jewlzmarie

<HR style="COLOR: #d9d9d9; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #d9d9d9" SIZE=1>In reference to my prior post... I had a laparoscopy to move my tubing which was causing me pain on my left side under my ribcage. Everything went well. The dr shortened the tubing and secured it to my abdominal wall to avoid shifting. My pain is now back, but in a different area. I had an xray and found out that the pain is in the exact new location of the tubing. My dr said my only other option at this point would be to remove the band and tubing completely and replace it with a different type of band with a softer tubing. The problem with this is that insurance may not cover this. I was curious as to what type of band all of the left sided pain patients had. If you know, maybe we can make a correlation between type and pain? Also, I asked my dr. if this left sided pain and "feeling the turbing" is common and he told me that it was not and that only about 1 in 1,000 patients will feel their tubing. After ready all of these posts, I'm beginning to think it's more common!

I also suffer from the left side pain that began under the ribcage and felt like a runners cramp which was more severe with deep breaths and when I was full. I am almost 1 yr post op and the pain didn't begin until 6 months post op. After an upper GI and other xrays, my dr. said that he believed it was from the tubing. When the tubing hits up against the diaphragm it hurts more when you take a deep breath. I had a laparoscopy on 8-13-08 to have the tubing shortened. He also moved it into a little bit of a different position and secured it to the abdominal wall to prevent shifting. My pain has now relocated to a new spot (lower left abdominal) and come to find out with a new xray, it is right where the tubing was relocated. I asked him if this was common and he said it was not and that about 1 in 1,000 patients will feel their tubing. It seems to be more common than that from what I've read. He told me that my only other choice at this point is to remove the band and tube completely and replace it with a new band that has a softer tubing. The problem with that being that insurance may not cover this. I'm sorry to hear that so many of you experience this pain. I know what all the left sided pain patients out there feel like and it stinks! I hope the drs. can figure out how to help us with this issue!

Hi Annabella, Today, my husband is fantastic! He has had zero issues since his surgery 4 years ago! What a tremendous relief! I don't understand why the radiologist's can't understand our restrictions.:confused2: I had the same issue with my Upper GI last week. The Dr. standing next to the x ray machine kept telling me to take bigger sips. I explained that I couldn't take the huge gulp he wanted me to because it would bounce right back up! Sheesh! I'm glad you got the CT scan done without being sick! Good luck with the results, I read that you were most likely getting them today! I hope that it gives you some answers. It seems that a lot of times with tests, not much is found out. My surgery is tomorrow 8-13. I will keep my results up to date... after the anesthesia wears off . Ha!

Annabella, that is interesting to hear about the diverticulosis. I hope all of the tests go well. Speedy recovery wishes to your friends husband. My husband had diverticulitis in his early 20s and had a colon resection. The condition of having the divertiula (bulging pouches in weak spots of intestine/colon) is diverticulosis. When they become inflamed the condition is diverticulitis. Together they are diverticular disease. I know that they can cause severe pain, especially on the left side. My husbands dr told him about high fiber as well. Also to avoid nuts, seeds, high fats and alcohol as these things can intensify the case. The nuts and seeds can get stuck in the pouches and then get infected. Anyway, it is weird that so many banded patients are having this left side pain. I'm hoping the simple laparoscopy that's scheduled for next Wed. will solve the pain issue. If it's as simple as just moving the tubing over, thank goodness! KIT with the results of your tests.

I was banded September 07 and a few months ago I started having pain on my left side as well. The pain is in my rib cage area. It can best be described as a cramp that you might have when running or exercising, but it doesn't go away for hours. My doctor says it's most likely the tubing that attaches the port to the band. On my xray, you can see the tube right in this area. I was told the pain likely comes from the tubing pressing up against the diaphragm which explains the cramp like feeling that worsens/sharpens with deep breaths. I'm scheduled for a laparoscopy next week in which he will move the tubing. Hopefully this works for relief! I hope everyone else having the infamous "left sided pain" has relief as well!<-----this is the "hopeful" face!