I'm now 5 days post-op, and off the demerol. But since Sunday (I was banded on Thursday), I've had a pretty sharp pain in my stomach almost everytime I swallow saliva or any liquid (I'm on a liquid diet now). Is this normal? I know that everyone heals differently but should I be concerned? I put a call into my clinic, but I'm hoping to get some reassurance here faster because I'm really worried.

And oddly this pain, which I'm almost sure is cause by the fluids passing through the band (maybe I'm just really swollen?), it will go away mid-pain if i inhale strongly enough...which is also sort of painful because my chest is still pretty tight.

Any thoughts?

Just be sure it's not chest pain. Are you having trouble breathing at all? Keep alert for the possibility of blood clots, though that doesn't sound like what you're describing.

It sounds like your band could be too tight. Do you know what kind of band your surgeon used? I should probably let other, more experienced people answer this, but the too-tight band is what comes to my mind. You are probably still a bit swollen but that should be tapering off within the next 3-4 days.