Excruciating Pain

Gruffmi1970 · December 4, 2007

I was banded 4 days ago and I am wondering when does the intense pain stop? I can sleep ok, but shortly after I get up I have intense pain underneath my sternum. No problems with the port site or any of the other incisions, but this horrible pain in my chest-upper stomach is almost unbearable. I keep telling myself to tough it out for one more day as it has to begin to get better soon, but so far it hasn't.

Is this just something we have to learn to live with having the band, or will it improve eventually? And yes, before anyone tells me to talk to my banding center, I did that already. They wanted to tell me I was having a heart attack and to go to the local emergency room. My experience is that health care providers won't ever admit they have done something that may have hurt you and always want to blame someone else (especially the patient).

So in summary, if anyone has any experience with this type of pain and can give me an idea how much longer it is going to last, I would be very appreciative.

Thanks

Marimaru · December 4, 2007

I was never in any intense pain. If your banding center is telling you that you may be having a heart attack, while I agree that it could be something band related, I think I would definitely have it checked out!

I know there are people around here who DID experience more pain after surgery than many of us, but I would still have it checked out. You could call your banding center back and request an appointment and ask your doc to just check everything under flouro...

coolcrystal · December 4, 2007

Yeah, my two friends who had it done didn't have any major pain at all. They said they were a little sore at the port site, but other than that, felt great.

kacee · December 4, 2007

Are you taking your pain meds on a regular basis? If not, then do. There was a lot of tightness, constriction, discomfort, and what felt like a golf ball mid-chest for the first week. It will lessen. But take your pain meds.

yaya78006 · December 4, 2007

I was banded 4 days ago and I am wondering when does the intense pain stop? I can sleep ok, but shortly after I get up I have intense pain underneath my sternum. No problems with the port site or any of the other incisions, but this horrible pain in my chest-upper stomach is almost unbearable. I keep telling myself to tough it out for one more day as it has to begin to get better soon, but so far it hasn't.
Is this just something we have to learn to live with having the band, or will it improve eventually? And yes, before anyone tells me to talk to my banding center, I did that already. They wanted to tell me I was having a heart attack and to go to the local emergency room. My experience is that health care providers won't ever admit they have done something that may have hurt you and always want to blame someone else (especially the patient).

So in summary, if anyone has any experience with this type of pain and can give me an idea how much longer it is going to last, I would be very appreciative.

Thanks

I think you should contact your Dr.

Pain is normal but intense pain could be something that they should know about.

I had intense pain the other night, it hurt to even breathe.

I think my port has flipped and will call the Dr. tomorrow.

Good luck!

LovingWhatIs · December 4, 2007

Yeah, after 4 days, intense pain is a red flag if it is in the same place every time. Otherwise it could be gas, but I would call the "on-Call", and/or go to the emergency room.

Daisalana · December 5, 2007

It was exactly 4 days post-op that I had excruciating pain!

I went to the ER for fear it was a blood clot in my lungs.

It's better to be safe than sorry, so I believe you should go in!!

Gruffmi1970 · December 7, 2007

Thanks for all the suggestions. After 7 days the pain is a "little" less, but still pretty prevelant. The Dr's office has indicated the pain is not normal or expected, but not unheard of either. They want be to try to tough it out and see if it gets any better.

So far I am doing that, but it is miserable being in this kind of pain and trying to work etc... Hopefully it ends soon.

LovingWhatIs · December 7, 2007

This may be off the wall, but I had some bad pain and I suspected it was from a Spasm (I cannot tell you what led me to believe this but I was just sure)

I soaked in my sister's hot-tub spa for 40 minutes up to my neck. It was gone in a couple hours, after plaguing me for days.

May be worth a try...