Hi,

I was banded last week on the 9th May and am 6 days post-op now. I have healed really quickly not even needing any pain-meds since getting home and have been active and out and about since 3 days post-op.

Last night I noticed a hard lump that has formed around the port area under the skin which is a bit sore and very itchy. There is no redness on the skin surface so I do not think it is an infection but just wondered if this is a normal reaction to a foreign object in the body and if it will go away on its own.

I also experienced horrendous shoulder pain in the back today for the first time after having some porridge and it spread all the way down my arm and into my hand even though I haven't had any gas pains since 4 days post-op. Is this usual or should I be concerned?? Yep, back on the liquids tomorrow but I was STARVING!!

Thanks,

Tazza,

Here is my advice...if it is your right arm that is hurting...GO TO ER...If the pain in radiating down your arm it could be a heart attack. At least call the doctor and talk with them and see what they say....It probably is just gas, but with that kind of pain...you need to be careful....What does everyone else think???? Call the doctor at least!!!!! Deanna

Sorry about that...I dont know what I was thinking...I meant your left arm....LOL...oh boy..long day I think...Deanna

Hi Deanna,

Thanks for your concern and quick post but the pain went away earlier this evening after a few long 'burps' and some crushed up paracetamol. I was a bit worried though as I could not use my arm properly but it was definitely food related. I think this is what they call 'a learning curve', hopefully I will learn but just wondered if this is likely to continue and if anyone else had experienced it.

Thanks,

I am glad the pain went away....the radiating down your arm was what scared me...I had gas pains so bad up under my left breast I thought I had a blood clot...it hurt to breathe....I went to ER and had CTscan and the doc saw a huge line of gas up under my rib cage pushing on my diaphram....wow..what a relief....it was the most intense pain that got worse and worse as the day went on....I am glad that you are feeling better though...Deanna

Tazza,

If you were banded on the 9th it may be too early for porridge. I am still on liquids and I was banded on the 2nd. Perhaps you should try to stick to liquids for another week or so before trying mushies.

I also had a "lump" in my port area. I does not hurt at all, but wehn I go back to the clinic on June 18th for my fill, I will speak to them about it.

I had the same problem, gas pains on and off for a couple of weeks and the burping took the pain away. I also had the same problem, i felt a hard lump but when I went for my 2 week post op they said it felt great. So I would not worry too much it is cut and put in your muscle and that all needs to heal. All in time, it is a month later and if I do to much it hurts like heck!

The lump is likely scar tissue and within a few weeks it will go away. It will go in stages, might be itchy, then burning like a heat burn, then go away. Just give it a few weeks.

I also have a lump/hard spot under my main incision in the middle of my abdomen. It feels like that's where the band is, but I thought the band was on the left side and the port on the right. Am I wrong? A co-worker who is a nurse said it is probably just my muscle tensed up b/c that's where most of the work was done during surgery and it should go away. It gets tighter and looser different times of the day or tighter if I'm feeling real gassy. What do you all think?

hi, where is everyones port located? My is above my belly button.. not right above but straight above it.

My port is on the left side. The doctor asked me if I wanted it on the left or center. I told him to decide.

That large lump scared me to death... I felt this large lump under the incision of where my port was...I thought something has ruptured....I called the doctors office and spoke with the nurse, she just laughed and laughed...she said, "honey, that is your port"...all was fine......but if I can give anyone any advice...I would say....Call your doctor, if you feel something is wrong...or you just have a concern.....I have worried myself sick for days over things that have turned out to be nothing...I could have saved myself a lot of sleepless nights, if I would have just called and talked to the nurse...and God love my husband....he has had to hear me fretting over every little thing...I know he is probably hoping that soon I will get adjusted to this surgery and calm down...Seems like I have a new concern everyday......

oh, my port is on left side..not down low...but up above the belly button...and over to the left...

If you really have severe pain in your arm, shortness of breath, or pressure in your chest call your dr. or head to the ER just to be sure. Don't worry about being embarassed if its just gas. Better safe than sorry.

To be honest, I get gas pains on my whole left side. Shoulder, back, arm, neck, even my earlobe hurts. I know how weird that must sound, but it's true. Don't panic when you feel pain, but don't ignore it either. Once it starts, stop eating or drinking, get up and move around. If it doesn't help to lessen the discomfort, or if it starts to get worse, than go to the ER.

Also, regarding the lump near the port site, do you by any chance have any medical tape or steri strips still on you? I only ask b/c I started to have a severe allergic reaction to the medical tape that started to cause large hard blistering. I actually thought that maybe I had given myself a hernia, but turns out, thankfully, it wasn't. If you think that the reaction may be the case, call your dr. asap and get that tape off of you! I left it on and it literally ate away my skin. The incisions themselves were fine and healing beautifully, but the itching and burning where there was tape was worse than the surgery itself! It's been almost 5 weeks since surgery and I still have pink skin all around the incision sites because of the allergic reaction.

Best of luck.