Can someone tell me if this is right....I have tried hot tea, room temp sugar free kool-aide, surgar free popcycles, water, and every liquid inbetween and it all seems to hurt like heck to get it down:cursing:! It just feels like a rock sitting inside of my chest, is this GAS? I am suppose to be drinking at least 2 liters of fluid, yea right:eek:! I am not even close to that, this is Monday and I was banded on Friday. I have 5 incisions which I was kind of shocked about, thought maybe 3 -4? It kind of sounds like I am on track for the gas pains and problems drinking, I have no fill in my band, not until 6 weeks out! I have also gained 2 lbs since I have been home on liquids???

This is normal. I had my surgery 3 weeks ago on Dec 29th. I know that it feels like it will never go away, but it eventually will. Gas X does help a little. What I found that helped me was, when I would burp, I would bend over. For me this just helped expel more gas so there wouldn't be so much sitting on my stomach. Also, don't worry about the weight gain. I have been playing with 5 lbs since surgery. Just make healthy food choices and don't eat when you are not hungry. The mental hunger is the hardest thing to overcome. Good luck.

Hey Win -

We are in the same boat. I was also banded on Friday, have 5 incisions, am having a wicked time with what I think is gas pain, have gained a couple pounds even though I am not getting as much liquid as I'm supposed to, and don't have my follow up appt until 6 weeks. That just seems like a long way off to me...

I am supposed to go back to work on Wed, in 2 days, but am still taking 2 pain pills every 4-5 hours. I am going to try to cut down to 1 today, so that I can be off of them by Wed, but I have my doubts. It is weird, because so many on this site seem to be perfectly fine after just a couple of days. Even trying solid foods right away (Which I would NEVER do even if I thought I could. I feel like this is my last chance and I want to do everything by the book to have the greatest chance at success.)

Let's keep each other posted on how we are doing. I have been having all the same thoughts as you.

Kris

Hi Kris,

That would be great to keep in touch! We use to live in MA, Westford to be exact. That was several years ago when we were military. I just tried a Gas-X and see if that helps!

Jan

I had my surgery on the 13th. I also had the feeling of a giant gas bubble sitting in my chest. I couldn't even burp to relieve it. The GAs-X helped alot but only for a short period of time. The best thing I did was get up and walk around. Didn't even have to be fast. It was the best thing to get the insides moving normally again. Some people have more internal swelling than others. Take care and give it a couple more days. You might also try liquid Tylenol or Motrin instead of the prescribed pain medication. The narcotics will slow your intestinal movement down. Walking also helped me with the stomach growling and hunger pangs.

Be sure you are sipping, not gulping. And try to exhale before you swallow to reduce the amount of air you swallow.

I also found that sitting up REAL straight seemed to help as well. You still have swelling (our stomachs don't like to be poked and pulled), but it will get better.

Don't worry about weight gain/loss right now. Your only concern for the next 6-8 weeks is HEALING! I cannot stress this enough. You will have the band for the rest of your life. Be patient. The first couple of months can be difficult until you get enough fills to get restriction. Between now and then, be patient. Follow your doctor's orders. Make an eating plan to get you through the rough days, and you will do fine.

HI there... I too had the same problem as you. Feels like every little sip is sitting right between your breasts and it will not go down or takes a long time. I waited 2 days before saying anything as I thought this was normal. Some of it is... but my Doctor had my come right in because between the swelling of the surgery and the Fluid that was in my band, was restricting my intake too much. I went in the on the 4th day and they removed the saline that was in the band, and he was surprised how much was still in there. As soon as I sat up, took one sip I could feel the fluid go right down as it should. My Doctor says this is not a common occurance but it does happen where the swelling around the band causes too much restriction.

They put fluid in the band right before they put it in you to test it and make sure it's a good band, then they set it aside and let the fluid drain out. In my case, not all of it drained as usual. So I would NOT wait any longer. Call your Nurse or Doctor and tell them you are not getting in enough liquids and you are trying your hardest to get them down. Tell them your pain & feeling in the breastbone area.

When this happened to me I could only get like 20 ounces a day total over the course of the 2 days I dealt with it. Now I am getting everything I am supposed to... it's like night and day.

But at least now you know what it feels like to have too much restriction. Hard way to learn, but it will get better!

Im 4 days post op, and I have been having alot of gas pains. I probably could overdose on GAS-X alone. I have five incisions and I thought I was only going to have 4 but I just have to live with it now. I just have been taking multivitamins although it hurts as its going down, but all in all they get down. The main thing for me is that Im starting to get hungry, is this normal.

I just had my surgery last Monday on the 12th... so I am new to this as both of you are. Trust me, you need to call your Doctor. You NEED to get in fluids and if they are NOT getting past the banded part and causing you pain in your breast bone area, then you are having too much restriction.

I am on day 7 now, have been able to get my required fluids & soft foods since they removed some of the Fluid in the band. I feel stronger, better and ready to start doing more things.

That was until yesterday when the gas that was trapped down in my belly area, found its way to my left shoulder. BOY, you want to talk about pain!!! Contractions from child birth were easier to handle. I was almost done taking the pain meds till yesterday. I went back on and doubled the dose to get some relief. I can feel the pressure from the gas just sitting there, as long as I keep on the meds & use a heating pad, it seems to keep the pain away at least. I am now able to sit at the PC and get online to reach out.

I live in Derry, NH so I am close in proximity to you folks! Nice to know there are others out there experiencing the same issues.

BUT please call your doctor and don't wait, you don't want to get dehydrated and end up back in the hospital on an IV... I hate needles!

I am wondering why you are taking pills? My Doctor prescribed all meds in liquid form. He told me never to take pills ever again... as they could get lodged in the band. Why not get either chewables or liquids for your meds & vitamins?