I was banded on July 28th and over all everything seems to have gone well (besides my mystery bruises) My ownly problem is I am still in a lot of pain. At the hospital they gave me some thing you suck in your breath so you keep your lungs clear. I am still waking up hurting REALLY bad and have been on liquid Vicodin. The problem is I am always feeling like a throb in my chest. I think it is related to the band. I also feel like I have like a stitch in the side of my chest. When I breath in I feel like I have ran a mile, and a little breathless.. Is this normal? I will see my doc on Monday so I am hoping if it still hurts I can put it off until then. I am not running a fever its just uncomfortable... has anyone had the same expserience?

I believe what you are feeling is normal. For about 5-10 days post op my chest felt very heavy and at times it seemed difficult to take a deep breath. When they pump your chest full of gas and use instruments to work in the chest area it just leaves you feeling tight and sore. If you are in doubt as to whether what you are feeling is normal or not, I wouldn't hesitate to call your surgeon's office. This is what you paid for so check with him or her.

Yes, I had a very hard time breathing. I am 11 days post op and it all has been quite an eye opener. I had much difficulty breathing and even posted here on the message boards just like you, trying to ease my mind. If you want, you can click on my posts to read some of the good messages I received about breathing! Others have many different theories about the why -of the problems, and that helps me to understand the pain and work through it. You will be ok, it just takes time. I feel for you! Take it easy and try to find ways to pamper yourself while you heal.

I had my surgery done the 28th too. It was a little hard for me to breath at first too. They also gave me a thing to sucks on to help me breath. I brought that home with me. The whole point in that is so we don't develope pnemonia. Mine has eased up a bit but it still hurts sometimes. I just remember the nurses telling me to breath through it no matter what. And eventually it will go away. I had a hiatel hernia fixed at the same time and was told that could be causing the pain too.... Jennifer