Left Shoulder Pain

[2012Enoughisenough 5]

Hello everyone. Tomorrow will be one week post op and for the most part I feel good. I notice that I am having pain on the top of my left shoulder and it is pretty annoying. Any one else experiencing this?

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[byrd 28]

it takes about 2 weeks to go away

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

Yup. Normal. It's pain referred to your shoulder by your diaphragm, which gets irritated during surgery.

[dwiley56 5]

I've had this type of pain since the surgery(June 3, 2011). i take a couple acetaminophen and in a an hour or so the pain is gone.

[Jenn1214 120]

Mine comes and goes, usually when I'm in the green zone and I drink too fast or swallow too big of a bite. However, my fiancé who is also banded doesn't have shoulder pain at all and never did...weird.

[2012Enoughisenough 5]

Thanks everyone. Glad I'm not alone

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[wellhello 1]

It's comforting to know that this shoulder pain is not unusual. I had my surgery 5 days ago and I would have to say that the pain was at it's worst today - who knew breathing and walking at the same time could feel so bad! I've been taking soluble asprin however because it takes me about 1 1/2 hours to drink it doesn't seem to help too much. Anyway onwards and upwards, I've lost 3 kgs this week and that makes the pain all worth it.

[MsKitty57 0]

I had the surgery on Tuesday, May 8th and woke up from the surgery with pain in my left shoulder. The only time it subsides is when I am lying flat. I am still filled with gas throughout my chest and abdomen and even though I am expelling gas, it builds up again very quickly. I wish that the medical professionals had prepared me for this. I thought it would be subsided by now. Every time I have something to eat it builds up again.

The surgery incisions are fine and, except for the port site, there is no lingering pain. It's just this gas and it is intense when I move around. Everyone has said to walk, walk, walk which is what i am doing but it doesn't seem to help at all. Any suggestions?

[fransalaz 0]

Hi I feel ur pain I also had my Sergey on May 8 they did explain that after the Sergey I would have gas trap in my abdominal & on my chest & more than likely I would also feel some pain on my left side up towards my shoulder, sure enough I've been feel all, that I have to say everything u seem to be experiencing I am also going through is pretty much all part of the Sergey although I feel very few pain on the Sergey cuts I sure am feeling the gas pain that really hurts more so when I drink something or lay flat on my back .. I really think we will be ok in a few more days..

[ifhbiff 6]

i feel the exact same way. man is it killer. i just had my lb surgery on friday, and i have a while to go before i am good again, i am excited about the future. but for now, ouch.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

I had the surgery on Tuesday, May 8th and woke up from the surgery with pain in my left shoulder. The only time it subsides is when I am lying flat. I am still filled with gas throughout my chest and abdomen and even though I am expelling gas, it builds up again very quickly. I wish that the medical professionals had prepared me for this. I thought it would be subsided by now. Every time I have something to eat it builds up again.

The surgery incisions are fine and, except for the port site, there is no lingering pain. It's just this gas and it is intense when I move around. Everyone has said to walk, walk, walk which is what i am doing but it doesn't seem to help at all. Any suggestions?

You could try taking Gas-X. Doesn't work for me, but some people swear by it.

[Buffalogyrl 17]

I'm 4 day post op and continue to have gas pain, but does anyone have a sensation of your stomach spasming? Also is anybody else struggling to get calories in? I'm averaging about 250 calories per day. I'm very exhausted still have pain around my incisions. I have been sipping on Water and Gatorade because I fear dehydration. Is this all normal?

[Humming Bird 275]

I had the left shoulder pain for quite a few months after surgery. After the first few days it can't be blamed on gas. It is pressure on the phrenic nerve and the pain is refered to the shoulder. It became my full signal for the first few months. There were times it was constant and quite anoying. I found that putting a menthol pain patch (walmart $4) on my shoulder before I went to bed helped. The pressure on the nerve stopped (mostly) after I dropped about 45 pounds. There is a bandster who used to post here (Elfiepoo) who had her band removed because she had the shoulder pain constantly for 18 months and she just could no longer stand it.

[wellhello 1]

Well today is day 6 since my surgery and I am feeling so much better - I have also lost 9lbs . Much of the bloatedness has now gone and I am able to take fluids without difficulty - previously I wasn't able to take more than a few sips at a time, today I managed a whole cup of tea! I must say though that the pain in my left shoulder has not improved - whilst walking may help with the gas it seems to be a major irritant for my shoulder. I've tried the medications and the heat pack but neither of those provided any relief - laying in bed with the electric blanket has been by far the most effective.

I've also noticed a pain around my left kidney - I wasn't sure whether this was also a side effect of the surgery or was possibly because I wasn't taking in enough fluids? Has anyone else had this?

[lafaye999 32]

Start walking... To relieve the air. You will feel so much better at least in your shoulder.