When i started reading about lap band surgery 2 things i found people complained the most post op was gas and pain. Initially I thought the gas was in the bowels or intestine, i was shocked to learn that the gas can actually be in the shoulders and other parts of the body, how uncomfortable is the gas, how intense is the pain, how long does it last and what have you found to make it better, i have heard people talk about gas x and heat pads; ow effective are they.

I know i am asking a lot of questions but I just want to be prepared as my surgery is scheduled for the 7th of April.

You usually feel the gas pains in your chest, tummy, shoulders, and sometimes your back. It's not really painful, just uncomfortable. It usually goes away after a week or so. Gas-X and heating pads along with walking work wonders.

I had very minimal gas pain except for right after I woke up from surgery. My shoulder ached a bit but it wasn't too bad for me. I never took gas-x or needed to but I did have it

on hand just in case.

I walked around a lot and maybe that's why I didn't have much pain. I only needed the liquid Lortab for one day. I took liquid Tylenol for one day after that and then didn't need any pain medication.

I think it is really hard to predict pain. I am a wuss who puts band aids on paper cuts but this surgery was a breeze for me. I had expected it to be very painful and it wasn't. I do feel for those people that have a difficult recovery.

When i started reading about lap band surgery 2 things i found people complained the most post op was gas and pain. Initially I thought the gas was in the bowels or intestine, i was shocked to learn that the gas can actually be in the shoulders and other parts of the body, how uncomfortable is the gas, how intense is the pain, how long does it last and what have you found to make it better, i have heard people talk about gas x and heat pads; ow effective are they.

I know i am asking a lot of questions but I just want to be prepared as my surgery is scheduled for the 7th of April.

I didn't have any gas pains, but I attribute that to walking. As soon as i woke up in recovery i told the nurses i had to go to the bathroom just so they would get me up and moving. Every hour, on the hour, i would get up and walk around the nursing unit. The doctor said that the NO2 they use to inflate your abdomin for surgery is absorbed into your body, but until then can cause you pain. Walking helps the gas absorb quicker. The gas should actually only take 6-8 hours to absorb but if you're not up and moving then it's just going to hang out in your body. Gas x doesn't help because this isn't intestinal, but heating pads do. The biggest thing is to WALK no matter how much you feel like not walking. Just WALK WALK WALK WALK and you will have minimal gas pain!!!

It was stressed to us over and over at our pre-op class that immediately after your surgery, try to get up and walk in the hospital. And walk as much as possible. This I did, and thus, no gas pain at all. So, yes, the walking is extremely important to you to avoid the discomfort.

Everyone's experience will be different but I would suggest getting Gas X strips before you go in for surgery. I had severe pain in my left shoulder for the first couple of days post op, it just got better a couple of days ago. Gas X and walking helped a lot!

Best Wishes!

I am 4 days post op and i have had a little gas pain. I dont really think that the gas ex helped me-maybe mentally but not physically. On a scale of one to ten-I would say that pain from incisions or gas was never higher than a 3. I have walked and walked and I really think that helps. When ever I would feel pressure in my shoulder area I would get up and do a little something. Like clean up the table or something little and the pain would go away. For me I got the best burps when ever I would eat a sugar free popcicle. I really wouldnt worry about the gas pain much. If it hits stand up and walk and it passes pretty quickly.