Infoblog

during surgery, a small amount of CO2 gas is used to inflate the
belly to better visualize and work with the abdominal organs. This
gas dissipates completely by the end of the surgery (as soon as the
trocars are removed), but the stretching of the organs remains. The
diapharagm, especially, is irritated by the stretching and sends
("refers") pain to the shoulder. The mexican docs also put a couple
extra sutures into the diaphargm to better secure the band, and this
can also irritate the diaphragm until it heals. This irritation can
also cause hiccups (which are diaphragm spasms) and make it hard to
take a deep breath for 1-2 weeks.
A heating pad to the shoulder and abdomen often helps. 3 weeks,
though, is a long time to still be having this pain. If it continues,
please check in with your doc.
Do you really mean shoulder BLADE pain? as in the middle of the left
side of the back? the diaphargm pain is usally higher, in the
shoulder itself. Perhaps you have a pinched nerve from something
else? sandy RN