Pressure in my chest

I just had the band placed on Jan. 5th and have pressure behind my sternum.  Is this most likely caused by gas or from having the band placed?

 probably. In case of worries, you can always call your doc's office.
If you have band specific questions, you can also post on the band forum :)

 


Go to the doctor!

The band and the surgery is probably the cause.  It could be from gas or it could be from your port depending on where your port was placed.

However, contact your Dr..  Chest pain should  not be ignored.  My sternum area hurt constantly when I had a band, but my port was right to the right of my sternum.

CO2 gas is used to "blow out" the abdomen during lapbanding. It causes the Vagus nerves to get irritated. Those nerves can cause referred left shoulder pain, pressure into the chest, neck and down the shoulder.

In your case, it is probably due to the recent surgery, but you should contact your surgeon, anyway.

If it doesn't go away soon, make sure your surgeon knows this also. I was one of the unlucky ones to have diaphragmatic damage from the band... and the pain and pressure never went away. I had the band removed over 6 years ago and I still spent last night in horrible pain. Once the diaphragm is damaged, it takes a LONG time to heal. So, if it's feeling more than temporary, make sure you don't let it get worse.

Hope you feel better soon. Walk as much as possible and use a heating pad on your abdomen by your ribcage. It sometimes helps with the pain and pressure. Just don't let it get too hot and especially if you have incisions there.

Take care.