Pain under left rib cage... what is going on?

[Stephleupagus 35]

I'm more than a year out from surgery. I had some oral surgery done just after Christmas, after which I had two days of severe gas issues (I'm thinking because I was under anesthesia, with my mouth open or something and swallowed a lot of air?).

Since then, I've been having pain under my left rib. It doesn't seem to have rhyme or reason, sometimes it happens after I eat, sometimes it happens if I haven't eaten in a while. I just feel this general pressure under my left rib cage, and sometimes right under my diaphragm. It isn't excrutiating pain, but it is really annoying. And it makes me worry that something is wrong with my lapband.

[Jean McMillan 2,973]

You ought to give your doctor a call. I suppose it's possible that there's still gas moving around in there. Irritation of organs/tissues in the vicinity of the upper GI tract tend to not be felt at the site of the irritation, so the pain (or whatever response) gets "referred" to somewhere else. That's why the gas introduced into the body during surgery can cause left shoulder pain.

Have you had any eating problems or other issues that might be related to your band? Where is this pain in relation to your port? Does a change in body position ever trigger the pain?

Did you by any chance have a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time as your band surgery? I ask because I have one (that my original surgeon was supposed to fix but didn't) that occasionally causes me pain in the same location. It doesn't bother me often since I've lost weight, and I don't know why it comes and goes. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere and other times it shows up, or worsens, when I bend at the waist.

Edited to add: It's possible to develop a hiatal hernia even after bariatric surgery (I've heard several tales of that), so I suppose it's also possible for a repaired hernia to give way again. If that's the case, it's extremely unlikely to endanger your band.

Edited January 13, 2014 by Jean McMillan

[Stephleupagus 35]

Thanks Jean. I have not had other eating issues. My port is down by my belly button, and this is up near the bottom of my ribcage, so several inches from each other.

I did not have a hernia at surgery time.

It is more like a feeling of pressure than pain. Really annoying. I feel it more when sitting than when standing. That is why I feel like it could be air, sometimes after taking gas-x it abades, but not always. I just don't understand why suddenly a year after surgery my body would be having problems processing gas.

I only have about 2.5 cc's in my 10cc band, so I'm not too tight. I have no reflux, no signs of band slippage.

You ought to give your doctor a call. I suppose it's possible that there's still gas moving around in there. Irritation of organs/tissues in the vicinity of the upper GI tract tend to not be felt at the site of the irritation, so the pain (or whatever response) gets "referred" to somewhere else. That's why the gas introduced into the body during surgery can cause left shoulder pain.

Have you had any eating problems or other issues that might be related to your band? Where is this pain in relation to your port? Does a change in body position ever trigger the pain?

Did you by any chance have a hiatal hernia repaired at the same time as your band surgery? I ask because I have one (that my original surgeon was supposed to fix but didn't) that occasionally causes me pain in the same location. It doesn't bother me often since I've lost weight, and I don't know why it comes and goes. Sometimes it comes out of nowhere and other times it shows up, or worsens, when I bend at the waist.

Edited to add: It's possible to develop a hiatal hernia even after bariatric surgery (I've heard several tales of that), so I suppose it's also possible for a repaired hernia to give way again. If that's the case, it's extremely unlikely to endanger your band.

[lisacaron 5,075]

Definitely a good idea to call your doctor, just to be sure that nothing has developed since your surgery. I remember way back before I was banded I had some oral surgery done under anesthesia and I had residual pains after for a week or so, that felt like that gas pain under the diaphragm. When I went back to see the oral surgeon I told him about it and he said it was from the position they had me in to remove the wisdom teeth and it could be where the anesthesia "settled" and caused some muscle weakness.

I don't know much about anesthesia, but after a week or so it was better. It would bother me most when I would take deep breaths and/or have too large of a meal, I remember that.

Feel better and let us know how your doing after you speak to your doctor!!

Edited January 13, 2014 by lisacaron

[neenee717 37]

I had this issue when I was banded 3 years ago. My port is in my belly button area as well. Doc said its gas. Try and walk around house every hour or so. Drink peppermint tea and use Gas-X strips or something. Mine would go all into my shoulder. It will move eventually