PLEASE HELP!! pain at band area

[TJWOOD 0]

Hello everyone. I am new to the Lap Band and this forum so please excuse me if I don’t use the correct terms. I am writing to seek help from someone who may have a similar experience. Please forgive the lengthy posting. I was banded 6 weeks ago on 8/19. Everything went smooth. I went in for my first fill at 4 weeks. It was 3cc and must have been minimal because I felt no difference in what I could eat. Nevertheless, I watched what I ate. One week later, I started to feel a cramp/stabbing pain on my left side, just under my rib cage. At first, the pain was annoying, but not too unbearable. The next day, the pain increased and I became worried. I used some of the leftover pain medicine I had from the surgery and read through this site for hours. After a couple days of increasingly unbearable pain, I called my Lap Band doctor and explained to him what was happening. He said that what I was describing wasn’t a common problem. I was very surprised to hear him tell me that there is nothing he can do. He said if I am feeling pain, I should go to the ER. He has an outpatient office and does not have any testing equipment. I am a prepay and paid the entire $15,000 up front so this made me feel a little angry. I decided to give it another day before heading to the expensive ER room. The next day, the pain got so unbearable and I was out of the leftover pain medicine. I went to the ER and when the doctor pressed on the band area of my stomach, I practically went through the roof. My wife has never seen me with so much pain before. The doctor ordered an IV with morphine which had very little effect on the pain. They ran many tests, blood workup, X-rays, and full CAT scan. After 6 hours of testing in the ER, I was told they did not find anything. They said everything is in the right place and that I should follow up with my lap band surgeon. They gave me a prescription for pain meds and sent me home with the same pain as when I arrived. I actually wondered if they thought I was faking it or something. I decided to give it a few days to see if it was some temporary irritation. At least the pain meds they gave me were a bit stronger and helped with the pain. However, after 4 days, each time the pain med wears off, the same pain returns. I have noticed a slight fever, about 100 over the last few days. I’m usually one of those people who never gets sick or a fever. The pain seems like it moved a little closer to the center, about two inches to the left, just under the rib cage. It also hurts when I take a deep breath, like the band is rubbing up against my diaphragm. The ER doctor said that the tube and band seemed like it is in the right place. I have no nausea or vomiting, just this terrible pain. Am I paranoid? Am I suppose to do nothing? Has anyone had this and did it go away after a few days or weeks? Thank you in advance for any help.

[RestlessMonkey 7]

Sorry no personal experience, but if I were you I'd go to my primary care doctor and have him check blood etc. He should also be able to get the x-rays etc from the ER you used. Have him check you out; if it's the band, he can help you get assitance from your surgeon. If it's not, he should be able to help you narrow it down. Please do this ASAP...and keep an eye on your fever. 100 is low grade, but it's not something you want to have go on and on.

[trixiebelle08 0]

Hi, I am from Australia and I have had the same problem and am 5 months banded. I had the tubing repositioned as a cat scan showed it was rubbing up under the diaphragm but it had little effect. The pain is unbearable at times but is relieved if I pass wind and/or lie on my left side. My surgeon says he has never heard of it happening before but I see on these boards and other support sites that there are people out there with the same problem. I am on daily Endone and Oxycontin for the pain and I must admit it has been a little better lately but I cannot wear anything restricting around my waist. Sometimes the pain is just under the rib and sometimes it shoots up into the neck/shoulder area as well. Its very frustrating and I feel like I am getting handballed from doctor to doctor! My surgeon suggested removing the band but I have heard other people say this did not fix the problem for them and I would hate to have to go through surgery AGAIN only to still have the pain! Please email me on trixiebelle08@yahoo.com anytime if you want to chat. Hang in there! Tania