4th day post-op Gas pain, its very bad

Donna_smithd · June 7, 2007

Hello, this is my 4th day after surgery and gas pain is killing me, please, any idea what to do to make it better?

cyndilou29 · June 7, 2007

I'm so sorry you are feeling the gas pain. Honestly, there is no quick fix. You just have to walk, walk, walk and maybe, if your doc okays it, take some Motrin to take the edge off.

It will get better, just try to hang in there....

Donna_smithd · June 8, 2007

Thank you very much cyndilou29. How many days it lasted for you?

luvinke · June 8, 2007

According to some of the threads that I've read people have taken the GasX thin strips that dissolve on your tongue (so I brought me a pack for my surgery), I've also read to walk and drink as much Water as possible, and my favorite was go and get a message, so before I return to work if the pain is still there then I will be at the spa. I hope it gets better. I don't know how to add the links on this message so you may just want to browse a couple of pages back and see what you find. Keep me posted.

RKidder · June 8, 2007

I found that the pain medication (Oxycodone) caused Constipation, and difficulty with passing gas. I walked as much as I could, and drank warm tea. As soon as I could, I cut down on the frequency of taking the pain medication. I was miserable for about 5 days until everything "passed".

It does get better - I am 2 weeks post-op. Good luck to you.

kt_999 · June 8, 2007

Hi Donna

I was banded June 1st (a week ago)... today is the first day that (touch wood) I've had no gas pain in my left shoulder... Yee Ha!!!

I don't think that anything helps, you just have to live through it knowing that it will go away soon... I did found that if I drank my liquids too quickly I would have a severe attack almost immediatley... so remember to sip slowly :-)

Good luck and hang in there!

krochelle6 · June 8, 2007

I am in the process of having the lap band. My insurance requires 3 mons of Dr. regulated dieting. My surgeon is going to be Dr. Oliak. I am supposed to see his dietian and start a low cal diet. Did anyone eles have to do this? Has anyone out there used Dr. Oliak?

jennifermccourt · June 11, 2007

i prefer the gas ex chewables, they are stronger than the strips. i tried both after i was first banded, and chewables are better. I know what you mean though, those gas pains were rough.

SimplyMe · June 11, 2007

walk...walk....and walk.....I had to remember this from my days as a nurse when I made others walk after laproscopic surgeries that had gas pains.....you've got to wake up your systems! And unfortunately anesthesia and then of course all the pain medicine we put in our bodies we keep it asleep!

My gas is better on the 5th day....but on the 3rd and 4th days it certainly helped to walk....

Good luck!

pacupatty · June 11, 2007

Hello, this is my 4th day after surgery and gas pain is killing me, please, any idea what to do to make it better?

i am a week postop today.the gas had been awful. nothing reallt helps except tincture of time. warm tea and broth help a little,

michellyoh · June 11, 2007

I was in your shoes last Monday!!! WOW!!! The worst pain I have EVER felt. Our friends here on lapbandtalk really know their stuff!! I got the same advice everyone is giving you. . walk walk walk. . .when you're not walking, try a heating pad. Warm liquids help to ease the pain. RKidder is right. . the pain medication will cause gas as well, so ease off of it as soon as possible (I stopped taking it 2 days post op). I too prefer chewables over the strips, however the stage of gas you are in, none of it will help much (at least it didn't for me). The thing that DID help (that I hadn't seen mentioned before), was laying on my side. Prop a pillow or blanket under your belly, and just lay on your side. It helped sooooooo much!!! I was able to start passing gas (sorry, but hey. . it had to go somewhere), and by the next morning, all was fine and I haven't had issues with it since!!! Hang in there! It hurts, but it WILL pass (no pun intended!! well. . maybe just a little)!!! God luck!!!

woodguy · June 11, 2007

I learned this from another poster when I was having terrible shoulder pain. Get on your hands and knees. Chin on the ground with your butt high in the air. I go a bit further and kneel on an ottoman and put my head all the way on the ground. It supposedly gives a route to get the bubbles away from the inflamed area. All I know is it works like magic – normally I’ve got relief in about a minute. I know it sounds silly nut you’ve got nothing to lose!

KatieDarling · June 12, 2007

Another Bandster mentioned Papaya Extract and it has helped me and yes do walk walk and walk! I am 9 days post op. Kate

banded5/31 · June 14, 2007

I was convinced that my surgeon dislocated my shoulder and broke one of my ribs that is how much pain I was in from gas. Today is day 14 for me and for the past 4 days no more gas pain!!! I tried the gas-x strips, the nurse at my office said you could use 4 at a time if needed. Don't worry the pain WILL go away!!!