Hi all, I have been diagnosed with Wilson’s disease and had my first varices banding yesterday. I had 6 bands put on in total 2 on 3 sites. I wanted to ask of people’s experiences. I’m 24 hours on from the banding and have a constant pain in my chest and it hurts every time I swallow something. The swallowing doesn’t hurt just the part when the liquid goes past the site.
How long does the pain last? Is it normal for it to constantly ache for 24 hours after?
My hubby went through an aggressive banding regime having 42 done over 2 years. It is normal for it to be sore exactly as you say (when the food, drink passes the actual banded area). The longest my hubby experienced pain for was around 8 days - started off on a very soft diet the first few days and gradually got more solid as the days went on.
Constant pain wasn't such an issue, you are managing some food I hope. If you are not managing to eat or bring stuff up then you must get checked out again - sometimes with banding you can get strictures in the oesophagus which closes it off a bit. You would need to be rechecked if you were bringing food back up.
Another cause of lots of pain after banding can be if the gases they use to inflate your oesophagus haven't all released - have you been windy post procedure? Hopefully the answer is yes as this is the air being released.
If the overall pain goes on for much longer then do get rechecked, either contact the unit who did your procedure or go to A&E and explain what you've had done. The pain when eating is entirely normal and should pass over the next few days.
Best wishes,
Katie
Hi Katie thanks a lot for all that, yes the constant pain is subsiding a bit. And I have managed to eat porridge, soup with no problems other than it being sore when passes the banding point.
Are there any other foods that you could recommend me eating that are soft and easy? As currently soup and porridge is a bit boring :).
Sounds like the normal pain when eating situation, fingers crossed the pain when eating subsides soon too.
As regards soft food hubby managed scrambled eggs, rice pudding, mash potato and gravy, mash potato with cod in butter sauce/parsley sauce (the packet boil in the bag type), trifle, jelly and custard. Hopefully it shouldn't take long till you are back on normal food.
Are you allowed paracetemol? Hubby was allowed these indeed advised to take them by liver unit for post banding pain.
All the best,
Katie
Hi, I found initially it just hurts constantly then only when eating. Then it feels like its improving and I'd take a bite of something only to be shocked by the epigastric pain, feeling like I'm going to vomit. Then it passes after a little while, I think on some occasions food gets stuck at the banding site, whilst the stalk is still there.
It's horrid, but it does get better, usually within a week, occasionally a bit beyond that, in my experience.
I hope things improve for you soon, and you're able to eat whatever you like.
Best wishes
