I ate a big dinner tonight and I'm having gas pain in my shoulder just like right out of sugery. I don't know if it's because I had a big meal or what. I haven't had this happen before and I'm over six months out of surgery. Any ideas?

Oh Jack... I thought you'd have an answer for sure!! Darn it... I guess I will shoot off an email to my surgeon (they are in TJ so it's not easy for me to get ahold of them).

I often get the gas like shoulder pain when I am either very empty (haven't eaten in 5 or more hours) or when I am too full (unfortunately I don't get the pain until long after I have finished eating).

This is very common. I had that pain whenever I got too full or was totally empty for more than about 5 hours too. My surgeon explained that it's because of the angle of the stomach since you were banded, a part of it now touches a nerve which leads up to your left shoulder. I had that pain from day one under those conditions and funnily enough, it stopped when I got my port replaced in Dec 06. I rarely rarely get it now so I am wondering if mine was more to do with the combination of my stomach WITH my port rather than just my stomach alone. I thought I was the only one for a long time but my surgeon explained to me about 3 years ago what it was. I wish I knew a way to prevent it but unfortunately I don't. Deterred me from drinking soda, that's for sure!!!

Thanks for the info everyone! It's a relief to hear that this is not uncommon.