For those of you who have experienced the gas pains after surgery, on a scale of 1-10, what number would you consider the pain? I was banded on Monday and if I don't take the pain meds my pain level goes up to about an 8. All the pain is in my abdomen not my back/shoulder. I'm beginning to think that this is not normal.

I think an 8 is pretty close to what I had. I stayed on the liquid pain meds every time I could for the first week. I'm a wuss when it comes to pain.

If you are are really concerned, and from your posts I think you are, you might want to call you doctor's office and ask a few questions. If you trust your doc, you have to take what he says at face value. Just remember, you doc most likely has not had a lab band and can only give you science and theroy. Let him know how you feel even if it does not fall in line with what he says is supposed to happen. You need to be as candid as possible.

FYI - I also chewed Gas X often with good results.

berry, are you up and walking? You need to be as mobile as possible...

How long ago were you banded?

berry, i also suffer from gas pain, i had my surgery tuesday, march 13, 2007 and still have a little gas pain. for about a week a had really bad pain, but it starting to finally go away as my swelling goes down. this is normal from what i hear. so just chew on some gas x and try to move around or go for a walk, it has helped me lot's.

berry, i also suffer from gas pain, i had my surgery tuesday, march 13, 2007 and still have a little gas pain. for about a week a had really bad pain, but it starting to finally go away as my swelling goes down. this is normal from what i hear. so just chew on some gas x and try to move around or go for a walk, it has helped me lot's.

Hi Berry, I had my surgery on Tuesday, March 20th and like you am experiencing alot of gas but mine is in my chest area and it feels like I'm having a heart attack, it takes my breath away and hurts. What I do is when I feel it coming on, I hold a pillow close to my stomach and chest and it seems to take the pressure off. I was also taking the pain meds the dr. prescribed as of yesterday and today I'm taking Tylenol liquid x-strength. Walking is a definite- that is what you need to do. Walk around your house at least once every hour if you can't go out yet. This will pass and each day it will get less and less.....You are on the right road to recovery.....Reesh:)

My gas pain was about a 6 but I was religiously taking gas x every 4 hours on the hour. I didn't have the shoulder pain until 5 days after surgery and that lasted 2 days but the heating pad helped some.