Well, I was just banded on 2/26 and had a lot of pain. I'm still not normal and am very amazed because i too read about people going shopping the day of discharge!! I guessed that everyone is different though... I know pain is relative but I'm not a complainer and I can say the post-op has been painful, not just uncomfortable. This morning was my 1st time getting out of bed and not feeling like i was tearing at my whole abdomen...and on the contrary, i did follow all the "rules" and try to walk about 30 min a day (slow but...)
The moral of this is that it is def getting better but i did expereince what you have also!!
I still keep a hand on my left side to prevent my side from moving and ultimately, hurting.
On another note, has anyone had a problem with not being able to "go"? I called and talked to a doctor about constipation and they told me that i really shouldn't have too b/c i'm on the liquids but i really feel like i have to! Has anyone taken anything for this? Or got a diff response?