Gas?!?

[Grateful mama 10]

I have posted about this already, but I'm having a hard time believing that gas is the cause for this excruciating pain in my chest, neck, and shoulder. I'm 6 days post op. Should I call my Doctor tomorrow or should I just calm down?

[SueBee01 630]

That is common. Get up and walk every hour if you are not already. That is the best way to get the gas out. I have heard others use a hearing pad on shoulder and Gas X strips. Your dr office is there is you have questions. Do not be afraid to call them if you do not find relief.

[dolphintattoo 96]

I would call now and not wait, at the least he says its gas, but if its something more he will want to see you.

[Lela Clark 41]

I couldn't believe the shoulder/neck pain after surgery. I used a heating pad and gas x strips. I walked a lot also. I had read on here about it but until you experience it you don't quite understand how much it does hurt. I hope you feel better and do call your doctor if it will reassure you.

[NurseKelly 43]

Trust me its gas!! I am 10 days post-op and happy to say the pain is finally gone (I hope), and I swear that was the worst thing out of all of this!! I walked lots and took plenty of gas-x because I found that helped! Hope you get rid of it soon!

[can_do 195]

I'm 4 weeks post op and the shoulder, back and collar bone pain were the worst and lasted many days. It got better each day though,and took a good 2 weeks before it was gone completely. A heating pad gave me some relief. The pain is from the phrenic nerve being irritated during the procedure. It's not gas in the stomach or intestines. That nerve that runs along the diaphragm gets irritated and stretched when the abdominal cavity is pumped full of CO2 for the procedure. Hang in there. It will pass.

[wildrose1966 396]

Oh sister it is gas............and surgery was probably nothing compared to the gas pain. It does get worse before it gets better.

[MiniMi 1,468]

I'm 5 months post op today and I almost forgot about the gas until I saw this thread. It is by far the worse part of this journey so far.

It also it the part the the surgeons mention the least. The gas isn't in your intestines. It's what they use to blow up your abdomen so they can work on you laparoscopically. Did you know they did that? i sure didn't! The remaining gas can only be removed as it dissipates through your skin tissue. GasX never worked for me. Moving and heat did.

Great news is that it will go away deepening on how much you move between 4-10 days.

[☠carolinagirl☠ 18,721]

day 5-8/9 were the worst for me...my left shoulder i would have gladly let jason from friday the 13th movies cut that sucker clean off...i used the gas x (didnt help that i saw), used heating pad, a hot shower directly on my shoulder and walked as much as i could and def kept up with my pain meds.......and then one day i woke up and it was gone..i know it doesnt look like it now, but it does and it will get better.

[Grateful mama 10]

Thank you all for your responses! It is so reassuring to know that this is normal and will get better:) The support on this forum has already proved to be so helpful!