Hi all -

I just got banded this past Friday, 1/16. I'm feeling pretty good for the most part, I just have a couple of questions.

Whenever I take a sip of anything I get a pretty intense pain in my left chest/shoulder. The hospital told me that this is just the gas from the surgery. How long does this last? I am worried because I have only able to get about 1/2 the Protein that they recommended so far because of this.

I'm also wondering if the pain meds that they gave me to take are helping or hurting this.

Any suggestions/support is greatly appreciated.

Kris

I was banded on 01/07/09 and my husband was banded 01/16/09 we both experienced lots of shoulder pain. I would say the pain went aways about 5 days later. My biggest problem throughout recovery has been the gas pain. My suggestion is to drink hot tea which helped me burp alot. I also chewed gas x. My husband lives by a hot cup of tea for relief and comfort. Niether one of us have had any problems with drinking. I hope you feel better.

Thanks so much for the quick reply. I am going to try your tea suggestion. I've thought it is just the gas. It seems like every sip I take causes me to burp. It is just a little scary not knowing.

Usually shoulder and neck pain is "referred" pain caused by trauma to the diaphragm (like it gets moved around a little during surgery and that makes it cranky)

One thing that helped me was having my husband rub my neck muscles. The PAIN isn't in there, but they respond to the signal and cramp. Rubbing usually helps release the muscle quickly. Maybe it will help you guys too.

I too was banded on 1/16. I am having the gas and burping. I am trying to move around more and drink fluids. Dr. Enochs did mine in Raleigh at Rex Hospital. So far so good. I had only one incision. I hope this helps me recover quickly. My partner was banded on 7/3/08 by Enochs and has lost 60 pounds. I hope I have as much success

"My suggestion is to drink hot tea which helped me burp alot. I also chewed gas x. "

Hi, I think its wonderful you have someone to go through this with. Me and my sister were banded one after another last Tuesday. Anyways, I was wondering if I could chew gas x! So thats fine?

Thanks for listening,

Elyssia

" Anyways, I was wondering if I could chew gas x! So thats fine?

Thanks for listening,

Elyssia

We're not docs but most don't mind if we chew Gas X. It's fairly inert and doesn't usually cause reactions etc, it does help break gas up into smaller bubbles so you can pass it more easily!

I was banded on the 14th,

I found that hot tea worked wonders. I had the gas pains in the shoulders and chest for 2 days. The first day it was almost unbearable. The nurses asked me to rate my pain 1-10. The surgery its self was a 2. The gas pain was an 18.

They sent me home with liquid vicodin. But also told me to try liquid tylenol. I found that the tylenol relieved the soreness that the gas pains left.

But lately, I am still having a pains when I take a deep breath or yawn. Not in the shoulders, but in the chest area. I see my surgeon tomorrow to have the staples removed. So hopefully he can help me out.

Good luck!!

I am 7 days post op and was banded on 1/12/09. I have had a few issues during my recovery. First I was not able to drink very much due to pain in my chest & breast bone area. The swelling was hindering the band. So I went in on Thursday and removed the liquid. Now eating & drinking is good and I have regained strength.

The best thing I do for the gas pains... are VERY HOT showers. They really help you relax and feel clean too. Then I use a heating pad, all over. On my belly, on my shoulder, under my chest or neck. The gas has been coming out in more ways but there is still alot trapped. Just yesterday it hit my shoulder like a TON OF BRICKS! I was almost off my pain meds, but now I am back to every 3 hours due to this pain in my shoulder. I know it will pass soon.

Of course, walking has been a tremendous help but because I am using the pain meds, I get dizzy too quickly and have to take it easy.