I was banded 3 days ago and am still feeling really uncomfortable. It is not the chest pressure that I have been reading about but more of an awkward and irritating feeling in my stomach. Could this be the gas that I saw on other threads? I have been doing everything that I have been told to do (walking, breathing exercises, liquid diet). Any insight or tips on how I can make this easier for myself would really help me out!

It's just one of those things you have to wait out. You just had surgery, you are going to be uncomfortable. Before you know it you will be typing the same words as I am to another newbie.

As soon as the gas is gone THEN you will start feeling the effects of the gas. When you have surgery one incision is just to maintain gas pressure in your gut. It is so your surgeon can see around in there. So when the gas is gone you'll feel the after effects of the gas that was in there.

It will go away, give it a couple of weeks. It gets better daily.

A lot of people turn a major corner in about 5-7 days. Give it a little time. One day soon you'll wake up and think "Wow! I feel so much better today!!" You're doing everything right, just hang in there a few more days.

Make sure you take the pain meds if you hurt, don't be brave take them until you feel better, Good luck

I'm 3 days post-op too; spent the first night, sleepless, couldn't take the pain med, ended up heaving, but got up every hour and walked and waved my arms (family thought I was nuts) and peed. I had my surg early a.m. and of course didn't sleep well the night before so I was dead tired, but so uncomfortable from the gas. I think what helped me was the hourly trips to the bathroom and the flailing around. The gas has subsided, I feel pretty good. Today was better than yesterday, only a little liquid able to go down then(nurse said ok since overhydrated in hosp) but today 2 protein shakes and several waters. Does anyone know if heat or cold application would help with the swelling of the incision areas?

It probably is gas but also, your body has undergone a traumatic experience and you may be feeling bad because of that. I sure did. In fact, I was so frustrated after five days that I broke down and just cried. I was nauseous due to the liquid medication, hungry, and having trouble keeping anything but water down. SO......I guess I was overwhelmed and weak. The good news is I'd lost 25 lbs in three weeks--when I visited my Dr post op. Now it has been over six weeks, I'm to have my first fill on7-19, and I've gained a few lbs. My fill should help me begin losing again. I have to start pushing myself to exercise, too. I've been walking, but very little.

Hi folks. I am on my 6th day post-op and I notice sometimes I am bloated and other times not. Is this normal. WASaBubbleBut you say it is normal for it to take two weeks for the gas to leave your body? Is that the CO2 they used or is it just the gas that keeps producing itself. I keep taking my Gas-X and walking, but I notice the left shoulder pain and I keep thinking it is gas pain. Also, I have found I do so much better if I try not to be a "hero" and stay on top of my pain. I too have hydrocordone and I find if I do not take it when I need it, I get too weepy and I hurt without realizing it until it is too late. I really am working on staying on top of pain.

Hi folks. I am on my 6th day post-op and I notice sometimes I am bloated and other times not. Is this normal. WASaBubbleBut you say it is normal for it to take two weeks for the gas to leave your body? Is that the CO2 they used or is it just the gas that keeps producing itself. I keep taking my Gas-X and walking, but I notice the left shoulder pain and I keep thinking it is gas pain. Also, I have found I do so much better if I try not to be a "hero" and stay on top of my pain. I too have hydrocordone and I find if I do not take it when I need it, I get too weepy and I hurt without realizing it until it is too late. I really am working on staying on top of pain.

It usually just takes a few days for the gas to leave your body but the EFFECTS of the gas can take longer. When you are in surgery one of the incisions is for a "thing" that maintains the gas in your belly at a constant pressure so the doc can see what he's doing. It pushes and pulls on things and if you can imagine things being kind of bruised and irritated, that is probably what you are feeling a few days out.

Also, if you had a wide hiatus that would have been repaired as well as a hiatal hernia. If you had either of those it can cause extra shoulder pain.

The shoulder pain is referred pain from a nerve down a little lower.

The GasX won't likely work beyond a few days, then it is going to be Tylenol or whatever your doc gave you. It's better to prevent pain than it is to deal with it once it has hit full force. It's much easier for the pain meds to work if you don't wait until you are in tears. Take it before that point and the drugs seem to work better.