Hey guys,

Just looking for reassurance. I have been having pains in my chest for a couple days, at first I chalked it up to just gas, but now it really feels like my stomach is cramping where I imagine that the band is. Is this okay?? I don't remember covering this anywhere in the pre-op class or stuff before the operation.

hi there

I cramped for about 2 1/2 or 3 weeks.... pretty badly... I will be a month out on Monday and it is starting to go away... I still have some slight cramping from time to time.. ya know what really has started to help is exercise.. amazing eh... Good luck!

Hi,

Where is the cramping? I am three weeks out and this week I've alot of pain in my lower abdoman, esp when I walk, not when seated? Not sure is this is normal or if I need to worry about a Crohns flare up.

Thanks

Aimee

My cramping is just below my sternum, where I assume my band has been placed. I just worry that what I thought was gas was something more. I'm drinking some peppermint tea right now, that seems to help a little and getting back on the heating pad.

Nikki -

I am so happy to read your post - I was banded on Wednesday 1/9, and I am feeling the same thing, right below my sternum, and it also is VERY painful to take a deep breath in. I do not have pain in my shoulder or anything like that - but the pain deep in my gut is awful! It kind of feels like its right below my left rib cage - My pain meds do not seem to be helping this pain at all - what are you doing to relieve it???

Sunshine,

I'm trying to grin and bear it and assume that it is just gas pains and not something worse. I have been walking alot, When I am sitting down I have a heating pad either on my back or stomach ( I bought one of the XL pads, its so much bigger and better) I've been taking a lot of gas-x strips and I have been drinking Yogi Peppermint Tea. It seems to help. I hope it helps you a little!!

Yes. I cramped for about six weeks. Nothing I doubled over with just a change in body patterns. If you feel like it's too much, call the doctor.

aimee,

Do you think maybe its constipation? I had my surgery on Monday and I didn't have a bm by Wed so I took some Milk of Magnesia. That sure got things moving along!

I'm just really nervous about damaging my band. Its like a child to me. I was self-pay. I was just afraid that the cramping might damage the suturing of my stomach to the band.