Hi, i'm preop and my Dr. office gave me a book to read called The Lap-Band Solution, written by Paul O'Brien MD. I have been reading it and come across a section talking about pain after surgery. It says pain in the left shoulder area is common, it is referred pain coming from the diagphargm (large sheet of muscle separating the heart, chest and lungs from abdomen). It is called referred pain because although it comes from diagphargm the brain interprets it coming from the left shoulder. It can last days- weeks after surgery. It is uknown why this occurs, and is unprdictable. Here are some things that may help: hot packs to shoulder, stand up or sit upright, rest quitly for 10 minutes, walk, peppermint tea.