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Totally normal and common. The main reason is the gas and Fluid - it refers up to the shoulder. Walking feels awful but it does help a lot in the long run (no pun intended). I have a second theory though. I think that the position we're in on the table leads to pain in the shoulder is you have any joint problems at all. I do - I have a bad shoulder and forgot to say anything. I don't know how much it would have helped, but being strapped down in one position for an hour did me damage and add in the gas pain---wow---I"ve been really hurting. I'm on day 6 after banding and it's calming down, but I know it will be while before it's gone. Good luck. Gwenn

Hi All. I think I overdid it a bit with the intensive walking. I felt lousy this afternoon so I actually stopped and got into bed to watch a movie. Boy, that felt great. When I got up my stomach went crazy but I ended up doing some good in the bathroom (sorry, but it is what it is) and I feel better now! I have two types of discomfort. I'm going to the doc on Tuesday for post-op, but would like to hear if anyone is having what I am at 5 days. I feel some sticking or pulling type sensations under the skin of my abdomen- especially to the left of the port incision. And my skin is a little itchy and tender in the area as well. I'm thinking it's the inside stitching and the incision healing as well as just the swelling etc abating inside, but has anyone else had this? My incisions thank G-d are clean and dry. The second thing that's a little strange is that although my breathing is fine (I can easily pop all three balls up in that thingamigig) I occasionally "double breathe"- you know, that anxiety breath or the way ya breathe after a bad cry. Or I'm sitting and I suddenly take a sharper, deeper breath. Worse after drinking something. My husband thinks it's just that the diaphram and sternum are in the area of the surgery and are probably sore or have swelling up against them. And that's why it happens after eating. My girlfriend thinks it's mild anxiety (interesting). Anyone? Thanks, Gwenn

Los Angeles here! I was banded April 30, but thought I'd have more to talk about with the early May banders as all the April people will have had the banding ahead of me. Surgery was done at Cedars Sinai- Dr. Ted Kahlili Thanks-Gwenn

You all just saved me! I've been having the same trouble. That very very full, pressure feeling. I was nervous about it. Now I feel better reading that it's normal. I had bought one of the 42 grams of Protein "Jello shots"- tastes like warm jello- thingees. Only have to drink 3 1/2 ounces to get all that protein. Taste was not awful, not good but until I can get more of the other drinks in, this will go a long way to reaching my protein goal of 75 grams a day. Banded on April 30 and my biggest issue is feeling all kinds of little aches, spasms, pulls, etc. My husband said to relax, so I'm trying. I go to the doc on next Tuesday, day 6. Thanks -Gwenn

I feel better just reading everyone's posts. I was banded on the 30th, so this is the end of day 4. I never thought to tell my surgeon about the bad rotator cuff in my left shoulder, so much of my pain was after that arm had been held down in one position during surgery. And on top of that......I had the shoulder gas which is finally subsiding. I was good post-op. Read about how much walking helps here on the forum so I walked laps in the hospital every hour of day/night one and day two. Came home Friday and walked several times. Today too. I may be doing too much, but that's what I heard..walk, walk, walk. Most difficult thing for me is to get in or out of bed. OH MY GOODNESS. That hurts. I've been napping in chairs instead of the bed. I'm on Darvocet, and I'm holding at 3 a day right now. Why suffer, right? I'm more uncomfortable than in pain. The surgy strips are starting to stick and pull and I'm hoping my second shower will take some of them off. I am finding it difficult to drink enough. I feel so full - a full pressured feeling. If I drink more than a couple of ounces in an hour, I feel very pressured and full. Not a good full. So I called Friday to tell the nurse that I can't get in enough Protein drink. They said do the best I can. I tried one of the 3 1/2 oz protein "Jello shots"- 42 grams, and it wasn't toooo awful. So I'm getting in some protein. My doc does 3 weeks post op of liquid....yup. I don't mind. I like the choc atkins drinks, but I'm a little weirded out that I can't take much in. Anyone else experiencing this? Gwenn

It is hard to get all the Protein in. The good drinks are not more than 15 grams or so and it's hard to imagine drinking 5 of these a day, but I guess I'll feel more up to it as time goes on. Right now I'm taking half a cup and then adding a scoop of Protein powder to boost it up a bit. I think it will take a few days to reach the 77 grams they want me to have. As long as I keep adding each day I'm sure they'll be okay. No choice really.....can't take in too much yet. Thanks for your good wishes! Your turn soon. Gwenn

