I am going for my first Informative Session on Wednesday.

I keep hearing about food getting stuck.........OK......then what happens???

you puke

Hi Linda, I haven't been banded yet myself and I had the same questions about that. Basically as Wayne said it will come up, this really depends on what it is you are eatting. Probably something not allowed to eat or maybe eatting too fast, not chewing up the food before swallowing. I guess our mouths are going to become automatic blenders, LOLOL

Dry foods may be the culprit, like breads crackers, etc.

No generally when food is stuck it doesn't come up. It is STUCK. What has happened is that you have swallowed a bite that is too big or not properly chewed or something that may be difficult for you to eat post band and it has lodged in the opening between your band and your stomach. It sits there and can cause anything from mild discomfort to extreme pain. This can last from a couple of minutes to a couple of hours or in extreme cases a couple of days.

Whilst it is there nothing else will go down so trying to move it by drinking won't help, you will bring the liquid up but the object remains lodged. Your body also tries to move it through by producing excess saliva. Again this saliva won't go down so you have to cough or spit it up. This is what is referred to as sliming.

Different people have different remedies.They include:-

Papaya enzymes (never worked for me)

pineapple juice

Doing an arm movement similar to the chicken dance.

Getting into downward dog position

Jumping up and down.

Drinking a can of soda really quickly - if you try this make sure you are close to the toilet because apparently it loosens the stuff and brings it all back up really quickly, I have never been game enough to try it.

Sometimes it is possible to cough the item back up.

After the stuck episode your oesophagus is likely to be swollen and irritated. I have found that sucking ice chips helps to reduce the swelling and the discomfort. It is also recommended that you stick to liquids for a while after a stuck so as to give the area a rest and a chance to recover.

The aim is to never get stuck but I think most of us manage it at some time or another. It often happens because you are not paying attention to how you are eating or because you are trying to eat in a hurry.

PS. Crackers very rarely cause a stuck as they dissolve before they get to that point.

Bread is a major cause as it is doughy.

Protein foods are probably the biggest problem especially if they are dry , tough or overcooked. For this reason you should choose moist cooking methods and eat your meat with a little sauce. Also dark chicken meat goes down a lot better than white chicken meat.

kinda graphic but.. this is what happens to me.

body gives me these immediate - stop or your going barf signal, followed by a runny nose, production of spit in my mouth, unable to burp sensation, sometimes nausea and I puke whats in my stoma. if it is really bad I will have a full on stomach barf (like when you have a very bad flu) all within 60 - 90 seconds!!! Don't get stuck while DRIVING!!! it sucks.

elcee is right on with her response and I've had similar experience. It only takes once for most to remember what not to do because it really hurts!

Chew chew chew and put your fork down in between bites to remind you to chew until it is a liquid. I found that when something gets stuck, it's when I'm grabbing something out of a party tray that doesn't require a fork and knife so you more easily forget.

They are right !

So as you can see the band is a teaching tool...

Once you have gone threw this process. you will say I will never do that again !

Chances are 50/50 You might try it again, because your love for the food, well you hate to end that friendship.

Now you will either get stuck or get lucky. But if it is a Food that commonoly gets stuck.

Don't worry, you will be stuck again. Then you will stick to NO WAY ! am I doing that again..

Now you just have to continue to try different foods, just to see if you can tolerate them or not.

Trust me,,, It's still worth it.....

The pain is not describable and I hate when it happens. Most of the time I can pass it but on occassion when it wouldnt it came up with no problem then I have extreme swelling and liquids til it feels better. I can say this I WILL NEVER EAT HAMBURGER AGAIN EVER EVER EVER LOL

One more thing I was going to say on this that I know led to my success in avoiding all sorts of bad stuff was that my doctor had me practice the band way of eating before my surgery which was:

1.) smaller plates, divided in half and then one side in quarters. 1st half is all veg, then second half is split between Protein and a starch of my choice. Order to eat is protein, then veg, then starch.

2.) Putting the fork down each time is crucial to preventing things from getting stuck.

3.) Not drinking your calories

4.) Not eating and drinking together

5.) Stopping at the first feeling of fullness

6.) Also, smaller drinking glasses for everything that is not Water or protein so you avoid the over pouring of drinks.

Hope this helps.