Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Scared Of Getting Stuck



Recommended Posts

Hello! So I'm day 3 (or 4?) post op but I'm already beginning to worry about getting those 'stuck' episodes. I've always been terrified of throwing up and even with a stomach bug rarely throw up. If I'm understanding correctly, when you get stuck you have to kind of burp it up, right? Is it really that bad? Is there anyone out there who have never experienced a 'stuck' episode? I want to avoid them at all costs after reading what it's like. Is that even possible? :/

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've gotten stuck a few times and let me tell you, it's no picnic. One time I honestly felt like I was having a heart attack. But it's always my fault when I get stuck and I know this.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Hey Erin!

Getting that "stuck" feeling is one of the things that you have a great deal of control over. Just stay with the fundamentals your doctor tells you and you should be fine. Take really small bites, chew well allowing about a minute between bites, and stay away from anything really dry and you should be fine - especially now when you probably aren't feeling a lot of restriction. If you're like me, you're going to have to learn how to eat all over again. I always ate so fast, gulped down huge bites, and could polish off a meal in a few minutes. When I have had PB's (productive burping) it was more like vomiting, but not nearly as gut-wrenching because the food didn't have to travel far. (Sorry to be graphic, but that's the topic.) It wasn't pleasant by any means, but it wasn't the end of the world either. You'll be surprised how much better you'll feel afterwards. I just try to never do it because I don't want to stress the plumbing.

Go to YouTube and search "Dr. Paul O'Brien 8 Rules." Great videos from a doctor who is probably the most experienced lap-band surgeon on the planet.

Good luck and don't stress out over it. If it happens, just learn from it and try not to make it happen again.

D.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You have to re-learn how your band is after every fill. I had no stuck episodes until 2 fills ago. I had a few episodes with the fill that was 2 fills ago, and now with this last fill I have had more, and really have to watch it now. I really have to chew, can't have dry stuff, and have to have teeny bites of Protein. It's not fun, but it will probably happen to you. It's more like a gag and throw up than the gut wrenching throw up you sometimes get with a stomach bug.

It's a learning curve!!!!

Nicki

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

While I have never yet experienced an official "stuck" episode, I did get some early warning signs. It felt like my band had suddenly become very tight with a very mild pain. I stopped eating immediately, and the feeling subsided in less than a minute.

I concluded that I had been allowing myself to eat too fast, and have since made a conscious effort to slow down. Result, no additional issues.

As others have mentioned, if you are conscientious to follow the bandster rules of eating slow with small well chewed bites of moist foods, you should have nothing to be concerned about.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sometimes you get stuck and it hurts and you produce a lot of slime and it can't go down so it has to come out. Vomiting will sometimes dislodge the stuck food and that will be the end of it. Sometimes getting suck isn't that painful (for me). It's more like getting to full or like if I eat bread it's not like it is stuck and it is painful, its more like it is plugging the hole and it gives you an uncomfortable "very full" feeling, slime and then just kind of burp it up and spit it out.

It can hurt, really chew and take small bites and eat slowly. I can chew the heck out of things but if I eat it too fast or it is too big of bite it all can do the same thing.

Unfortunately, it is the rare bandster that never has a stuck episode.

Best of Luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I've had many stuck episodes. I'm a slow learner and have a difficult time slowing down and taking smaller bites. But, most of my stuck episodes are minor and pass through in about 10 minutes. It's not painful for me, just some discomfort. It is difficult when it happens in a cafe and you have to excuse yourself to a bathroom stall to PB for 5 minutes.

You will most likely experience a stuck episode but not until you have a fill or three. It's not a big deal. imo and in my experiences.

tmf

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for all the info guys! I'm going to try my hardest to not get 'stuck' but now I'm a little more prepared for if I do :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery in April and I have yet to get stuck or experience any warning signs! I really chew my food to mush and spit out anything that I can't get to that consistency. I had my fourth fill yesterday, so when I'm back on solids, we'll see if anything changes! I, too, worry about getting stuck, but I'm careful and hope for the best! And if it does happen, I'll make adjustments and deal with it. I'm down 72 pounds and feel like a whole new person. If throwing up every once in awhile is the price I have to pay, so be it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had my surgery in April and I have yet to get stuck or experience any warning signs! I really chew my food to mush and spit out anything that I can't get to that consistency. I had my fourth fill yesterday' date=' so when I'm back on solids, we'll see if anything changes! I, too, worry about getting stuck, but I'm careful and hope for the best! And if it does happen, I'll make adjustments and deal with it. I'm down 72 pounds and feel like a whole new person. If throwing up every once in awhile is the price I have to pay, so be it![/quote']

Oh wow! So there's hope for me ;) Congrats on the weight loss! That's fantastic!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Dont worry about the getting stuck feeling. You do get a pain in ur chest that does feel like a heart attack. Dont panic or try and force it up. What i usually do that works is if something gets stuck while I'm eating i stop eating go to the bathroom and lean over the sink and by then the food comes up. Trust me once u have that feeling once you dont want to have it again.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Don't get scared its not as bad ad it sounds. It's your body and stuck doesn't mean your going to choke and turn blue...sorry that's what I honestly thought would happen. It's a feeling that you get and your body takes care of it either up or down and it's not necessarily throwing up. I've had it happen a few times and my lapband, a tool, helps me avoid foods that tend to make me feel stuck. Win a few lose a few it's by trial and error often after fills because we forget those golden rules. I do not regret my band I love it!!!!!!

http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/w3x7zPz/

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have to be really careful when I'm out with friends or family and get distracted while I'm eating- talking and mindful chewing are not compatible! If you are not too tight, drink plenty of Water before eating, chew your food to mush, and pay attention - you won't get stuck.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It's no picnic. But if you have a problem with getting stuck it only takes a few days of having to go to the bathroom everytime you eat to get it through your head. Slow down and chew. Likewise if you get stuck every time you eat rice then Eventually you'll quit eating rice. So yeah you might get stuck, but your not gonna be stuck everyday of your life.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you everyone! I feel a lot better about it now. I know it's no fun but I know it's not really the end of the world either ;)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×