I began experiencing a sensation like something was poking my ribs from the inside about four days post surgery. On the fifth day, the sensation became very painful and frequent. It hurt to breath in or to exhale and I couldn't take in a deep breath at all, only short, shallow breaths.

I called my surgeon last night, and he said that my stomach was probably swollen and the band was rubbing my diaphragm when I breathe. Has this happened to you? Does it go away? I am terrified that this feeling won't subside. If it does not, I will have to have the band removed because I won't be able to exercise or to breathe normally again.

I am trying to have no regrets, but I am feeling pretty discouraged at the moment. :smile2:

Thanks so much for reading! I hope that some of your experiences will help shed some light on this for me.

I was also banded 6 days ago from today and it hurts a bit to take a deep breath i think its just the stomach muscles healing though. I dunno.

I had a very similar feeling just after I was banded. It hurt every time I took a deep breath and was sometimes even impossble to do so. It went away after the first week and I'm four weeks out and feeling great! It will get better, just keep in touch with your doctor about it!

You may not have thought of this since I never thought this could be the case but I had the same exact issues. It felt like it was flicking or tickling my ribs and not in a good way. My doc told me about the possibility of being constipated. She told me to take some Milk of Magnesia to get things moving, she was right. I've felt just fine ever since. I would try some of that and see how you feel.

I know someone from here - it was Chickie if you want to try to search it out (several years ago now) had to have another surgery well after reaching goal to shorten the tubing becuase it suddenly started rubbing on her diaphragh. She's pretty tiny and there's rather a lot of the tubing. This solved her problem.

I had my surgery on 8-19-09 and had the same feeling I was freaking out but I talked to my friends that had the same surgery and they told me to relax and walk as much as you can and it could take up to two weeks before i felt half way normal and now its almost 3 weeks and I feel great so hang in there its well worth it you just have to get use to this new tool in your body give it a chance.

Thanks so much for your replies everyone! I just wanted to update and let you know that my husband actually taught me how to "fix" the pain.

He is a chiropractor, and of course knows a ton about the human body. He taught me how to dig deep, right at the end of my left rib cage and push down and in. While pushing, he made me take several deeps breaths. Essentially, he moved my stomach down so the band wasn't poking in my diaphragm anymore.

Ahhhhhhh, relief. I love my husband!

Thanks so much for your replies everyone! I just wanted to update and let you know that my husband actually taught me how to "fix" the pain.

He is a chiropractor, and of course knows a ton about the human body. He taught me how to dig deep, right at the end of my left rib cage and push down and in. While pushing, he made me take several deeps breaths. Essentially, he moved my stomach down so the band wasn't poking in my diaphragm anymore.

Ahhhhhhh, relief. I love my husband! :thumbdown:

Bonmag I am 2 weeks post op. Did your husband do adjustments on you? I was just wondering if i can go to my biweekly chiro appt at 2 weeks out.

Hi HMARKO,

I don't see why you can't go to your chiropractor. Just make sure that you are comfortable the whole time- if something feels sore, or uncomfortable, don't do it! :thumbdown:

Being adjusted during this time of healing is a good idea, just take good care of yourself.

Good luck!