Okay. I've been perusing through these boards for quite a while now, and I've often wondered: Did you all(who've had the band) learn to chew slowly and completely BEFORE or AFTER the band? I'm trying my best to remember to do so, but I STILL take large bites at time. I DO NOT want to get stuck! , so I know I HAVE to learn to take smaller bites...And, is there much pain when one DOES get stuck?? Thanks!

It's much easier to remember after you've been stuck a few times! After 3 years, I still have to remind myself occasionally!

What Cindy said. I tried to practice while waiting for my surgery. But until you have experienced the pain, it is hard to remember. Yes, it IS painful. It feels like I swallowed a rock that is sitting just below my sternum.

I learned the hard way............after the band. One stuck episode and I never want to be stuck again!

I bought some child size spoons and forks to help me remember to take smaller bites and it has helped. Even though my teenage son makes fun of me LOL.

after SEVERAL Stuck episodes and I too now use the baby spoons. learned that here on the boards but it works for me!

Thanks, guys! The baby spoon idea sounds great. I will add that to my ever-expanding "things to buy before surgery" list!

I tried to practice taking small bites and chewing completely but I dont think I really "got it" until I got stuck for the first time. I knew exactly what I had done but I still have to remind myself to slow down and take smaller bites.

I started practicing about 2 weeks before I got the band. My nutritionist said to say the ABCs in my head as I chew, and that helped a lot. I also started practicing not drinking with my meals, and sitting up at a table (I used to eat at my desk and in bed all the time!).

It helped, but really, you don't really know until you get there exactly how much you'll have to chew things; at this point I'm still learning too, since I haven't graduated to 'real food' completely yet; still on mushies.