Gastric Band Complications need review by a bariatric surgeon

Some less common post-surgery symptoms could be signs of infection, improper healing, or other complications. These warrant a call to your doctor. The following list of gastric band complications will give you an idea of what to watch out for, but if you feel pain or have an incident that’s not on this list that you think could indicate something unusual, don’t be afraid to trust your instincts and contact your doctor or go to the emergency room.

While some of the following symptoms don’t necessarily indicate anything unusual, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and get in touch with your doctor if you experience them.

Gastric Band Complications to Watch For

  • Fever: A slight fever is common after a surgical procedure and is probably nothing to worry about; however, if your fever reaches 101 degrees or higher, then you should call your doctor.
  • Shortness of breath or chest pains: Because of the discomfort in your abdominal area, you may notice some soreness in your chest or stomach when you breathe in deeply. This discomfort may cause you to try to breathe shallowly. While that is normal, if you experience a sudden shortness of breath that’s not caused by your attempts to lessen your pain, then you need to call your doctor. Also call your doctor if you experience chest pain.
  • Pain, swelling, or any redness in your legs: Whether this occurs in just one of your legs or in both, you need to notify your doctor immediately, as this may indicate a blood clot or other complication.
  • Pain in your belly, nausea, or vomiting: You’ve just had a surgical procedure performed on your stomach, so it’s normal to experience some discomfort in your abdominal area. Severe pain, on the other hand, is not normal. If you experience intense abdominal pain and/or nausea or vomiting, let your doctor know immediately.
  • Swelling or pain in the incision sites, or fluid leaking from your incisions: These are signs of infection and should be brought to your doctor’s attention.

If any of these symptoms should occur during off-hours, when your doctor is unavailable, or when you’re out of town, do not be afraid to go straight to the emergency room. If you do go to the ER, be sure to let them now that you just had gastric band surgery so that they can treat your symptoms properly.

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