I was banded not even two weeks ago on 2/6. Ever since the surgery I've had pretty severe pain in my left shoulder. Couple of days ago I started to feel pain under my rib cage on my left side. I cannot yawn or take really deep breath without tears in my eyes. I read your posts about what you found helpful and walk every day for at least an hour every day in the gym. I also walk with my puppy every morning and every evening. Well, it hasn't helped. I stretched, did some weight training (within limits), took warm baths...nothing seem to be helping. Thinking about possibly swimming being helpful...anyone's thoughts?

I'm sitting in my office high on codein right now, but there would be no way I could do it otherwise. On top of everything, I got hit by a car in a parking lot last night (I wasn't in a car), and as you can imagine that didn't help the situation at all..

I expected the pain and being uncomfortable, but never once could I complain about the cuts. It's all the other issues that seems to be bringing me to tears.

So any thoughts on swimming? Any other ideas?

On another note, when did you get your first fill? I'm asking my dr. to do it 4 weeks after the surgery. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks so much!

Renata

banded 2/6/04 Dr. Artuso

205/189/135

Hi Renata -

Sorry you're having so much pain, and good Lord! Hit by a car last night?!?! You must be okay, or you wouldn't be posting (I hope!).

You are only two weeks out - I think it is a little early to swim, but the general concensus seems to be that as soon as all the incisions are completely, totally, 100% healed it's okay. I would double-check with your doc first if you have any doubts. You sure as heck don't want any incision infections, and soaking around in Water will soften the incisions, so if there is the least little possibility of them opening up, they will.

The port pain seems to be the worse, and as far as I know, exercise is not going to make port pain go away. I would use a heating pad on it, and take it easy. Use the heating pad on your shoulder, too.

You don't want to rush your fills, you want to make sure the band is healed in place. That is the very most important thing - these first 6 weeks are about HEALING. I do believe the protocol is the first fill no sooner than 6 weeks, so no, I would not ask your doc to do it sooner.

Good luck!

Left shoulder pain is routine and resolves with time. (The band is sitting on something that connects to a nerve that is connected to your left shoulder.)

I have a sternal port placement, but I recall hearing that the rib cage pain is something for the first couple of weeks.

Swimming, without overexerting or stretching any muscles that hook up to the muscle which had to been cut to insert the port into its place (which is what I suspect you're doing) is cool. But why not just walk back and forth across the short way, in the shallow end? Good exercise and easy on the knees. You just had surgery. Take your time.

Sue

I am sorry about the pain you are in. It will go away with time. In the meantime, it sounds to me like you may be overdoing it with the exercise - especially the weight training. I know my doctor told me not to lift anything over 5 pounds. I can't remember for how long, but weight training so soon after surgery can't be a good idea. Take the pain medicine if you need to. Walk, use heat. But criminy! You just had major surgery and were hit by a car! Give yourself a break!

Nancy

Thank you so much for your responses. Well, yesterday I left the office at 5 pm and was in bed by 7.30. Slept like a baby and today I feel sooooo much better. Hope it will last. I think I will stay away from weights and eliptical trainer for a couple of weeks.

One thing I do find quite surprising though is that despite of not eating anything substantial (still on liquids) and definitely eating very little, I haven't lost an ounce this past week. I have PCOS and try to stay away from sugar, however, it is fairly difficult during the liquid stage. Seems like everything you can eat has sugar in some form in it. Does anyone have any suggestions? Million thanks!

Renata

banded 02/06/04

dr. Artuso

Well, I've GOT a suggestion, but it may not be exactly what you were hoping for:

Relax. This isn't like anything you've done before. At this point, your body needs to heal and your brain needs to give it time to heal. Eat whatever you can that will let your incisions heal and scar tissue to form around your band so that it stays put. You may GAIN weight and oh, well, that's the way it goes. The immediate post-op time is NOT about losing weight. (In fact, you may be eating so little that you're in starvation mode and cannot lose weight at this time.)

Later, when you've healed and you start solid foods, and you have an adjustment (or two or three or five), you will have the restriction you need to work with the band.

Remember that the adjustable gastric band surgery is NOT the surgery for people who need immediate, drastic results. The average patient loses about 65% of their excess weight in two years. That means that for people with your numbers, the average patient will weigh about 160 two years post-op. Half will lose a more and half will lose less. And half will lose slower and half will lose faster.

I don't mean to discourage you, but to remind you that your journey hasn't even begun. You need to slow down and get ready for the journey. You might be someone who loses five pounds per week and gets to goal in three months. But most people are not. So, try not to make yourself crazy if you are NOT one of those (very few) people.

Sue

Could be gain pains also, I suggest you take some gas-X, it wouldn't hurt to try right??