squeezing pain under breast bone normal?

fourshadow · October 23, 2007

I was banded 6 days ago. Today I have a lot of squeezing pain under my breast bone. I feel GREAT other than that. I'm still on liquids. I've been drinking and taking thin Soups. Is it normal? Or have I screwed up my band somehow?

Suwanee · October 23, 2007

I have had the same thing myself. I called and asked my Dr and he said that was normal. It feels like a sharp pain right under where my underwire of my bra sits. I also notice that the scars are really bumpy and hard and also very sensitive and a mixture of itchy and painful. Weird...but alas, this is all normal too! :nervous

jshcnmt · October 23, 2007

<p>I was banded 8 days ago. I had that pain up until 5-6 days after surgery. My coordinator attributes it to 1. the normal feeling of restriction and 2. post op swelling of the esophagus.</p> <p>Anyway, I still feel it a bit, but not nearly like I did on days 2-6.</p>

Dozy · October 25, 2007

I've been feeling more than fine since banding 2 weeks ago. BUT today, a few hours ago, I had 4 oz of Carnation Instant Breakfast. I didn't do anything strenuous. Suddenly I had pain below my left breast, like I pulled a muscle. It hurts like heck to get up off the couch. Any ideas?

If the pain exists tomorrow, I'll be calling the doc.

fourshadow · October 25, 2007

I talked to my surgeon about it and she said that it's my band telling me I'm full. I've since really started paying attention to exactly how much I put down at one time - and it's made a world of difference - haven't had the pain since.

lovekatz1975 · October 25, 2007

I had that. It's because of the internal swelling. I felt like mine was choking me. It goes away once the swelling starts to go down. It took me about a week before I started to feel better.

M Taylor · October 25, 2007

I talked to my surgeon about it and she said that it's my band telling me I'm full. I've since really started paying attention to exactly how much I put down at one time - and it's made a world of difference - haven't had the pain since.

This just goes to show that everyone's body responds differently to the band. I get the same pain, but my pain comes when my stomach starts to rumble because it's been too long since I last ate.

Dozy · November 3, 2007

Well guys, my results were more severe.

I never made it to morning to call the doc, the pain was too great. After having the pain for 7 hours, it wasn't subsiding but growing worse. I ended up in the emergency room at 5 am last Thursday morn (10/25), followed by emergency surgery to save my life.

Seems the band was eroding my esophagus and the liquids I had after that Carnation Instant Breakfast that started the pain went into my body instead of into my stomach (yogurt, Protein drink, Popsicle, 3 TUMs: I thought it was gas). The doc had never seen anything like it, and also, never expected something like this to happen.

I had to have the band removed. My survival prognosis going in to surgery wasn't good. They gave me 20%. Lucky for me, I don't have too many body complications like diabetes or high blood pressure. I'm strong and I made it, and a much more faster recovery than the doc or my family could even hope for.

But instead of a lapriscopic surgery, I had my belly cut, so now I have tons of stitches, staples and pain. The first 5 days of the ordeal was torture and madness and intense pain. I'm out of the hospital as of this afternoon (11/2) because bed rest at home is the better healer. My back was very happy to see my nice soft bed, because after 8 days, the hospital bed just wreaks havoc on your spine. I just had my first good sleep of 3 hours straight. I'm up to eat and will be zonking again soon under the influence of a Percoset.

So, I'm no longer a member of the band, but I have to be on the diet for the next month while my insides heal. AND maybe, while on that liquid diet, I can at least achieve my weight loss of 50 pounds anyway and be at 299 and going down, perhaps the hard way. I'm down 20!

Future banding is out of the question. The doctor doesn't recommend it and wouldn't risk it. RNY is still possible, but not until spring 2008. I have 2 months to decide if I choose RNY to get an April surgery date..., and guess what, begin the nutritional process all over again.

I'm happy and thankful to be alive. It's been a mixture of tears of joy at being alive, and sadness at nixing the great weight loss goal I had in 18 months.

ALL THE BEST to EVERYONE!

Remember, what happened to me is not the norm.

Go for life every time! Live it healthier and thinner!

Good bye All