of broth and juice! You can only doctor up beef and chicken broth so much! I am just still tender in the rib area too. Just takes time to heal. Other than that, I seem to have so much more energy and motivation to do things! I was such a slug before this. My kids hate it cuz now I am on a cleaning rampage! I ate some of the thinned malt-o-meal this morning - Who eats this stuff regularly?!? I am not a fan of the cream of wheat and oatmeals, but it was different and had texture :-) NASTY anyway! LOL.... I am getting the hungry feeling but afterI eat I am good so rock on I guess! I have dropped almost 10 lbs so far no complaints from me! I am excited to see the Dr. o Wednesday for my 1st follow up. My band was not filled is yours? I have a friend that went to this dr 18 months ago and she has never had a fill and has lost more that 60 lbs! It would be nice if I did that to! Well, off to finish cleaning. Let me know how you are doing. Where are you? Anywhere close to WI??

BTW..... For the shoulder pain, get a tube sock and fill it with rice. heat it in the microwave for a few minutes or until it is warm for you. lay it across your shoulder. The heat and the weight of the rice pack helps ease the muscle and gets the air out if there is still left over in there. This helped me and it is a huge recovery room nurse tip.

Edited May 10, 2010 by gracesmom1
Added comment...

[jen36 1]

Yes me too loving the full liquids, I have been eating this yoplat(don't know if Im spelling right) yogurt the red velvet cake I eat one of those a day it is like eating a piece of cake and only 100 calories. My follow up is Wed as well, I have lost 11lbs so Im excited but scared too that once I am able to eat real food that I am going to gain some back. Dr. called back and said the pinching is absolutely normal so I feel much better about that. I am in NJ so no not too close to you but would love to stay in touch with you to see how your doing and for support...

[gracesmom1 0]

Glad to here it is nothing! Good luck on Wed. I have the same feelings you have about food. Too bad we are so far apart. But, yes, we must keep in touch. Signing off for awhile. Take care and enjoy your strained soup! YUM.....

[bayba792 0]

I've had the same problem and a lady at my dr's office said that she had it but all the time and it was the tubing from the lapband pressing on her diaphram and she would feel relief if she stood up and or pull her arms over her head. And the dr's office said that it was normal for that to happen from time to time. Oh and it would hurt to take deep breathes.

[Futurerem 0]

I was surprised to see this topic because just this morning I had the same pain you describe for the first time. I'm nearly four weeks post-surgery and I've never experienced anything like it, but it made me pretty nervous till I saw other people on here experienced it too.

I'm in NJ as well, I used Dr.Gritsus in Pequannock. He's great about returning calls, but they never seem to answer the phone in his office. So I come here for info before calling very often.

[TheresaB75 0]

mine is a little different. I was out walking with my mom as she walked my dogs and my beagle started to bark at another dog. I reached down to swat him on the butt and tell him to hush. Well when i reched down omg i felt pain!!

I called the doctor today since that area is still tender. It's right where my incision for the port is. Since this is new pain, I have an appt. tomorrow afternoon.

Really hoping I didn't rip something or that anything is now out of place :biggrin:

[jen36 1]

Well my surgeon Dr. Patel in Egg Harbor Twp said its perfectly normal to feel that, I go in anyway for my followup on Wed. Never hurts to call the dr. when experiencing something new. And by the way absolutely starving today, had prob about 600 calories today and feel so darn quilty, only yogurt, cream of wheat and Soup of course but still think I totally over did it... FEELING DOWN!!!!!:biggrin:

[jwkrock 0]

So glad to find this topic! I started getting this pain last night and called the doc just to be sure. I got a nurse who was on her way out the door and was so mad that I called as she was on the way out that she told me to go to the ER because I probably had a blood clot in my lung. Gawd you gotta LOVE North Carolina customer service.