I'm having sharp massive gas pains in my upper left shoulder. Normally I'd think I'm having a heart attack but I was warned about this by my doctor. I had my surgery 10 days ago. Is this normal ? What can I take to stop the pain ?

Originally posted by alex

I'm having sharp massive gas pains in my upper left shoulder. Normally I'd think I'm having a heart attack but I was warned about this by my doctor. I had my surgery 10 days ago. Is this normal ? What can I take to stop the pain ?

I have this word document under my links section of my website:

POST OPERATIVE CHEST AND SHOULDER PAIN

What you are feeling is the CO2 gas they use to "pump you up" to see your innards through the camera used in laproscopic and in some cases gastroplasty surgery. This inflation technique lifts and separates your organs and muscles so that they can see what they are doing during surgery.

Some things that have been found to help.

1. Walking - Stay active. Don't sit like a lump, even though that is all you want to do because everything hurts, move. Walking will "massage" your insides and help break up that gas and get it moving on out. A short walk (even to the mailbox and back) a few times a day is a good start. More is better, but don't knock yourself out. Keep it to a simple and easy stroll for the first week.

2. Heat - A heating pad will help soothe the gas pain. Move it around as you need to. Shoulder, then back, then tummy, then shoulder again, etc....

3. Gas-X - A true lifesaver!!!! You can buy chewable tablets or gel caps (they are quite tiny). As some say.. Taking them should almost be mandatory, along with antibiotics and anti-inflamatories.

4. Positioning your body . As soon as you are able, get on all fours, doggy style. Take a deep breath and hold for a few moments. As you exhale, move your bottom backwards, extending your arms out in front, and bear down. This position will push the gas right out of you. Noisily, but effectively. Embarrassing? Yes, worth doing? Absolutely!!

5. Breathing Techniques - Take a deep breath (as deep as you can w/o *too* much pain) and hold it. This will help squish/break up some of the larger bubbles. Some find this easier to do while lying in the recliner watching TV.

6. Massage in general. Sit backward in a high backed dining room chair and have someone sit behind you and gently tap and rub your shoulders, back and sides. This may help you to start burping (A few good rippers help! If you have someone to burp you, don't be afraid of the pain of him or her touching you. Let them do it.. It doesn’t hurt and is a great release.

7. Massage; Part 2 - If you don't have someone to burp you, think hard about investing (or borrowing) one of those chair pad massagers.. After a night of TV watching while lying on that thing in the recliner (turn it on for 10-15 mins, off for 5, on again, off again),

These hints with a bit of time (7-10 days) and the gas should be gone.

hope this is of help alex

It's been 10 days since my procedure, that's why I was a little surprised. I have a feeling it might have been a drink that I had today.

Leo thanks for those tips!

If your pain doesn't subside with Leo's suggestions, I suggest going to the ER to get checked out. Better safe than sorry with chest pain.

I'm all good now....thanks

So what do you think it was Alex??? Was it gas pains or something you drank ???

I have a feeling that it was gas from something I drank.

What did you drink? A helium highball?

Originally posted by Alexandra

What did you drink? A helium highball?

Pretty close,

I drank:

http://www.nakedjuice.com/iwant_superfoods.php?blend=proteinpack

Looks yummy...if you're on a liquid diet!

My liquid diet will be over tomorrow but I was pretty creative the last 2 weeks and I was actually enjoying the liquids I was drinking. I found some great tasting yogurt and fruit drinks that kept me going the last 2 weeks.