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Achey under right rib cage

I just got banded on June 10th. A couple days ago I started getting really achey under my right rib cage... It kinda radiates to my back shoulder. It makes it hard to take a deep breath. Bras make it worse. I'm not sure if this is just normal aches and pains from surgery, or if it's a pulled muscle... Or gall bladder? I see my surgeon in a week. So will address it with him then, because it isn't straight up pain...more of an annoyance right now. It is pretty constant. Anyone have anything similar going on? How many of you had gall bladder issues after surgery? (I really hope it isn't that)

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Haven't had the WLS yet, but I have had gall bladder surgery. and the pain was a lot more than just achey. It was downright excruciating. So yours doesn't sound like gall bladder. maybe it's the port sight?

  • Author

Glad to hear it's probably not gallbladder...could be the port site healing. I was told if my left side is painful to call...they never said anything about the right. Just got a little worried when I googled it and found a bunch of gallstone symptoms, and how it happens after WLS. Last thing I want is another surgery right now! I should just stay away from google, lol!

I don't know what it is but i have it too. Especially on deep breaths. I can not lay but a short minute on my left side because of discomfort. My surgery was the 20th and I don't have any other issues but the pain from that, especially when i overdo it with a long day, bending and stretching to much. I have just thought it is part of the healing process but I dont know.

Colleen

I was banded on June 12th. I've had minimal to no pain, up until yesterday. All port side (near left rib cage), to where I can't slouch even the slightest bit. Driving today was awful. My underwire bra did not help it. It's not so much pain, as it is discomfort. I have good posture, but this is ridiculous. Forcing myself to keep my upper body completely straight, all day, is tiring, not to mention, bothering my back. I think I'm gonna finally have to take some of the pain meds tonight.

As for lying on my left side, I haven't been able to YET. I have two incisions there and I swear it burns inside to try and twist or shift. My husband was banded 3.5 yrs ago, and he said he had the same problem, same side. He said nothing is tearing, that it's the muscle near the work site incision. But this crap near my rib cage is pissing me off!

  • Author

So it's on the right hand side for you guys too? I can lay on either side now, and the pressure actually helps it. Bras are really not comfortable at all...and deep breaths hurt. I can relate to the driving...I struggle to get out of the seat after sitting straight up for so long. If I turn the wrong way during the day....yowza! Surgery must really tear the core muscles up...sheesh!

Mine is left side.

@Junebug36. Hi there and sorry for your pain -- don't wait it out a week to see the surgeon. Call it in. They want to know what's going on with you. Right side pain can indicate GB so have it checked out. You don't want it to get worse or become acute, whatever it might be. Call!

  • Author

It seems to be getting better by the day, so I'm thinking it's muscle related. If it gets worse again, I will call. I'm starting to wonder if that's where my port is? My left side is fine, no aches at all. Can you ladies touch and feel your port under the skin? I can't seem to feel where mine is. I thought I knew right after surgery, but apparently I have no clue. Lol! I remember the surgeon saying it would be right up around the bra line area...higher up than I've seen others. I think he does that to hide it better as the weight drops.

You may be having a gallbladder attack. I would definitely call your doctor ASAP.

  • Author

My right side felt great today...but I will still ask the surgeon about it. I'll have to try that trick to see if I can feel the port...kinda weird having something right under the skin, isn't it? The port and needle business almost made me reconsider this surgery... But, I'm glad I went through with it :-)

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