Question:
has any lapband people experienced shoulder pain

I am 7 days post op and experience shoulder blade pain on the left where my port is. I also have been having several dreams about food. Haven't had any solids since Oct 3rd.    — bchicks42 (posted on October 19, 2007)

October 19, 2007
Yes, I had shoulder blade pain for almost a month after surgery. I was told it was trapped gas and it did finally leave. Congratulations on your surgery!
   — Bee

October 19, 2007
congratulations for going through with the surgery! You are experiencing gas left over from the operation. Walk as much as possible and take lots of gas x, it will go away. The more you force yourself to move the sooner it will leave your body.
   — bderuiter

October 19, 2007
I've been warned that it takes time for the anesthesia to leave the body and frequesntly settles in the shoulders. The only way to hasten its leaving is by walking.
   — dorkyfatgrrrl

October 19, 2007
Food dreams are common. Just like when an alcoholic stops drinking, they often dream abut getting drunk. When we stop using our "drug" of choice, we dream about it too. But hey, dreaming is NOT fattening, so don't worry 'bout it. Sometimes they just happen! When does your Dr. say you can start solids? I started on soup and soft foods only a week or so after my surgery. Congrats on your surgery. 'Hope you love it.
   — Debra R.

October 20, 2007
I just had my surgery on October 8 and I am just now having the pressure ease up. Now that I think of it, I have not taken a Alleve for it today! It is part of the gases that they put in you during the surgery. Don't fear you are not having a heart attack. It got so bad a few days ago it hurt when I would take a breath. The way I got rid of it is everyday I would go out and walk for a while. We had a cold snap in Dayton and I went to stores and just walk around. My doctor told me to take Allieve and it does help ease the pain some. I also used a heating pad. It did help with the pain for a while. Hope it is gone for you soon.
   — jransom

October 20, 2007
My doctor told me that the shoulder pain was linked to fixing my hernia. Apparently there is a nerve link between the diaphragm and the shoulder and the hernia repair touched the diaphragm. Mine went away at about 2 weeks, hopefully yours will go soon too.
   — Patti_C_TX

October 25, 2007
The pain in the left shoulder is somewhat normal. When we are babies, all of our "insides" are scrunched closer together. As a result, there is a nerve that comes from the area of the esophagus that mimics shoulder pain. In other words, your brain cannot recognize where the pain is actually originating since the shoulder and the esophageal area were so close when you were a baby. I know it sounds weird. Make sure to let you doctor know you are experiencing pain in the left shoulder - s/he may want to make some adjustments to your food habits.
   — VickiStevens