Anyone experiencing shoulder pain frequently?

Bright · July 13, 2004

Today it's exactly nine months since surgery and I am still delighted with my wonderful band - at last I have found a fill doctor (I have a 9cc Inamed band which the surgeon filled to 4cc during surgery) and am looking forward to having my first fill sometime in August/September.

Anyway - I was wondering if anyone else gets frequent pains under the shoulder area, above left breast? I have been having this pain for weeks now, it's very similar to the gas pains post surgery, and actually I had this exact pain before when it turned out to be pneumonia! I have no other symptoms, and am sure it's not pneumonia this time but it is quite irritating at times, mostly occurs about an hour after eating, so I am presuming it is band related.... it hurts when I move that area and even when breathing in deeply! I am worried that I am doing something wrong which is what prompted a search for an english speaking surgeon to do my "maintenance" - the one who is willing to take me on is very highly qualified and would have been my first choice for the surgery but being self pay, I couldn't afford him at the time! I am off to England to see him for a fill/endoscopy in aug/sept but was wondering if anyone could shed any light on this mysterious shoulder ache in the meantime?

Thanks a million

donali · July 13, 2004

Hey Lady!!! Nice to see you here, even if it's because you're in pain...

Shoulder pain is generally a symptom of referred pain from the diaphragm. My guess is that since you're experiencing the pain after you eat, your full pouch is pressing up against your diaphragm, and causing referred pain in your shoulder.

Try stopping a bite or two earlier and see if the pain doesn't reappear?

Since you say it appears about an hour after you eat, I'm assuming that means the pain also goes away. About 2-3 hours after you eat? Once your pouch empties again?

This is my suspicion...

Bright · July 13, 2004

Hey Lady!!! Nice to see you here, even if it's because you're in pain...

I know - I'm such a user!!!

So basically what you're sayin, Donali, is that I am packing in too much food Gosh, you're probably right, I do tend to "finish my plate" and am eating too much in the end obviously....

How did I guess that the answer to this problem would be "quit eating..." - story of my life