Hi, I'm new here, but have actually been to this website many times before I finally had my surgery on 12/18. Everything is good but I must admit I'm having more pain/discomfort than I thought I'd have. The doc told me that he had to repair a hiatal hernia in addition to doing the lapband. This was totally unexpected and I'm wondering if this could be the cause of all the discomfort. I'm having difficulty belching and feel as if I have a softball located between my ribs - and the shoulder pain is terrible. I feel like I have to belch, and then can't and a pain will shoot thru my left shoulder. Can anyone relate to this?

ON a positive note.............I've lost 3lbs since surgery!!! :tounge_smile:

Pre-surgery 262

Surgery day - 252

Present - 249

Your pain is probably caused by 2 things...trapped gas, and referred pain from your diaphragm (that's the shoulder pain) What helped my shoulder was having someone massage my neck and shoulders. The trapped gas...will resolve with walking walking walking! You'll get the hang of things! Just take your pain meds and walk and drink your water and hang in there. You'll feel better soon!

Thank you for your reply. It's good to know that this is all just part of the journey. I will def. start walking tomorrow.

Jayne

Hello - Congrats on the new band. I myself was just banded on 12-9-08. I to never expected to experience so much pain and discomfort. Specially since this was less invasive as they say. I would hate to know what the other surgery feels like. I still am sore even today. But believe me with each passing day it does get better. For me, I felt like I had a elephant sitting on my chest. Doctor told me it was just trapped gas. Man was I ever glad it finally went away. I really couldnt do much walking except from the bedroom to the living room and back. LOL I was way to cold out side and we had all that freezing rain and sleet. So who knows, if I would have actually walked more if the pain I feel now would be gone. Dont believe so because I think its the port area thats the sorest. Still rough bending over. Specially if I move just a certain way. Anyways, enought about me and again congrats love to talk to you more.

Hi there. I had a hernia repair at the same time as my band was installed on 12/12. Didn't even know I needed it until after surgery. I guess I was lucky, I didn't have any gas pain. The only pain I felt/feel is on my side when I bend over or if I sit and lean forward at the same time. Just keep taking your pain meds, like the doctors say, stay ahead of the pain, don't let it just build up. Then walk or move around as much as possible.

Mackmom congrats to you also - it sounds exactly like you have experienced the same thing. In fact at one point I wondered if the chest discomfort was my heart. Thank goodness it's not! I had read so many posts where the people said they didnt take anything for the pain, so I guess I assumed that was the norm. Thanks for your reply, helps me see the light at the end of this freshly post-op tunnel.

Redmom - Lucky you!! Your experience is totally what I expected mine to be. I will start the walking (I mean more than from the livingroom to the bedroom) tomorrow. Thanks!!

Edited December 22, 200817 yr by luckyjyn