Hi everyone. I was banded June 29th and recovered rather quickly. I had no problems whatsoever until 2nd fill after which I experienced gas pains originating on my left side below the rib cage. No where near port or stomach. It subsided after 2 weeks. I had my 3rd fill 3 weeks ago and notice now I have gas almost all the time now. Especially after eating. I do have restriction and only Pb'ed a couple of times trying to eat bread. I use Citracel nightly for regularity so I know it's not from being backed up. Does anyone have any ideas what is causing this? Will this go away eventually?

I am nearly 6 weeks post op and had a similar pain and i havent had a fill. It was on my left side lower than my stomach and i had radiating shoulder tip pain - typical gas pain. It was worse when i breathed in and i could feel the gas bubbling away. Every time i was ready to call the doc it would settle down. Lasted about 4 days - worse in the evenings. I think i was backed up - no BM for 4 days and had some fluid on board. It was scary but i did not feel unwell and was able to continue as normal so i decided it wasn't anything nasty. I am fine today. It will be interesting to see what happens when i eventually get a fill.

Hoe you are Ok now too.

Yeah...this is definitely gas. I feel it in my shoulders when I take a deep breath so have been taking some gas-x which helped some. I have just been perplexed as to why I got it now in this stage of the game. But remembering those 2 high fiber Vita Top muffins I had and I think the fiber disagreed with me! I never could tolerate fiber that well. That's why I use the Citracel instead of Metamucil...less gas! I woke up this morning with the gas pains and it really startled me. Just had my dinner and the pain went away somewhat. Just wondered if anyone else had this happen to them.

Shelley & JanB,

Was your gas pain very sharp and very painful? I was banded back in April and I've been having very sharp and painful pain under my left rib cage, down to my belly button, and into my back. I wonder if this is gas. How would you describe your pain? I didn't have gas pain when I had the surgery. Odd, huh?

I would describe the pain as sharp with movement and deep breaths. Radiates only to my shoulders though, not lower. I do find it strange to get it now since gas was not an issue right after the surgery.

Mine was the same as Shelly. But now things are "unblocked", so to speak, the pain has resolved. I think i ate food that was a bit heavy and slow to move through.

I had my surgery 9/30 and I still have gas pain *sigh*