Hi...Today marks my one week anniversary from surgery. I was banded on August 16th. I underestimated the amount of pain that I felt this week. Thank goodness I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Did anyone else experience severe pain in the rib area when breathing. At first I assumed it was related to the gas that was put into your body during surgery. (and maybe that is the reason), but still today I have a pain mainly on the left side rib cage area when taking in a deep breath. Overall feeling so much better but still have a lot of swelling and pressure. About how long can I expect the swelling and pressure to last?...Thank you!!! P.s. I just joined this forum today and am so excited to be apart of this lap band group. How exciting to have a place to go when you want to feel connected to people who will share with you in this journey.

Hi Joly and welcome. This is a good place to ask lots of questions, as there are members here who are banded for a long time as well as those of us who are pretty new.

I was sore for a couple of weeks after banding. I had some pain in the left side when I would take a deep breath, the swelling around the stomach and the bloating from the gas impact the diaphragm a bit. If the pain does not subside in a few days I would give the surgeon a call and just let them know.

I found that an ice pack was super helpful in that area, and internally some ice pops help with getting your Fluid in and soothing some of the swelling as well. Alternately I also found that some warm mild decaffeinated tea helped me to get the gassy feeling to move out of that area.

Also walk walk walk my friend. That really helps things move, and standing straight helps the internal organs to expand and give the diaphragm more space so you can take those deep breaths and cough up any reaming effects from the anesthesia.

Hope your feeling better soon!

Hi...Today marks my one week anniversary from surgery. I was banded on August 16th. I underestimated the amount of pain that I felt this week. Thank goodness I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Did anyone else experience severe pain in the rib area when breathing. At first I assumed it was related to the gas that was put into your body during surgery. (and maybe that is the reason)' date=' but still today I have a pain mainly on the left side rib cage area when taking in a deep breath. Overall feeling so much better but still have a lot of swelling and pressure. About how long can I expect the swelling and pressure to last?...Thank you!!! P.s. I just joined this forum today and am so excited to be apart of this lap band group. How exciting to have a place to go when you want to feel connected to people who will share with you in this journey.[/quote']

I had this also, this was the only difficult pain that I experienced, I went in to see my doc because of it and he advised me to blow in to a balloon, blow up as hard as I could ( may sound weird but I swear it helped) its something about the lungs and clearing/stengthening them after surgery. Do it a few times a day it may help you, good luck!

Hi...Today marks my one week anniversary from surgery. I was banded on August 16th. I underestimated the amount of pain that I felt this week. Thank goodness I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Did anyone else experience severe pain in the rib area when breathing. At first I assumed it was related to the gas that was put into your body during surgery. (and maybe that is the reason), but still today I have a pain mainly on the left side rib cage area when taking in a deep breath. Overall feeling so much better but still have a lot of swelling and pressure. About how long can I expect the swelling and pressure to last?...Thank you!!! P.s. I just joined this forum today and am so excited to be apart of this lap band group. How exciting to have a place to go when you want to feel connected to people who will share with you in this journey.

I was banded August 9th and didn't really have issues with gas pain. I thought I was lucky and dodged it but 8 days post-op and my first day back to work I developed severe pain beneath my left rib. I took a lot of gas-x.. didn't work. I used the heating pad.. didn't work. I tried walking.. no luck there. I finally took 2 Tbsp of milk of magnesia and 30 minutes later I was pain free. Of course I did have some other unpleasent side effects but it was so worth it. Same thing happened the next day and again I tried gas-x, heating pad, and walking then finally doing the MOM. You'd think I would learn. I'm 2 weeks post-op today and feeling great.

I am four days post op and I am having the same pain...it's right under the left ribs and feels like a stitch u get in your side from running. It was really bad yesterday and seems to b getting better today....I can't tell u how long it will last but I would like to know too. It's bearable but I have been in more pain than I thought I would but getting better . Hope u feel better soon

I had a bit of that pain under the left rib as well. GasX, Milk of Magnesia and walking were advised but I'm not certain which one fixed the problem. Hope you both feel better.

