Questions about gas pains post op

InTheBreeze13 · January 6, 2007

I'm not sure if I've read about two different types of gas problems or not and I'm very curious about it as I prepare for surgery next Friday. Do you get gas pains post op from air still in the chest cavity, from gas created in the stomach below the band, or both? I've seen a lot about PB's with food not getting through the band area but can you still burp gas only past the band or does it have to find "another" route out? Can you take Gas-X gel caps or do you have to get liquid Gas-X? Does this eventually go away or do you just have more trouble post op because you're still tender and healing? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

faybie · January 6, 2007

I bought Gas-x strips that melt on your tongue. Although I didn't have a lot of gas pain.

I think gas pain and the chest cavity pains are from two different sources, therefore different.

Before my surgery, I read where one Dr. requires his patients to do an enema the night before. I know it doesn't sound fun. You can get them at your corner drugstore such as Walgreens or CVS. I think that was the best pre-op advice that I received. I truly believe it helped reduce my gas complications.

Good luck!

LuckyGirl · January 6, 2007

I bought the gas-x strips too and used them a few times. It was uncomfortable in the hospital overnight but once i started walking it seemed to go away. I rarely burp - small burps maybe but never big belches like before the band. I have eaten pretty much anything I've wanted too since a week post-op (in small amounts) and I haven't PB'd or anything like that. I did drink liquids with my food the first 2 weeks - just to make sure that things went through but now I'm not and things are great! Be prepared to feel tired and lousy for a week but after that you should start feeling better each day - i think activity helps!

shutuplena · January 6, 2007

I was too nervous to swallow whole pills after the surgery so I took Gas-X strips too. The 2nd day after surgery my gas was so bad I thought I was having a heart attack. I took almost a whole box of strips that day (doctor said I could) and it really helped along with walking. Dr explained that the gas was from the carbon dioxide they pump into you and maybe caused by the anesthesia too. The gas, I also think, is worse after surgery because you're sore and it's painful to push anything out so it gets trapped. Just stock up before the surgery. Good luck.

transformer · January 7, 2007

I haven't had any gas pains yet. I took a Gas-X chewable about 4 times a day throughout the first two weeks. I haven't taken any for the past week or so and I've been fine. I eat slowly and sip my drinks to avoid swallowing too much air.

CareBear · January 8, 2007

I would definitely recommend getting some sort of Gas-X...

I had the WORST post-op gas pains the first 5 days. I couldn't sleep, I couldn't lie down completely so I slept sitting up! The gas eventually passes itself out in all forms. I let all mine go naturally, without any Gas-X but I bet it would have made a world of difference! I even BEGGED my intensive care unit nurses to give me something for the painful gas & they couldn't! I even brought my own natural herb supplement for relieving gas pains & they wouldn't let me take it. I cried a lot because the pain was so bad.

Bending over seemed to force the gas into my shoulders which cut my breath & I thought I was having an asthma or heart attack! I couldn't get a deep breath at all. Kinda freaky. So I stayed still, barely moving at all. When I did get up & move around, the gas pain came back. Regardless if I was just walking around the room or trying to bend or anything at all, it forced the gas around & it was painful!

Long story short, be prepared for gas & ask your doctor beforehand to have something you can take!