Gas pain post surgery?

I had my Lap Band on Sept. 13. Now, 4 days out I am really feeling bloated terribly, feel stabbing gas pains, but not at the incision but a few inches below. It is really sore. Anyone had that problem? Constipation also - no poop since before surgery. I am eating the prescribed tomato soup, cereal with milk and what I thought I was supposed to? Any ideas? Hula

Hula, I am by no means an expert, but I go to the Mo Bariatrics doctors in Columbia, and we can't eat tomoato soup or any of the stuff you mentioned in your other post. first week after surgery is ONLY: SF Clear items and clear broth...... Grape, Cran or Apple juice cut with 1/2 water, and those type of things, 2nd week we only add in milk based protein drinks, and 3rd week we add in soft potato, cottage cheese etc..... I am suprised you can eat tomato ANYTHING...and cereal...is that COLD cereal??? Those two things hurt me and I haven't even had the surgery yet.... OUCH! Others out there with more INFO? I'd Call your doc immediately..... S

Postop Lap Band patients can have a wildly different protocol from Lap or Open RNY patients due to the fact that their G.I. tract isn't restructured like it is for us RNY'ers... Many of them don't face the same issues with malabsorbption and/or dumping although they CAN.. usually they can advance their diets much quicker than the RNY patient... The meal plan and advancement schedule that you are relating to is normally what is used for RNY patients... *s* I was going to try for the band but my insurance wouldn't cover it so I had to have the RNY procedure... but I'm still equally jazzed that I had ANY procedure after fighting for it for all those years... it definitely was a Godsend for me.... Best wishes...*S* Pixielf~

Are you following what your dietician and/or nutritionist has recommended for being postop? Even if you are I would go ahead and follow up with your drs. office. It is not uncommon to have bloating and gassy discomfort so soon after surgery as your G.I. tract tries to regulate after being "insulted" with having surgery. I know that I went through a period of adjustment for about the first 4-6 weeks after surgery where I would alternate between being bound up or dealing with diarheaa. It wasn't excruitating but it wasn't pleasant either. Wishing you nothing but the best... please keep us informed... Pixielf~

Gas is common. The best solution is to walk . You kind of walk and poot and that helps . You also can buy devrom which will help too. They pumped you full of carbon dioxide and that have to be rid of it. Constipation is normal too as you are taking in very little fiber at the early stage. Benefiber helps you can stir it into your drinks or soup. Stool softeners will help too. The first month is rough but it gets easier the farther out you get. You might want to stick to full liquids for a while to help too. Try drinking protien shakes cereal is not too wise this early as it will give you lots of gas.