Hi Everyone! I'm Just Home Last Night From My Banding. Dr. Khalili And Group Were Great. Nurses Amazing. And May I Add That There's Nothing Like Cedars. Single Rooms, And They're All Recently Redone. It Was Like A Small Hotel Room With A State Of The Art Bed And And Lcd Tv. I Could Have Stayed. believe Everyone Who Says Walk, Walk, Walk. I Walked All The Time. Did Miles In The Hospital. Every Hours I Did 3-4 Times Around The Floor. Made A Huge Difference - My Bowels Came Back Quickly, The Gunk Came Up Easily From The Chest, Etc. Only Problem Was That I Forget That I've Been Doing Nothing Lately So My Calves And Ankles Are Killing Me-lol. Yes, I'm In Pain - The Stomach Muscles- Getting Up And Down Hurts- But It's Like Charley Horse Pain. Like Doing 500 Sit Ups The First Time You Exercise. Completely Normal For What Was Done And This Is Day Three So It Should Start Subsiding. The Worst Is Getting Out Of Bed, So I'm Not Getting Back In. Even In The Hospital I Stayed In The Chair, Not The Bed. My Throat Is Still Smarting From The Tubing, But It's Getting Better As Well. I'm Finding It Tough To Get Down All The Drinking (4-6 Ounces And Hour) Because My Stomach Feels Very Very Full, But That Will Also Pass In A Day Or So. Got To Go As I Must Move Around Some. Just Wanted To Check In, And Tell Everyone That Team Was Great And I'm Doing Well. Gwenn

I've been approved under Blue Shield and my surgery is end of April. My company is considering switching to Pacific Care (in July). I will have had my surgery, but does anyone think I would have to worry about fills, etc. I think I'll phone my care coordinator. I'm very active in our union and I want a lot of info before the staff meets to discuss. Thanks. Any info is helpful. Gwenn

Thanks so much. Listen, we're the ones who understand each other. We've all been through the same pattern of dieting and years of feeling like we're failing. So when someone comes along that really can make the difference, and one decided to go ahead, of course we want it now. But in the end, for me, I was actually better off waiting. Today I spent an hours in the Vitamin Shoppe, which is similar to GNC. I bought liquid Vitamins and high dose liquid Protein to try (it was gross), and egg white protein samples. In the end, I'll probably stick to Atkins drinks- they're fine. I observe Passover, but Monday I'm stocking up on those organic broths that come in boxes. I feel much more comfortable when I've prepared. The more I have set-up, the less I can trip-up. Thanks again and good luck to both of us. Gwenn

I hate to say this...but you need to reign it in and be patient. I really made myself nuts and in the end I think not being able to have it done within six weeks was a good thing. Instant gratification is something we all share....that's why we can eat all the bread on the table instead of just waiting for the waiter to bring the food, etc etc. Sipping drinks and putting a fork down between bites, and especially chewing small pieces take patience. It took me a while to figure this one out....I had made myself nuts over getting it done. Two weeks or so for the appointments isn't bad at all. In the meantime, you can bug your docs office. AND, very often they can give you the referral authorization number before the paper is mailed to you....that can save you a week or so. I found the tests very easy to schedule at Cedars. The Upper GI and abominal ultrasound are at Mark Taper Imaging and they're great! The echo/stress can take a little longer for an appointment, but get the referral numbers early. If your doctor supports you in this, it all goes easier. The worst wait was the insurance. I'm Blue Shield. It took about 2 and a half weeks to get the final okay. Got to go. I'm banding on Wednesday, and won't have the computer this weekend, but I'll check in on Monday. Good talking with you. Gwenn

Hi- I'm Gwenn. Banding is scheduled for April 30 in Los Angeles. Cedars Sinai Hospital. Dr. Kahlili. I've been on and off this forum for months while doing the prep, etc. I find it very very big and a bit overwhelming. I'm hoping to find a group that's smaller to get to know. This is great for looking up something or asking a questions, but I'd like to see some of the same people hanging out and supporting each other through this. Does that exist within the board? Any suggestions? I'll be back on Tuesday. Thanks-Gwenn

Hi Sharon. I'm on the 30th. My doctor doesn't put us on liquid before...but I'm on for 3 weeks after. I tried liquid for a day and had trouble- so I added protein. Just keeping it low key. GOOD LUCK. Gwenn

