Just got banded today, and in so much pain!

[Cat225 93]

I had my lap band put in early this afternoon, and my stomach is killing me! It feels like when my acid reflux acts up when I have nothing in my stomach. They told me it was gas, but I've taken a bunch of Gas X and it hasn't helped. What can I do? I didn't realize there would be so much pain. Any suggestions would be really appreciated!

[B-52 7,113]

Did they not give you any pan meds?

I got home a few hours after surgery, and I was perfectly happy to settle into my lazy boy recliner in front of the TV, with a warm comforter, some broth and a Water, and in la-la land taking my dose on time whether I needed it or not....did not feel any pain till day 3 when the meds ran out....but by then I was up and moving about....

[ChristinaA424 18]

I was banded yesterday. I have found that moving around help some. Hope that helps some!

[mrsto 2,925]

Like B-52, I leaned on the narcotic pain meds to get me through. Along with the gas and all else, it hurt to simply breathe in and out. If you have pain meds, don't be afraid to take them. And it's best to take them at the intervals prescribed, to keep the severity of pain at bay. Don't wait until the pain is so bad to take them. As each day passes, it will get better. Walking is good, and a heating pad might be soothing. But time is the real key.

Hope you feel better soon. And congrats on your surgery! Believe me when I say, this part will pass & be nothing more than a distant memory.

Edited January 31, 2014 by mrsto

[AllisonKara 46]

You must have been prescribed some pain relieving meds. And do not take short walks as long as 10 minutes. Shorten it up to 4-5 minutes. It's not much time since your surgery. liquid diet is surely recommended. And, consider your surgeon if this gets worse.

[dawalsh 919]

Walk a lot and move your arms a lot. Frequent movement helps to break up the gas. This too, shall pass! Good luck to you!

[terrydumont46 1,954]

terry's post op orders. please make sure your surgeon recommends also

1. take your pain med's. they are there for you to take. if you need more call the pharmacy , they will call your doctor for you. or call your doctor if you are on a narcotic like percocet.

2. move even if you are in your recliner or bed. turn side to side. walk to the kitchen and back.

3. use a heating pad to your shoulder

4. use ice packs for incisional pain

5. drink a lot of fluids, broth and tea. warm tea helps a lot

6. sit upright and take deep breaths, do some short deep coughs

7.. ibuprohen over tylenol seems to be the ppl's choice

8. always keep in mind. fevers over 100.9, increased swelling, redness and drainage from your incisional sites not normal call your doctor right away

9. and just rest and give yourself some time to heal. in the day you would have been still in the hospital on iv pain meds. you are home doing your own recovering. so don't be to hard on yourself.

good luck and i pray you get through this part of post op quickly.

[Amy Carter 67]

I found that a heating pad on my tummy helped break the gas up faster. I also got up and walked around for at least 30 minutes a day. Not all at once but for a total of 30 minutes a day. Sitting in a recliner with pillows if needed worked for me also. I was not able to lay flat for almost a week. It gets better.

[Bandista 7,466]

Walking was the ticket for me -- my body wanted to walk, like a horse with colic. I had an ibuprofen drip overnight in the hospital and once home had liquid Tylenol. And lots more walking. Popsicles were soothing for me. And hot tea. Ice is amazing if you have incisional pain. Walking for gas pain. Sending you very best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[kimk1999 450]

Sorry to hear - yeah I was in a lot of pain as well. Basically I agree with the above suggestions...
Strong pain pills to knock you out; when awake walk when you can. Drink hot tea, liquid Soups, chicken broth, etc to help soothe. Ice pack on the belly and heating pad on the shoulder.

Regarding gas-x, I had to take two chewables at a time as one wouldn't really help me.

Try to walk as much as possible but not over doing it as you just had surgery.

Hope you feel better soon. It will seem like a lifetime but it'll be behind you before you know it.

[Lbktxgal 25]

I'm 2 days post op. My main discomfort is gas pain in upper chest and left shoulder. I too have been taking gas x, but doesn't work. I laid down on my side and that helped alot. I also put pillows behind my back and today I went to Walmart, shopped and walked, that helped out tremendously. I blew up when I got home, talk about RELIEF!!!! Hang in there!

[shondelrobert 12]

Yeah my surgery is monday so thanks for the tips all

[Cat225 93]

Hi Everyone!

Thanks for all your helpful tips! I made it through the first night, but it wasn't easy. I was up from the general anaesthetic from my procedure around 3:30 pm. We were home at 6:30 pm. I didn't fall back asleep until around 1:30 am. My doctor prescribed me ketorolac tromethamine, which really hasn't been doing much for me. I spoke to him yesterday, and he said I could increase it to one every four hours, which still didn't do much. It didn't matter because I slept all day yesterday. I was so exhausted.

Today, I'm feeling a bit better. I still have gas pain, but it's not as bad as it was. My left shoulder is still hurting. My main pain is coming from the center of my stomach where an enormous bruise is growing. The bruising is to be expected, but it hurts like hell and is limiting my mobility. I've still been trying to move around. I've been out of bed, and up and down the stairs several times. I'm getting my own Soup and stuff downstairs. I even looked after my son while my husband was out grocery shopping this afternoon. We watched TV together. Honestly, though, I'm still pretty wiped out.

I really appreciate all the support from this forum!

[kimk1999 450]

Glad you're starting to feel better and have better mobility. My doc prescribed hydrocodone for sever pain and tramadol for mild pain. I hate to say it, but for me, different pains came in after the initial surgery pain. A few days after I started getting a sever stabbing pain near my port side if I moved wrong. It was painful to get out of bed or off the floor. Not trying to scare you but just letting you know what MAY come for you. Take it easy but still try to keep moving. It will get better. My fiancé used to joke (a really bad joke) but he said it looked like he punched me in the stomach with the bruise that was there.