I was banded 5 days ago. I am having terrible heartburn and chest pains. Is this normal? Does it go away?

I was told your not supposed to have heartburn or reflux after the band. could it be your feeling a back up from eating too much or the wrong thing? What are you eating?

Nothing I am not supposed to be....Juice, gatorade, soup....

I am burping a lot too, which is very painful. I can feel it in my chest...

I don't have enough experience to answer, but my guess would be your swallowing alot of air when you drink.. Could anything be plugging you? such as a pill? How often and how much liquid.. what kind of soup?

Hmm, I don't use a straw because I thought that made too much air. I don't know if it even is heartburn, cause I've never had it before, but thats what it feels like.

I can only drink about 1/2 cup of liquid per hour. I am gonna go buy sippy cups today, maybe that will help.

No medications, so that can't be it either...hmmm....

The best I can describe is a painful burp.--nothing comes up or anything though and it happens everytime i drink and even when i dont!

Snowangel,

I am right there /you! I was banded last Monday and I too have a horrible pain in my chest, Its there when I eat, drink or just sitting there. It feels like a painful burp but I cant do anything!!! I am also eating what Im suppose to and trying to get all the water in but having a hard time! Im sorry you are going thru the same thing but Im glad to know Im not the only one. I go next Weds for my post-op ck up. Im going to ask what the hell is going on in my chest!! Ive also been eating gas-x like candy..Let me know if you find something out before I do, I was kinda scared something bad has happened because it shouldnt be this painful..

Hi! Thanks so much for responding! I guess if we are both going through this, that it must be normal! How are you feeling otherwise? I am just tired, but what else is new! lol

Yes, anything I eat or don't eat I feel it, when I burp it hurts in my chest...I am going for my post op on thursday, andthat is also one of my many questions....

Have you have any naseaus or diareha? I've had some unfortunatly! Omg I've almost finished my bottle of gaz x, I don't think its helping though!

I do ok til late afternoon then I kinda start not feeling to well. I just ate the best chicken noodle soup Ive ever had! Blenderized of course! hmmm, I had my first BM today and it was quite watery?? Anyway, other than the pain in my chest I feel great! my incisions dont really hurt and I can sleep on my stomach already (which Ive heard from a few that is hard to do!) I know how you feel about the gas-x, Im about chalked out myself! keep in touch and good luck Thursday..

what do you do about blood pressure meds post-op?

i dont know, never been on bp meds.

pacupatty

I'm on BP meds too, along with several others. I worried about getting them down, cut them all in half first, but turned out I had no problem at all. I was told to take them like always. Band get's tighter in the morning, so if you can, switch to nights for a while it might be easier. Mine aren't too large though. I'd worry more about them after you get your first fill or two. Feels a lot different then, believe me.

pacupatty,

I was told by my doctor that if the pills were smaller than a pencil eraser they shold be fine. The first 2 week post op I cut mine in 2-3 pieces just to make sure.

jbacher

banded 3/12/07

I was just banded on Thursday 3/29 and I'm experiencing the same things. I have a lot of discomfort in the esophogus. It feels painful like passing a "hard" burp. It's rather uncomfortable. Other than that I'm doing great. I've cut back on pain meds, and been able to walk on the treadmill.

As for the pills, my doc has me crushing all pills for the first three weeks. I'm also on full liquids for the first three weeks.

Hi all, It sounds to me that we are just overly swollen from our new bands. Last night, I was trying to swollow a quarterd pill, and i gagged on it. For about an hour after that episode, I felt like something was still there. It was very uncomfortable. Hmmm... It came right up, but i didnt try to take the pill again. I ended up sending my husband out for liquid pain reliever.

We all heal differently. My doctor gave me several different things that could happen. Such as the band caused more swelling than most people, or the actual inflamation around the Whole stomach area that was intruded upon could cause the extra pain and discomfort. However, She said 9 times out of 10, its extra air. The air that is put in your stomach during surgery plus the extra air we take in when we eat. However the one thing she did warn me about is that if I have apnea <i dont thank goodness> this could indeed cause extra discomfort within the chest area because your body is struggeling to breath.

I hope these little things she shared with me can help one of you. I wish you all the best!

hmm i actually have apnea and asthma...that could be it. it seems to be better when iam laying down actually..