I'm in Los Angeles. About a mile from Cedars Sinai so in this, I'm lucky. I met with Dr. K on Jan 4th. Only saw him for a couple of minutes as most was info taking, etc. I wanted to do the surgery in late Feb. but the insurance took almost 3 weeks to okay. I had a major event to handle for work in March/April so I had to wait. Suggestion. If you want this to happen quickly, it's up to you to make it happen. Before you leave his office, schedule the appointments you make there- the class, and meetings with nutritionist and social worker. Then get your doctor to work with you on quick referrals for the tests. I was a bit crazy to do it, but I had all in ten days. My office is great about this stuff and I had a time schedule, although it didn't work out. I had my abdominal utrasound, upper GI and stress cardio in a week. Exhausting but it was all behind me quickly. Once all tests are done, and insurance okays, it's less then a month to surgery. Mine took 4 only because I couldn't do it March or most of April. Best of luck-keep in touch. Gwenn

There never seems to be enough of us to keep it going. I'm being banding on April 30, and I'm off all foods that bother me, so matzah is included. I'm not asking how much.....I found a friend for first night who supports me and won't bug me to eat what makes me ill. That goes for hte grape juice also. In general however, other than issues on Yom Kippur, health comes before anything. Don't worry about it. Gwenn

I'm not banded yet...I'm April 30th. I am having a matzah free Pesach and no grape juice either. I'm always sick on Pesach and in fact, last year I thought I was having a heart attach and ended up in emergency. It was a matzah attack! I'm happy to have the excuse not to eat it. I want to try to go to the surgery "clean". I'm eating carefully right now in preparation. But as I'm Orthodox, it's tough because everyone tells you you must eat a certain amount of matzah etc. So I'm having first seder at a good friend who knows about my surgery and is very supportive. No one will bother me there. 2nd night my husband and I decided to low-key it and make a seder for just the two of us. I actually think it will be very nice. Next year.....is next year. I think I'll be just as happy not to eat matzah, but by then, who knows. Have a happy Pesach. Good Shabbos. Gwenn

Hi French vanilla. Very good question. One I didn't know the answer to and was a bit shocked about. Turns out the referrals for consultation and for tests are just that. Once you complete all of the tests Dr. K requires (and if you look back at my earlier note below from 2/17 you'll see they are very comprehensive), THEN your insurance decides if you can have the surgery. I was so surprised that they'd make the investment without the decision made, but no, it comes after. Once you finish the tests etc. Kahlili's office submits it all. It took about 2 weeks, maybe almost 3 for me to get the okay. Then you can schedule surgery about 2-3 weeks after that. I was at the office today for my pre-op with Khalili. I'm being banded on April 30th. I met the chief resident for general surgery at Cedars and asked him about Khalili, and he called him the "Michael Jordan" of this surgery. Everyone's nice, but BRANDY (nurse) is the best of all. She's a doll. It makes a difference. Good luck! Gwenn

I've received my surgery okay from Blue Shield, but my office is now considering switching to Pacific Care. Both are HMOs. Anyone have any especially good or bad experience with either? I'm very concerned about a change. Thanks. Gwenn

I'm still confused. Were you able to take chewables right after surgery? Anyone? I take leventhroid and I can cut that in 1/2 and it's very small. Also can crush but it's one more chore and I really believe you leave a bit of your pill in the cup- it may be dust but with a small pill, that dust adds up. I take protonix, which can't be crushed. At my seminar they said cruch for life....but after when I mentioned that most people I know who had LB can take pills (or cut them), she smiled and said she has to say what they tell her to say....which to me means you don't really need to crush. With thyroid, you can't take the crushed pill with anything but water, or you might as well not take it. Any further suggestions? Gwenn

But did you have to wait to use the chewable until you went on food? the "caramel" types stuff is delish but it is solid, right? When did you start using that? Gwenn

Bless you- you are angels. I know it's silly to have something that small (no pun intended) throw me, but there's so much to deal with and so much change that this crazy thing was making me nuts. I certainly can cut even my small pills into smaller ones. Thank you again. Depending on the speed in which my insurance gives the final okay, I'll be banded either in by end of February or else end of April. Thanks for making me feel welcome here. Gwenn

The pre-op seminar at Cedars Sinai in LA says that for the rest of our lives we'll need to take medications/vitamins in liquid form or crush. Especially during the first weeks when on Clear liquids. I take protonix, which can't be crushed and leventhroid which can. Also taking wellbutin extended release which can't be crushed. I'm making myself crazy trying to deal with this. Also metamucil capsules (I'm switching that to powder). The nurse said when I crush the thryoid meds use a littel sf jelly or my Protein drink.....but doesn't she know that that reduces the effectiveness? I feel so silly that this is what I find hardest to deal with- I think I'm maybe using these small things to stress over to put off the realization of the bigger changes. I'm sure many of you are taking hte same meds I'm taking and have solved these challenges. SO, I'm wide open to advice. And need to know how much is what they want to tell you vs. what do people actually do? Many many thanks, Gwenn