Hi, Can't say I've been doing really good with the band so far, but also not going to give up!! Since surgery (end of Nov / 10), I've only lost 21 lbs, and actually most of that that was the pre-op diet and the 2 weeks immidiately post op. My problem right now is that no matter what I eat, after 2-3 bites I get that "stuck" feeling, I wait it out (usually 10-15 min.) than I can continue eating without much problems (as long as I eat slow and chew properly). I try to be very careful when I start eating, chew alot, eat slow, but nothing seems to work for these first few bites. Anyone else have this problem? How do I deal with this? Thanks!!!

When my band was working "it's not it blew!" I ran across someone on this site that had the same problem as me and it looks like you too. She said she thought she was the only one like this in the world. I told her No, welcome to my nightmare. Everything that I ate was stuck in that pouch after just a couple of bites. Now I would prepare myself a meal, all weighed out like the Doctor said, and he told me I should have no problem with that amount of food Yeagh Rite ! Her and I both had to drink Water with our food in order to get it to go down... Now before you say your not suppose to do that, that's not how the band works! We both new that, but we would get a meal ready something small, and not high in calories, and it would be stuck every time only liquids could go threw it. So my surgeon made me keep a diary "to no how many calories we were consuming in a day, not to exceed 1200 calories." so we use the water as a tool to help get the food threw, and not be in pain. It worked!!! So Yes there is a way out for you. It is unorthodox but if done right it works.

Mail me if you have to.

Shirley

10/31/2006

Henry Ford Hospital "Center of Excellence"

Michigan

There are quite a few threads here that may help you ......maybe do a search for .... first bite syndrome

I had this for some time. It was almost always within the first few bites. I believe some people call it "first bite syndrome", which I think is a great name. I found that if I drank something warm before I ate that it didn't happen. So maybe even a small sip of hot tea would help you. I know in my case I was hungry and would take too large bites, but that when I drank it pushed the food on through. This isn't the band being too tight, otherwise when you drank you would feel even worse not better. Chewing really well is so important to prevent that feeling. But I would try something warm to drink before you eat and see if it helps.

Thanks guys!! I searched the forums for the "first bite syndrome" and was pleasantly surprised to find exactly what I needed. I tried the hot tea before supper tonight (and also a cracker 20 min before supper - something else I read about) and WOW...what a difference. I sat there and got through my entire meal with minimal discomfort!! My first query on this site was a total success!!!!