Hi...Today marks my one week anniversary from surgery. I was banded on August 16th. I underestimated the amount of pain that I felt this week. Thank goodness I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Did anyone else experience severe pain in the rib area when breathing. At first I assumed it was related to the gas that was put into your body during surgery. (and maybe that is the reason)' date=' but still today I have a pain mainly on the left side rib cage area when taking in a deep breath. Overall feeling so much better but still have a lot of swelling and pressure. About how long can I expect the swelling and pressure to last?...Thank you!!! P.s. I just joined this forum today and am so excited to be apart of this lap band group. How exciting to have a place to go when you want to feel connected to people who will share with you in this journey.[/quote']

I am having the same issue...I had my surgery yesterday and have not been able to take any fluids. I called my Dr and he told me to get some nexium or Prilosec because of the hernia repair. I am hoping to feel better soon and to be able to drink/sip some water!

I am having the same issue...I had my surgery yesterday and have not been able to take any fluids. I called my Dr and he told me to get some nexium or Prilosec because of the hernia repair. I am hoping to feel better soon and to be able to drink/sip some water!

If that continues let him know right away. Getting dehydrated is no fun.

Hi...Today marks my one week anniversary from surgery. I was banded on August 16th. I underestimated the amount of pain that I felt this week. Thank goodness I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Did anyone else experience severe pain in the rib area when breathing. At first I assumed it was related to the gas that was put into your body during surgery. (and maybe that is the reason)' date=' but still today I have a pain mainly on the left side rib cage area when taking in a deep breath. Overall feeling so much better but still have a lot of swelling and pressure. About how long can I expect the swelling and pressure to last?...Thank you!!! P.s. I just joined this forum today and am so excited to be apart of this lap band group. How exciting to have a place to go when you want to feel connected to people who will share with you in this journey.[/quote']

I'm having the SAME issue. My surgery was August 15th. I see the surgeon this coming Tuesday. I called the doc office & they told me prob gas pain. I had hernia surgery also.

I'll be honest with you. I felt like a Mack Truck had run me over but by the end of the second week it was not bad at all. Now I'm 8 months out and I feel great!

If that continues let him know right away. Getting dehydrated is no fun.

Thank you. I will!

Im having pain on breathing in in chest. Also have little deep cough that just burns in my back where lungs are. Almost feels like a muscle spasm that moves up. Had surgery yest. Is this normal? I also have fibromyalgia and my entire body hurts from that today, surgery always triggers more pain with that. I also can just not relax, ive been up since 6:45 yest. Help!

Im having pain on breathing in in chest. Also have little deep cough that just burns in my back where lungs are. Almost feels like a muscle spasm that moves up. Had surgery yest. Is this normal? I also have fibromyalgia and my entire body hurts from that today' date=' surgery always triggers more pain with that. I also can just not relax, ive been up since 6:45 yest. Help![/quote']

Are you taking your pain medication scheduled every 4-6 hours? Walking, coughing, and deep breathing will help the pain from the gas they used to inflate your abdomen. The muscle spasm I had too. It is where they attached the port. Heating pad will help.

My pain is in back. My port feels fine. I just am paranoid and feel like something is not right.

My pain is in back. My port feels fine. I just am paranoid and feel like something is not right.

If it is up in your back between your shoulder blades that is from the gas they use to inflate your abdomen. Walking, coughing and deep breathing helps. Use the heating pad for your back helps.

-Thank you everyone for your input, advise and support!! I have my follow-up appointment on Tuesday and regardless if my pain is still there I am going to ask the Doctor what it is from. I will post then and let you know. When taking a deep breathe the pain can be very intense. I am sure most of you can agree, that as long as it isn't anything serious, the pain that we are experiencing from surgery doesn't even compare to the inner pain we've put myself through (not to mention physical well-being) living over weight. Thank you all very much.