I had lap band surgery in January. Since then I have had 2 fills and I will have my 3rd one in the morning. I have 5cc in a 10cc band and so far I have felt no restrictions, no sliming or getting things stuck like alot of people I have heard on here. That part is good, but I am also able to eat pretty much whatever. Not that I do most of the time, but according to my doctor I should only be able to eat a half cup of food and no more than a cup. If I eat a half cup, I am starving in an hour, so most of the time it is a cup of food. Now saying that, I have consistantly lost weight each week and have now hit 40#'s. The problem is, since surgery I have had shoulder pain.

At first they said it was due to gas from the surgery, then after a month I was told I was probably eating too fast or too much or maybe I had laid funny in surgery and now 3 months out, it doesn't matter if I eat at all. It will keep me up at night or be there in the morning before I eat anything. Yesterday I felt the burning in my shoulder all day. All I had to eat was decaf coffee with Protein mix for Breakast. 1/2 cup of very fine minced up Chicken salad for lunch and then I had a weight watcher cheese stick to hold me over until after the Lap Band meeting and dinner I had 1/2 cup Tuna salad, thinking maybe if I went down to 1/2 cup would help.

All day my shoulder was burning and it still is this morning. I work in an office all day, so I know I haven't hurt anything lifting. I even bought a special chair in case it was because of that. The RN is not sure whats wrong and now seems to think I may have too much fill and may decide to take some out tomorrow. That worries me, because obviously I feel no restrictions, never have except right out of surgery. That is why I am frustrated.

I told them about reading that sometimes a nerve in the diaphram can cause pain if the band rubs against it too much and he had never heard of that.

I'd like to hear from any of you, if it still sounds like I am too full of fluid or not? And if not, what are your suggestions? I have also questioned if the band had moved or flipped, because last fill he kept hitting something hard, missing it every time until he pulled out the ultrasound machine to find the right spot. When I feel my stomach it is no longe a flat port spot, but more of a hard bubble, like the back side of the port, which would explain why it seemed as if he was hitting plastic or metal, but the RN in charge of the program says it could have been scar tissue causing trouble getting to it to. Scar tissue shouldn't sound like metal, I wouldn't think:(

Frustrated!

I have read of several people who have experienced the shoulder pain. I have read that it is related to the band. There used to be someone on this site that had a lot of trouble with it and her Dr's did link it to the band. Can you do a search of this site, maybe you could find some info out that way.

I have found quite a bit, but trying to get my doctor and the ladies at the clinic to get it out of their mind for a minute, that it isn't always about the amount of food I eat thats causing the problem . It's like they don't want to find fault in the band, just the person and thats whats frustrating. Especially since I loose every week and work really hard at eating healthy.

There are a few people on this forum that have had problems, i think itsd called the Vegas Nerve so look it up here or google it, i would have thought that if something had happened to your port the ultrasound would have picked that up on your last fill, see what happens this time and insist they check the band again after all u are paying for the service

Ha! yeah, I have noticed when I have had issues it is always something "I'm doing wrong" couldn't be a problem with the band. Good Luck!

I also have the pain in the left shoulder. Im due for my 1st fill next week so. I'm concerned about it. I have a left shoulder injury so I think that isn't helping any. I plan on getting a massage on that shoulder again. A deep muscle massage would feel Soooo good when it's aching, actually a knife might feel good too, not for real but the thought has crossed my mind.

My pain doesnt have rhyme or reason either. It does feel better when I burp so it might be gas. Gas x do not work. My shoulder also feels bruised all the time

I'm still trying the massage for it. Can't pass up a reason for a massage

If she thinks you are too tight and you feel no restriction, request an upper GI to check how open the stoma is. I had mine done and it showed that she was able to give me another fill. I was happy because she thought I was tight enough and I don't have much restriction and can still eat alot at one sitting. I def eat more than 1/2 cup that's for sure. But I do count my calories to keep myself on track. though I am first to admit it has been a struggle lately!

I also have the pain in the left shoulder. Im due for my 1st fill next week so. I'm concerned about it. I have a left shoulder injury so I think that isn't helping any. I plan on getting a massage on that shoulder again. A deep muscle massage would feel Soooo good when it's aching' date=' actually a knife might feel good too, not for real but the thought has crossed my mind.

My pain doesnt have rhyme or reason either. It does feel better when I burp so it might be gas. Gas x do not work. My shoulder also feels bruised all the time

I'm still trying the massage for it. Can't pass up a reason for a massage <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />[/quote']

My massage REALLy helped my shoulder pain. Deep muscle took out the knots and the new pains didn't hurt as bad. I so glad I tried it

Hi, i'm preop and my Dr. office gave me a book to read called The Lap-Band Solution, written by Paul O'Brien MD. I have been reading it and come across a section talking about pain after surgery. It says pain in the left shoulder area is common, it is referred pain coming from the diagphargm (large sheet of muscle separating the heart, chest and lungs from abdomen). It is called referred pain because although it comes from diagphargm the brain interprets it coming from the left shoulder. It can last days- weeks after surgery. It is uknown why this occurs, and is unprdictable. Here are some things that may help: hot packs to shoulder, stand up or sit upright, rest quitly for 10 minutes, walk, peppermint tea.