Please help ease the pain

ogie52 · April 1, 2008

I am 1 week post-op, and no matter what I drink or how slowly, I get bad gas pains that rise to the band and make me feel like I am having a heart attack. I also have the runs non stop. Has anyone with this problem been able to overcome it at this stage? Funny how no one ever mentioned all these problems to me before the surgery.

Kat817 · April 1, 2008

ogie----I was very lucky in regards to the gas pains---but the runs is VERY common. Referred to around here as liquid In=Liquid Out. It will get better when you can add other things to your diet. broth made mine worse---especially certain kinds! The good news is that the diarrhea shows you are doing the right thing, and not consuming food. It shows you are not making your stomach work while it is trying to heal.

Have you tried liquid at different temperatures? Sometimes warm is best, others find room temp all their bands can handle....it varies.

If nothing else, just keep something at hand, and take a sip every few minutes---don't push to drink it like as a meal---just slow and steady....your stomach will adjust.

When I was banded I had none of these issues. Just last week I got sick, and my meds made me vomit, and bam! I was swollen all but closed! I finally managed to sip some VERY hot tea, and it helped immensley. Many on here told me cold icees or something for the swelling, but in my case the heat helped.

Are you using a straw? Some say they add air---so that might be making problems worse....be very attentive to how you are drinking, making sure not to take in any air, or to swallow air as you move about. When I am in pain, I tend to suck air, (kind of going ssssssssss....getting through whatever move I am making that hurts) and it ends up swallowed---which would have to come back up like you are saying.

Hope you feel better real soon!!!!

Have you tried maybe a Gas X strip before you begin trying to drink?

Welcome to LBT, and welcome to Bandland---it DOES get better!

Kat

moonshadow2468 · April 1, 2008

Hi Ogie, For me.... Water on a baby spoon and gas ex strips. Hope it works.

okitsme · April 1, 2008

Ogie, I am two weeks post op. I was told to expect some "minor shoulder discomfort" HA! I honestly thought I was having a heart attack!! I ended up having to go to the ER after 2 hours of non-stop pain. I guess I am a wimp, but they ended up giving me a pain shot and a few pain pills to take home. I only had to take a couple of the pills, and has been much better. Still minor pains occasionally, but nothing like the first time. So good luck to ya, and don't suffer if you don't have to, be a wimp like me and hit up your doctor for some help!

NancyJ1960 · April 2, 2008

Add a little Benefiber to your juice and that will help with the runs. Gas pains are nasty and do eventually get better, but there is no cure for them. Don't drink/eat too fast, keep your chin up!