I've been reading a few posts on left shoulder pain. This is not the stuff you feel after the surgery, from the gas, but pain felt possibly when you eat too much. I'd like to see how many people are having pain and when. Please also note on which side your port is on. Thanks!

I could only vote on the "port side" as I've never had shoulder pain, but that wasn't an option in the pole...

so my question...are you experiencing pain and trying to analyize it's signifance based on this poll? If so, I'd highly recommend talking to your surgeon. You may feel "silly" calling him/her about it, but in the long run, it's worth it for a little peace of mind. It's what you're paying for

I get pain when I am hungry and when I am full!! I find it rather helpful when trying to gauge my hunger - no pain no hunger

I was banded 8 months ago, my port is on my left side, and I have pain in my left shoulder area whenever I eat. Sometimes I get it after just a few bites (probably first bite syndrome) and it always happens when I'm getting full. It gets worse when I continue to eat and I know if I don't stop I'll slime and PB. The pain is really my first signal that I need to stop eating and wait a few minutes or stop altogether. It can be very miserable.

Hi:

I get left shoulder pain occasionally when I've eaten too fast, or too much. It must be my "soft stop". It is miserable.

I couldn't answer the left or right port question because mine is in the middle between the bottom of my rib cage.

My doctor told me that my shoulder pain is linked to irritating my esophogus, and a nerve that runs along my esophogus and by my left shoulder too.

My shoulder pain usually goes away after I have a pb.

Take care.

Sue

I have left shoulder pain on a regular basis. I find it is associated with eating (hungry or over ate) but mostly I have it for no apparent reason. Gets quite bad sometimes. I did speak with my surgeon but he said he doesn't know why it happens and really is not aware that it happens that much post-op.

I have participated in several other threads for left shoulder pain and have come to the conclusion that it is quite common. Too bad my surgeon wasn't aware of it. However, he is now!

I have went to my surgeon a couple times and they act like I am the only one and they have never heard of it happening. He said he does not think it is related to the band. But I know it is and it really bothers me that they act like I am so abnormal. They are working with insurance to see if they can go in and replace my band with a bigger one that might not be as hard on my stomach. Last I heard she said that they wont cover it because there is not even a code for this to give to insurance. I live with this pain every day and would love to have it taken care of. But I dont see that happening. They said that insurance would pay to take the band out and I said no way. I would rather have this the rest of my life than lose my band. Sorry to go on and on. Two years is just a long time to go through this. Good luck to all of you.

I didn't have this till recently, and mine comes when I'm really hungry. The front of my left shoulder starts aching and feels like I pulled something. It's very uncomfortable, at first I thought it was a heart attack or something!! But, if I go 7 hours+ during the day without eating, it sets on. And it's relatively new for me.

I thought I injured my left shoulder somehow and that is why it was hurting! Had no idea it could be due to the band until I read these posts. It really aches sometimes. I've not noticed a relationship to eating. Will now pay closer attention.

My left shoulder usually hurts most when I haven't eaten in a while and I'm in the car driving for a while, like while I'm doing a lot of errands. So I don't fit into any of the voting categories. Sometimes it's so bad it's almost like I'll pass out - no, I'm not being dramatic, I have felt it this badly. It feels just like getting a tattoo - sharp, intense pain. Not a good feeling to have while driving.

Lots of doctors claim they have never heard of this but there are so many people that have it, I don't understand that.

I guess I'm lucky, I never even had this pain after surgery. There was no appropriate option for me to vote. No shoulder pain.

I had severe left shoulder pain for 13 days post op. I felt like I had an ice pick stuck in the top of my shoulder...hurt to breathe in or out. It finally went away and I haven't felt it for 9+ months...and my port is on the left. Just recently I have had a bout of diverticulitis and have been experiencing the Ice Pick again when I am hungry and when I have eaten. Today so far has been a good day for no pain....but I need to vent about doctors...particularly radiologist reading my x ray, calling my band a gastrostomy tube....like what they put in people when they cannot eat, and feed them formula through the tube.. To the same radiologist that read the CT scan of my abd...totally focused on the port and tubing location and the fact that I have a partially collapsed lung and tried to blame that on the tubing....he totally ignored the problem that had me there which was diverticulitis.. What a waste of my money, now I have to have a colonoscopy done. I know that my band, port and tubing are not the problem, they just happen to be in the area that I have pain and infection, and some ignorant people with no band experience cannot see beyond it...literally!!!!

I'm 11 days post op and I have never had any shoulder pain. My pain started about 4 days ago and is now constant under my left rib cage.

I have suffered from left shoulder pain most of the 7 months since banding. I have been thinking alot about it lately, trying to figure out possible causes.

Yesterday it dawned on me that maybe there is a connection between drinking coffee and left shoulder pain. I have cut my consumption down to one cup a day in the last few years. Some days maybe two but mostly just one cup first thing in the morning. Coffee has always bothered my stomach and gave me IBS type symptoms previous to banding. Now, because I don't eating as much, it seems that it just helps me stay more regular.

One thing I've noticed post band is that I have way more gas so now I'm thinking maybe the coffee is contributing to the gas and that's contributing to left shoulder pain. I plan on finding out by quiting coffee for awhile. However, I am a post-secondary student so I think I'll test this theory after finals! I'll let you all know what happens.

:girl_hug:

Janice:

Good luck with kicking the coffee habit. Watch out for the caffeine withdrawal headaches - they kill.

Please keep us posted to let us know if the shoulder pain goes away.

Take care.

Sue

Thanks Sue, Yes, I'm sure not looking forward to the withdrawal headaches. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment!:confused: