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Gstric Band Surgery

Posted , 6 users are following.

colin34745
colin34745

Had a gastric band fitted 12 weeks ago, it was ok but since my last fill ive experienced left shoulder pain and trapped wind.  Is this something I should be worried about?   I think i might be drinking too much coffe, gulping my drinks and eating too quickly but not sure if they are connected?

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • Donna2504
    Donna2504 colin34745

    Posted

    The pain in your shoulder can be due to the trapped wind. I experienced this a few days after band and was told to drink only water and it solved the issue.
  • QueenRaf
    QueenRaf colin34745

    Posted

    Hi Colin

    Please please don't worry?? It's agony isn't it. However it's totally normal, I used to take 2 paracetamol and just lie down and try to relax.... Breathe.

    It's just trapped wind and it will go after a few weeks x

  • Bandid
    Bandid colin34745

    Posted

    its odd that you have it now 12 wks post op and didnt have it when you first had your surgery - dont drink or gulp your drinks - sip sip sip - little and often - a product called windeze from the local chemist shop might help and also peppermint tea - slow down with the eating too and chew very thoroughly  - good luck
  • karen35856
    karen35856 colin34745

    Posted

    This is quite normal, so dont worry, I suffered with it all the time to start with, its eased off now. (Banded Oct 2015),  just stock up on windeze, deflatine, mint tea etc i also found a heat pad on my shoulder helped. Try to slow down though, that should help and get you into the correct mindset. Theres some fab support groups on facebook that can help? - Good luck
    • colin34745
      colin34745 karen35856

      Posted

      Thats great thanks Karen, That's reassuring! Thanks to everyone else too for replying.

      What's the facebook group Karen?

    • karen35856
      karen35856 colin34745

      Posted

      Hi Colin - the facebook group I'm in is 'Gastric Band Support UK' - theres several different ones on there, i'm on a local one to me too 'Bristol Gastric Band' (you dont have to be in Bristol), this one is quieter than the other one but we have get togethers now and again which is nice, so theres probably a local one to you maybe? Definitely worth joining the 'Gastric Band Support UK' one though, you get loads of help on there, and its great reading other peoples stories who are going through the same things. If you have any problems finding it/joining let me know and i'll see if i can help  smile

  • Bandid
    Bandid colin34745

    Posted

    theres a good group at WLSinfo if you are interested in online group or FB also a support group is also a great idea either run by the above or the bariatric hosp that   you are attached to who might run such a group
  • JasonJ
    JasonJ colin34745

    Posted

    Hi Colin

    I am 8 weeks post op had my second fill this past week and now have 4ml. I experienced the shoulder pain and sharp trapped wind in my upper left chest for the first 6 weeks but it has settled now. My doc said it was usually caused by your body adjusting to the new layout inside. Hope yours clears up soon!

    Have you had any stuck episodes at all? I had my first proper one this weekend and it is not something I want to experience again!

    • colin34745
      colin34745 JasonJ

      Posted

      yeah gargs, Im struggling after a fill yesterday, I was ok until i went 3-4 ml, then I started with shoulder pain and yesterday went 4-5 and I cant keep anything down. I'm going in first thing to get 2 ml out then Im going to build back up in halfs, its so dissapointing because Ive done well up to this point but It'l just take a bit of time to resolve.

    • Bandid
      Bandid colin34745

      Posted

      you might need to stick to fluids only for a few days to let things settle down cos if you have been struggling to get things down you might have caused the area to become swollen and to eat solids even after the defill might agravate it further so if you just have smooth soups, yogs, drinks and let things get back to normal - did you manage to drink some water straight after your fill cos its usual practice to get you to do this to ascertain that it is getting through and you are not too tight however with every fill it is a big learning curve and what you could easily manage to eat previously can become a big NO NO so take it very easy when you go back to eating solids - be careful of bread, rice, pasta, fibrous meats such as chops, steak and also some fish if it is dry as this can be difficult to get down - good luck 
    • colin34745
      colin34745 Bandid

      Posted

      Yeah, this time they forgot to get me to drink water in the clinic.

      Liquids were going down but were making a gurgling sound and not passing freely.

      Thanks xx

    • JasonJ
      JasonJ colin34745

      Posted

      Sorry to hear that. Think 3Bandid is right maybe stick to fluids and let it hopefully settle down?

      I am trying to stay positive with mine. I have 4ml and have not lost any weight at all since week 2 (6 weeks no change) if I eat slow I can still eat the full size meals I always could before which I am finding difficult to come to terms with, I presume this is because My band is not filled to anywhere near it needs to be yet. I started 25 stone at 6ft 3 and am down to 24st but this doesn't feel enough for me. I want this weight gone!

      My surgeon says they fill my band very slowly to allow me to adjust to the technique etc so be patient and wait for the weight loss, trying my best to stay positive!

      Hope yours gets sorted asap.

    • colin34745
      colin34745 JasonJ

      Posted

      Be patient gargs, its not till the 6 month stage u start getting regular weight loss. Optimal fill is 6-8mls im told. I was the same and since i got to 4 ml, its started coming off 1lb per week.
    • karen35856
      karen35856 JasonJ

      Posted

      Hi Gargs - Not sure who your provider is or whether you had your band with NHS, but my provider say to do the 20-20-20-20 rule which is eat a 20p size mouthful, chew it 20 times, wait 20 seconds until the next mouthful and then after 20 minutes stop eating and leave what ever is left (this bit I still struggle with at times!!). Things that help to aid this is I eat off a side plate or a gastric band plate (you can buy one on the internet) and also use childrens cuttlery, they all help, but i know how hard it is to change lifelong habits, I have to constantly remind myself about all the things i should be doing! Its a long hard journey that we have taken, but it will be so worth it in the end! I got banded 31 Oct last year, my start wieght I was just under 23st and am now 19st, I've done well I know but the scales havent moved in ages and I'm beginning to get a bit despondant, I have to keep pulling myself up! I dont regret having the band cause i know i would be in a worse place if i hadnt. I want the weight gone like yesterday too, but in the real world we know its going to be hard work, we wouldnt be where we are now if it was easy! We can do this, so keep going and stay positive. Are you on facebook? theres a wonderful support group on there thats really useful. Hope you dont think I'm ranting on lol! but I know every bit of info can be helpful. Good luck smile

  • Bandid
    Bandid colin34745

    Posted

    i had regular wgt loss from the beginning but didnt get to that optimum level of restriction till i was a year out - i had approx 5 fills in that time and eventually needed a slight defill due to night reflux - the optimum fill varies from person to person so there is no average really - everyone is different in side and not all bands carry the same amount of fluid - mine is 9 ml in size and i have 6 mls in it however in a 14ml band those 6 mls would not be as effective - it is necessary to build up restriction in small regular fills cos to do otherwise could have dire effects - when you are reaching that 'sweet spot' as it is often called the smallest amount can make a huge amount of diff and to over shoot can be uncomfortable and also dangerous - i over shot but not massively - i needed half a ml taken out and this made no diff to the restriction but cured the night reflux i was having - the band is the tortoise of the wgt loss surgeries - it is slow in comparison to other methods which rely on restriction as well as malabsorption so just practice health eating habits - try to incorporate some exercise and stick with it and you will get there in the end. good luck    

    • colin34745
      colin34745 Bandid

      Posted

      I had 1/2ml taken out and Im doing great today and can eat and drink phew ??

      I've told the clinic I'm only going to fill by 1/2 ml from now on so I dont go through problems I had the last 24 hrs.

      P.S no wind paibs this week

      Thanks guys

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