Hey everyone, I was banded on 1/18 and i am doing pretty well imo. my incisions are healing well and most of the abdomen pain is gone, but i do have one question about a stabbing pain near my left shoulder. I've read about the shoulder pain, and I think i've already went through that, but this is higher, feels like the peck muscle a few inches away from the neck, and maybe an inch or so away from the shoulder socket. I feel the pain much more when i inhale deeply.

is this normal? is this the co2 gas stuck up there?

I walk about 2 miles a day right now, so I (think?) that's pretty good.

I've already lost almost 8 pounds.

anyway, second question. when drinking Fluid, is it normal to "feel" or hear the fluid going down your throat? I am only swallowing a small amount, but i can still hear/feel it and it's wierd (not bad...just wierd). I do sometimes burp. I say that because I thought that you couldn't burp. I know myu surgeon put 1-2 cc of fluid in the band because I asked. When I swallow fluid, I do my best to not swallow air, but I'm admittedly a huge chugger from the past. I used to drink 12oz of soda in a few seconds.....(Oh and i'm not drinking anything with carbonation).

Sorry for the questions, I've read up alot on this stuff, but these things seem unusual.

Thanks!

Hey everyone, I was banded on 1/18 and i am doing pretty well imo. my incisions are healing well and most of the abdomen pain is gone, but i do have one question about a stabbing pain near my left shoulder. I've read about the shoulder pain, and I think i've already went through that, but this is higher, feels like the peck muscle a few inches away from the neck, and maybe an inch or so away from the shoulder socket. I feel the pain much more when i inhale deeply.

is this normal? is this the co2 gas stuck up there?

I walk about 2 miles a day right now, so I (think?) that's pretty good.

I've already lost almost 8 pounds.

anyway, second question. when drinking Fluid, is it normal to "feel" or hear the fluid going down your throat? I am only swallowing a small amount, but i can still hear/feel it and it's wierd (not bad...just wierd). I do sometimes burp. I say that because I thought that you couldn't burp. I know myu surgeon put 1-2 cc of fluid in the band because I asked. When I swallow fluid, I do my best to not swallow air, but I'm admittedly a huge chugger from the past. I used to drink 12oz of soda in a few seconds.....(Oh and i'm not drinking anything with carbonation).

Sorry for the questions, I've read up alot on this stuff, but these things seem unusual.

Thanks!

Hi Turbo Driver,

I was banded on 1/14/11 and have not experencied either of your concerns. The pain in the shoulder sounds like possibly gass.............but since it has been several days since surgery, I would check with your doctor. And with regards to the sounds you are hearing while drinking, have no idea, sorry. Congradulations on walking 2miles, that is FANTASTIC!

Wish you the best and hope you get answers to your questions.

Hi there. I was banded Friday morning. The shoulder pain you are feeling is indeed gas pain. It can persist for about a week, sometimes more, and can be quite painful (especially when taking deep breaths). Walking can help but not always. When I had a c-section earlier in the year, the stabbing shoulder pain was the worst part and it went away after about 5 days. I have some pretty bad shoulder pain right now as well.

As for burping, I don't know what the norm is, but I have been burping a lot since the surgery...a whole lot...so you definitely CAN burp. I too hear liquids going down, and I think it's because of the empty stomach and the fact that we are taking small, conscious sips. I imagine you will stop noticing it when you are comfortable taking normal sips again and you get back to regular foods.

I hope this helps, and I'm glad to hear you're feeling okay because I feel absolutely terrible. This has been so much more painful than I anticipated, given everything I had read prior. Oh, and I came home home from my hospital stay having gained 8 pounds instead of losing it. =( So, you're doing great!

Best wishes!

OMG...yeah...the "gurgle"...I get that...and the mini-burp. It's not quite a full on burp...but yes. I am just a couple of weeks out...and I still get that.

I was banded in November, and remember every single bit that you are going through. The shoulder pain is probably from gas. Mine seemed to move around alot and finally went away about midway of the second week. The gurgling, it's probably not as loud and you imagine, but you are more alert on the sips you are taking. But yes, It seemed loud and awkward to me too. Congrats on the progress of your journey!!!!

John

I'm eight days out and had the worst shoulder pain ever tonight. Every breath hurt. a paramedic friend of mine let me know that abdominal surgery will often trigger a nerve that happens to be in the lower abdomen but sends a trigger through the spine to the left shoulder in particular. Ectopic pregnancies, c-sections, appendectomy, all can cause the same sensations. A hot pack (tube sock with 3-4 cups dry rice, tied off, microwaved for two minutes, wrapped in tshirt) will help with the pain. It can last up to six weeks, most people don't experience that but it can happen.

The sounds are normal, you're just conscious of them like when you buy a new car and you suddenly see that car everywhere.

Thanks all of you for your help and advise. Today I took my first shower and removed the biggest bandage...I almost passed out (I'm not good ad seeing wounds)

I tried the heat pad last night and it definitely helped (More so than the vicotin the surgeon has me on)

I'm sorry to hear some of you that were banded around me are in so much pain. For whatever reason I am handling it much better than I thought. I have had my back go out on me twice before though, and that is a paint with which all others will be measured...wow it hurts just thinking about it.

I hope and pray you guys feel better soon. Thanks for the reassurance for the "gurgling" LOL last night I took a sip and almost sung like a canary...I'm surprised the sound didn't wake up my sleeping wife!

Hey everyone, I was banded on 1/18 and i am doing pretty well imo. my incisions are healing well and most of the abdomen pain is gone, but i do have one question about a stabbing pain near my left shoulder. I've read about the shoulder pain, and I think i've already went through that, but this is higher, feels like the peck muscle a few inches away from the neck, and maybe an inch or so away from the shoulder socket. I feel the pain much more when i inhale deeply.

is this normal? is this the co2 gas stuck up there?

I walk about 2 miles a day right now, so I (think?) that's pretty good.

I've already lost almost 8 pounds.

anyway, second question. when drinking Fluid, is it normal to "feel" or hear the fluid going down your throat? I am only swallowing a small amount, but i can still hear/feel it and it's wierd (not bad...just wierd). I do sometimes burp. I say that because I thought that you couldn't burp. I know myu surgeon put 1-2 cc of fluid in the band because I asked. When I swallow fluid, I do my best to not swallow air, but I'm admittedly a huge chugger from the past. I used to drink 12oz of soda in a few seconds.....(Oh and i'm not drinking anything with carbonation).

Sorry for the questions, I've read up alot on this stuff, but these things seem unusual.

Thanks!

Congratulations on your band. I was banded on 12/2/2010 and had the shoulder pain for 5 days. I was glad when that was gone. I never noticed any sounds when drinking but did have very small burps. Those things have subsided and now Life is Good!

Congratulations on your band. I was banded on 12/2/2010 and had the shoulder pain for 5 days. I was glad when that was gone. I never noticed any sounds when drinking but did have very small burps. Those things have subsided and now Life is Good!

I was banded 1/6/2011, my gas pains are gone but can anyone tell me when the stomach swelling goes down? It seems when I eat or drink it swells even more. It is so uncomfortable.

Banded 1/14/11. Had gas pains and specifically left shoulder pain for about a week. I noticed it would get worse upon drinking too much too fast. Sharp shoulder pain. I also could not burp til a few days ago. Once I began to really burp gas pains subsided. Ahhhh. And the gurgling...I have that too. Very noisy. New normal?