Gas Pains - the two types common in Bandsters

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There are 2 different kinds of " gas " related to the post-op period of

banding, and they can be confusing.

The first kind is the CO2 gas inserted into your belly at surgery, to

inflate it so the doc can visualize your organs. This CO2

dissipates immediately after surgery, so there is no CO2 in you any

longer - but it's effects remain. The inflation from the gas

stretches and irritates the internal organs, especially the

diaphragm, and this refers pain to the left shoulder. It can be

quite severe. there several things that help, and these should be

started immediately after surgery, as soon as pain occurs. The

shoulder pain can last up to 6 months, per new studies, if not

treated well, but usually lasts only a week or less.

These things help the shoulder pain:

1. a few days of LIQUID advil, if your doc allows. no more than 3

days. Be sure to wash thru with a full glass of fluid, sipped slowly

2. A warm heating pad to the shoulder. 30 minutes on, 1 hour off.

Please do not use the medication-impregnated " pain-relief " patches

like the " Icy Hot " patches, as they have been recalled due to burns

and other injuries.

the warm heating pad is also useful for healing the belly wounds.

Never place it directly on the skin, though - use over clothing.

3. The " chicken flap " - sit upright in a straight chair. put your

fists together in the center of your chest, raise your elbows to

horizontal and flap like a chicken for 30-60 seconds. this " tricks " the

nerves so they don't feel the referred pain. you can do this as often

as needed, but it's best to start with the first pain right after

surgery.

4. Moving around as much as possible. your pain should be well enough

controlled so that you are comfortable and can get up very often and

move around. this is essential to avoid the post-op complications,

some very serious. if your pain is not well-controlled, ask your

surgeon for better meds. if you have a surgeon out of the country,

he/she cannot prescribe in the US, so you will need to obtain meds

from your family doctor. Good pain control is essential for healing

well, so never try to " tough it out. "

the second kind of " gas " is intestinal gas pain. This can occur if we

have had a big meal the night before surgery, and sometimes even

without it. Very few docs allow solids the day before surgery, for

this reason, and I sure concur.

In my informal studies with more than 200 bandsters, very few had

troublesome gas when they had liquids only for the 24-48 hrs after

surgery. To me, it is not worth the risk of bad belly pain. Eat a

big " last " dinner 3 nights before, if you must - and have a

comfortable recovery period.

If we go to surgery with the gut full from the day before, the food

sits there and ferments for the hour you are under anesthesia, and

for awhile after, while your gut is still sedated and inactive. This

can produce the very painful intestinal gas.

If you feel gassy and bloated in your belly, this is intestinal pain,

not related to the CO2 that is never INSIDE your intestines.

Several things help here too:

1. Narcotic pain meds also can produce gas and constipation. if you

need narcotic meds, i urge you to take a stool sofener with them,

from the start. OTC Colace (Dss) is an effective and gentle one. The

capsules are too big for safety, so get the liquid. Avoid laxatives.

2. You may be a bit lactose intolerant, so stop milk products for

now.-

3. Drink very slowly and carefully, to avoid swallowing air, which

comes back as burps of intestinal gas.

4. Be very sure not to shake things up or whip in a blender - both

add a lot of air, which makes gas. Gas X might help; take it a

directed.

5. Stop any apple juice, as it increases loose stools and gas.

6. Walk around often to mobilize the gas out.

7. Also avoid all the gas-producing foods. don't know if you;re using

any on the full liquid stage . Here is more on the gassy foods:

http://www.upmc.com/HealthManagement/ManagingYourHealth/PersonalHealth

/Men/?chunkiid=10982

8.Lastly, avoid using a straw for now. sip slowly and don;t swallow

air. most intestinal gas is simply swallowed air, unless it is from

the gas-producing foods.

If belly pain seems excessive or does not respond to these measures,

always check in with your band surgeon, of course.

c. Sandy s, BSN, MN

band educator

at goal > 6 yrs

updated March 2010