Hi 1 day at a time and Nicole,The pain is caused by a combination of loose gas from the surgery and irritation of the diaphram. In my case walking made a huge difference. When you get up, take a little walk to the bathroom, a lap around the hallway...whatever works in your situation. Just make sure you get moving.
As far as eating goes...take tiny bites and chew, chew, chew. Don't swallow anything that hasn't been chewed to a liquid/creamy consistency. No bread that hasn't been toasted, no steak, only tender meats. Crock pot slow cookers work great for combining veggies and meats and cooking them to a soft consistency.
You're still at a very early stage of recovery, and it's likely that going back to work has made your recovery tougher...instead of hanging out on the couch you're in the work-world, which is definitely harder on you.
You will always have to eat more slowly, take smaller bites, and chew very completely. You have had an unnatural barrier placed between the esophagus an the stomach, which is great for keeping reflux at bay, but also keeps us from being able to swallow chunks of unchewed food the way we used to.
My surgeon set me free to use my own good judgement and eat "whatever could be chewed to a liquid (no bread/sandwiches/steak)" on Day 5 or 6. Of course at that point I stuck to soups and crackers, and other softer choices. Still, as my recovery progressed I was able to eat a wide variety of normal foods following that rule.
This recovery takes a full 6 months for most of the healing and a year for the rest. I had continued improvements into the second year. Patience!
I know the shoulder pain is incredibly painful and annoying. Been there. Try the walking and see if it helps at all. It will subside, but it takes time and patience.
I hope you both get feeling better soon!
Hang in there!
Denise