New to lap band...,concerned...

[ashley.knutson 8]

Hi all. I had my lap band done on Oct 8th and I am still in a lot of pain when it comes to getting up and down. Sometimes the pain is so intense it puts me in tears. Is this normal? I am walking and moving around like I've been told but I'm still getting this bad pain. How long did it take for the pain to go away?

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

My team told me that the pain should improve a little each day, and if it got worse to call them. I personally did not have much pain and definitely felt pretty good by one week out. Good luck. Call your doctor if you need to. That's what they are there for.

[*susan* 1,709]

Is the pain more from your port area or stomach. Many people experience a lot of pain in the port area for several weeks after surgery, I remember when I had my band I did. It felt like pulling, etc. It does get better. But, if you feel the pain is beyond what should be normal, or have any concerns, your best defense is to call your doctor.

[Rebeccaabrooks86 269]

I took the pain Meds for the first 8 days and then started to take Tylenol. I definitely had a lot of pain too especially around the port. I promise you it will subside!!! Continue to get up and walk around and using a heating pad helps a TON! If in doubt of your pain level you can always call your Dr's office and speak to a nurse who should put you at ease. Feel better!

[ashley.knutson 8]

Thanks all. Yes, it's a pulling feeling around the port. I'll try a heating pad. The last 2 days it has been fine most of the day & really hurting in the evening. I really appreciate your responses.

[loser2014 73]

Hi Ashley. I had my band surgery on October 8 also!!

I was also a little shocked at the amount of pain I felt for the first several days following surgery. Now that I'm on day four it has subsided a bit but as the day wears on it is getting a bit worse.

The thing that seems to be helping me most is sleeping upright in a recliner. It is getting in and out of bed that seems to be stretching the incisions and causing the most pain for me. In the recliner I don't need to contort myself to get in and out of it and so the pain seems to be lessening quite a bit.

Give yourself plenty of time to heal, continue to take your pain meds, drink as much liquid as you can, and sleep as much as you can. In a few days I'll bet you'll be feeling much better. Good luck.

[ashley.knutson 8]

Thanks!! I have the hardest time getting out of the recliner..ha.

Hope you're doing well!!!

[MamaRita 65]

I got my band on Oct 3, the first 3 days, I was in pain but on good pain meds, by day 4, I stopped narcotics, and I had severe port pulling/pain, by day 6 or 7I posted on here, wondering if pain is normal, and a few people experienced the pulling feeling. But today day 9, although I still have pulling pain, I do feel better, and even went to church today:)

[ashley.knutson 8]

Thanks, that's exactly how I feel. Glad to know the pulling pain is normal & that there are people who know what I'm going through

[Twinmom1311 15]

I had mine done on October 3rd. The pull and pain in the port area got me for a while. I still have some every now and then but it's not as bad as when I first had surgery. It's getting much better. Most people have more pain from the gas pains. Fortunately I didn't have those. It gets better I promise!

[gbb77901 113]

I was banded in August and I remember the pain of getting in and out of the bed. The first few days were painful, but I took the pain meds and rode it out. Eventually the pain subsided and I switched to Tylenol for the pain. It gets better! Treat yourself well and baby yourself for the first few days. Keep walking and sipping Water. that helped a lot!

[Bandista 7,466]

Hope every one is feeling better and recovering well. For incisional discomfort, I found an ice pack on that port area to be helpful. I don't take pain medication because of the side effects, but even though I had no narcotics I still had to deal with Constipation. Just a heads-up for any one who may be in that boat. Best wishes to all! I have a feeling that I was so over-the-top excited about my surgery that the joy carried me right through. Also I think I have a high tolerance for pain because of arthritis issues. That and the thought that at least I wasn't getting dental surgery. I detest going to the dentist and would rather have a laparoscopic procedure than a root canal, that's for sure! The walking really helps -- I know it can be hard to get up and around but once you're up and moving the body gets the message to heal.

[Kari D 27]

Something I found helpful for the first two weeks after surgery was sleeping on an air mattress. As much as I loved my bed, it suddenly felt like sleeping on rocks. The air mattress was soft and allowed for ease of movement. I was waking up in the middle of the night with a very sore torso and could not get comfortable. The air mattress helped so I could sleep and not feel crazy the next day. Good luck!

Edited October 15, 2014 by Kari D

[ashley.knutson 8]

Thanks all!! I just left my postop & feel fabulous!! I really appreciate all the feedback