Hi there,

I haven't been on here in years, but this is truly the only place I have to turn. I don't know anyone else who has the band and I'm a little scared. I've had this pain on my left side, under my rib cage, for several months. It's now almost a daily thing. The only way to describe it is something similar to when you're running and your side hurts. It hurts usually when I eat, but not always. I've not ever had "acid reflux" so I'm not really sure what that is. I've had "heart burn" and I don't really have that problem right now. I'm not vomiting and I am able to eat (too much). I do feel uncomfortable when laying on my right side, almost like something is rubbing my rib cage. My port is located in the upper-middle portion of my abdomen, so it's not port pain. The only recent PB'ing or vomiting was on the Fourth of July this year, I attempted to eat a bite of an Italian beef sandwich - boy oh boy was that a bad idea! I vomited for about 6 hours.

I had a baby last year and my band was loosened to accommodate my nutritional needs. My band is not tight right now and I have not been losing weight. I gained 35 pounds during pregnancy, and l've lost all but 5 pounds of that weight without having my band tightened. I don't eat right (I'm an emotional/stress eater) and have lots of room for improvement. I know I'm wrong, but my outlook right now is that I had Lap Band surgery, not brain surgery. I need to change my mind. I don't disagree that I make wrong food choices, but I'm so scared of being judged, that I've ignored this for too long.

My question is this - does anyone else have this problem? Does this sound similar to anything any of you may have gone through? Is this even band related? I know I should go see the Surgeon, and I plan on doing so. I am just avoiding the "you suck at weight loss and should have never had this surgery" discussion. And yes, this is how they make me feel. I just wish I could find someone who has gone through something similar. Does anyone have any experience with this feeling or words of wisdom?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi there,

I haven't been on here in years, but this is truly the only place I have to turn. I don't know anyone else who has the band and I'm a little scared. I've had this pain on my left side, under my rib cage, for several months. It's now almost a daily thing. The only way to describe it is something similar to when you're running and your side hurts. It hurts usually when I eat, but not always. I've not ever had "acid reflux" so I'm not really sure what that is. I've had "heart burn" and I don't really have that problem right now. I'm not vomiting and I am able to eat (too much). I do feel uncomfortable when laying on my right side, almost like something is rubbing my rib cage. My port is located in the upper-middle portion of my abdomen, so it's not port pain. The only recent PB'ing or vomiting was on the Fourth of July this year, I attempted to eat a bite of an Italian beef sandwich - boy oh boy was that a bad idea! I vomited for about 6 hours.

I had a baby last year and my band was loosened to accommodate my nutritional needs. My band is not tight right now and I have not been losing weight. I gained 35 pounds during pregnancy, and l've lost all but 5 pounds of that weight without having my band tightened. I don't eat right (I'm an emotional/stress eater) and have lots of room for improvement. I know I'm wrong, but my outlook right now is that I had Lap Band surgery, not brain surgery. I need to change my mind. I don't disagree that I make wrong food choices, but I'm so scared of being judged, that I've ignored this for too long.

My question is this - does anyone else have this problem? Does this sound similar to anything any of you may have gone through? Is this even band related? I know I should go see the Surgeon, and I plan on doing so. I am just avoiding the "you suck at weight loss and should have never had this surgery" discussion. And yes, this is how they make me feel. I just wish I could find someone who has gone through something similar. Does anyone have any experience with this feeling or words of wisdom?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Where is your port? Could that be what you are feeling?

Amanda,

First...that little pain your felling is well-reported on this site and I get it, too. It's not an everyday thing for me, but it usually happens after I eat. I find it goes away if I get up and move around. I have no idea what causes it, although I think it has something to do with the positioning of the tubing that leads to the port. I feel like there's a kink (or something) and it's poking me. I know the pain you're feeling is not acid reflux because I am very familiar with that.

As for the weight loss...I think you are doing great. You did well only gaining 35 lbs with the baby and you've gotten most of that off. That's a lot more than most women can do on their own. When you're ready, I would go back the the surgeon and get a fill. You haven't failed at anything. You just had life happen and now you want to use the tool you've got. There's nothing wrong with that. That's why you had surgery in the first place.

Cindy

This is a wild stab but do you think it could be gas pains? I often find when I have eaten less than a normal day or when I have to do liquids after a fill that I am extra gassy and sometimes get gas pains on my left side lower abdomen. Might not be your problem but worth thinking about.

The title of your post seems to indicate you are worried about slippage.

If it's any consolation whatsoever, my Doctor told me that I would know if my band slipped by the fact that I would not be able to keep ANYTHING down at all.

BTW, I've had a similar pain for years, even prior to my banding. In my case, it was due to a distended Xyphoid hitting one of the radial nerves around my rib cage. I find it is most pronounced when I loose weight and there is more pressure on my Xyphoid process.

i have this pain also on my left side lower than my port. it tends to get really bad if i eat too much. i was worried too when it first started. i had an ultrasound, cat scan, saw two different lab band surgeons and two general surgeons plus my general doctor and they all said that they can't find anything and it may be one of those pains that just happen with not explanation. unless it gets worse of radiates from where it's at now, i'll just live with it.

I just posted something on this a few weeks ago! I had a pain just below my ribcage on my left side. I went to the doctor's and she said there are no vital organs on the left side. She gave me a pain killer which barely helped-I had an xray too-a mystery pain for sure! It went away on it's on...thank goodness!! I thought I may have bruised a rib while PBing-and if you vonited for 6 hours you may have also added forced against your ribcage. I found that it hurt worse when I was sitting for any period of time. Oddly enough when I slept or laid down it didn't hurt. That makes me think it was a bruised rib or a nerve. Good luck - and congrats on the baby!!!!