Can someone explain what stuck means, exactly? I'm wondering if it's really stuck, as in clogging the whole machine, or if it just means there's a little something in there that takes time to melt away...

Can you share what stuck means to you?

Oops, nevermind... I didn't see that this thread was already started!!!

Stuck means stuck! Your stoma is blocked with something that does not want to go down. Your body then produces extra saliva to try and push it down and you cannot swallow the saliva as the stuck item is in the way so you have to cough it up. Depending on what you are stuck on it can take anything from minutes to hours to pass. Generally the best way to end the episode quickly is to try to cough the item back up if you can. Whilst you are stuck you will feel discomfort and possibly pain generally in the chest so if you didn't know better you might swear you were having a heart attack.

You may still be hungry or thirsty but there is no point in trying to eat or drink as it won't go down and it just makes it worse.

Stuck means stuck! Your stoma is blocked with something that does not want to go down. Your body then produces extra saliva to try and push it down and you cannot swallow the saliva as the stuck item is in the way so you have to cough it up. Depending on what you are stuck on it can take anything from minutes to hours to pass. Generally the best way to end the episode quickly is to try to cough the item back up if you can. Whilst you are stuck you will feel discomfort and possibly pain generally in the chest so if you didn't know better you might swear you were having a heart attack.

You may still be hungry or thirsty but there is no point in trying to eat or drink as it won't go down and it just makes it worse.

i agree completely.. all the action is in the esophagus, with the band at the bottom providing the restriction. the esophagus has two ''spasms' to get the bolus ( mouthful of food) down into the pouch. this is where the problem is. the esophagus is trying very hard to push the food down into the pouch and its very restricted. So... result?? very painful spasms in the chest. NOthing can ease it really.. .only waiting for it to be able to manage to pass the food through. Either that or try and bring the mouthful back up... i wont do that if i can help it. vomiting to me brings up visions of a lapband moving. so.. the few episodes ive had i just have to suffer ... and wait for it all to pass through the band. it does eventually.