I am only 12 days out from getting my band and I was getting a little comfortable with my restrictions. I found myself tolerating larger than dime size bites, being able to eat more than 1/2 cup (more like up to 2 cups) and quite being so careful about how I was chewing my food. Tonight I came home, wasn't thinking, and opened the refrigerator and grabbed a strawberry. I took larger bites and didn't chew like I was supposed to. I didn't even notice the felling of the first strawberry passing through my band and then I ate the second strawberry and noticed an uncomfortable feeling, kind of like choking, but the feeling was coming from the bottom of my esophagus. I then realized that maybe the strawberries got stuck; this had never happened to me before, so it didn't bother me. I then panicked and started trying to drink a cup of water to "wash" it down. Nope, water didn't want to go down either, I immediately threw it back up with some of the strawberries. The pain and fear began to increase while I began to think, "I hope I don't have to go to the hospital because of something so stupid, not chewing!!!" I then began drinking more water and that brought up a bit more of the strawberries, after about 6 glasses of water and throwing up each time, I finally got all of the strawberries out of my pouch.

My advice to you: If you want to challenge your pouch and get to comfortable eating, think again!! NEVER assume you are going to get away with going back to your old ways of eating without thinking about what is in your mouth, why it's in your mouth, and will it cause a problem with your pouch.

OMG - have I been there before! No such thing as mindless eating anymore! First time I got something stuck I thought I'd have a panic attack as I couldn't breathe - it hurt so bad and I started sweating really bad and foaming...then I learned to throw it back out! Amen for writing this!

I hope that you haven't caused a slip. Throwing up, especially so soon after surgery , can cause problems.

It might be worth calling your Dr to see if he wants to check that everything is still in place.

I am only 12 days out from getting my band and I was getting a little comfortable with my restrictions. I found myself tolerating larger than dime size bites, being able to eat more than 1/2 cup (more like up to 2 cups) and quite being so careful about how I was chewing my food. Tonight I came home, wasn't thinking, and opened the refrigerator and grabbed a strawberry. I took larger bites and didn't chew like I was supposed to. I didn't even notice the felling of the first strawberry passing through my band and then I ate the second strawberry and noticed an uncomfortable feeling, kind of like choking, but the feeling was coming from the bottom of my esophagus. I then realized that maybe the strawberries got stuck; this had never happened to me before, so it didn't bother me. I then panicked and started trying to drink a cup of water to "wash" it down. Nope, water didn't want to go down either, I immediately threw it back up with some of the strawberries. The pain and fear began to increase while I began to think, "I hope I don't have to go to the hospital because of something so stupid, not chewing!!!" I then began drinking more water and that brought up a bit more of the strawberries, after about 6 glasses of water and throwing up each time, I finally got all of the strawberries out of my pouch.

My advice to you: If you want to challenge your pouch and get to comfortable eating, think again!! NEVER assume you are going to get away with going back to your old ways of eating without thinking about what is in your mouth, why it's in your mouth, and will it cause a problem with your pouch.

i'm 12DYS post op too....I just got to cocky for my own good...I just survived my first stuck episode today I must say it re-enforced the reason for all the rules. It brought it all home for me I've never had that much pressure in my chest and the food felt like it was in the back of my throat and I couldn't swallow it down..terrible I think I am having soup for dinner my body has bee traumitized enough(I'm a drama queen..smile)