So i start regular food soon and im so nervous and scared about getting stuck. I know to eat slow, small bites, and chew chew chew but im still scared about it. Does it hurt? Will i be able to get it unstuck? What happens if it doesnt pass thru or come up? These are the thoughts that are in my head right now..lol. Any advice other than the obvious?

ever have a large pill fill like it didn't go all the way down? that's what it feels like for me it does get unstuck in time often standing up straight helps, waiting, or drinking something hot helps. It wont kill ya I worried more about not feeling any restriction and I would eat just as much as b4...just follow the rules and you will be fine...its doesn't happen often at least for me...

It is like having a big lump in the back of your throat. It usually does not last very long and usually it is over very quickly. I wish I could tell you that you would never get stuck but it happens. I was always very careful but there comes that time when you are distratced for what ever reason and you get stuck and up it comes. You will be ok, do not stress over this, try to be as careful as possible and chew well.Good luck.

Edit: I reread your post, one bit of advice I can give you is make sure your Protein choices are moist. I found that early in the morning it is more difficult for me to eat and in the early days I could not eat egg or any firm protein for Breakfast. I ate a lot of greek yogurt in the beginning becasue of protein content. chicken is one of those Proteins that sometimes you can eat and sometimes you can't. Microwaving foods make them tuff and sometimes difficult for a bandster. I enjoyed tofu and fish a lot in my early day because their textrue was easily tolerated by my band. First few weeks may be difficult until you learn what to expect but it does get better. I did learn to be creative with Protein powder and egg whites. I added these to my Protein shakes to make sure I got enough protein in my early days, Honestly I wondered in the beginning how I would ever be able to eat that much food but I did and so will you.

Good luck to you.

Thanks. Im just worried about the pain part of it. Ive heard so many people say it hurts really bad.

I just had a stuck episode for the first time yesterday and it was exactly the same feeling I had before being banded when eating Tuna and brown rice too quickly. I can only assume that was a symptom of the hernia the found during my Op. I never realised so now it's back to chew chew chew. I just got distracted yesterday. It was very uncomfortable but went away after a shirt time.

Thanks. Im just worried about the pain part of it. Ive heard so many people say it hurts really bad.

It is more of a discomfort than pain, well at least it was for me. Take what you read on the forums with a grain a salt, some people are way to dramatic. Just chew the best you can and one thing I forgot, if you do get stuck do not try and push it down with water it will come right back up.

Early in the morning your band is at its tightest. What I do is only have a cup of hot tea. Then an hr later I drink my protein shake. After that if I'm hungry within the next hr or two I then eat. The band is tight because your throat/esophagus is dry from sleeping.

Also to help during the day like before lunch or dinner you should be sipping on water or whatever you drink up until your first bite of food. Then do not drink while eating & wait 30 mins after eating before drinking. This is what my Doctor & the nurses taught me prior & post surgery.

Oh yeah. I got banded 12/22/10 & started at 232lbs. I'm now 163lbs. My goal weight is 155lbs. Much success to all of you.

Oh yeah. I got banded 12/22/10 & started at 262lbs. I'm now 163lbs. My goal weight is 155lbs. Much success to all of you.

Happy New yr.

Oh yeah. I got banded 12/22/10 & started at 232lbs. I'm now 163lbs. My goal weight is 155lbs. Much success to all of you.

Correction. Started at 262 lbs

Getting stuck is part of being banded. I don't think anyone ever died from it. Different people have different pain thresholds. I never felt pain just discomfort, like when you swallow something the wrong way. People who post do tend to over dramatize the event! Yes, it will frighten you the first time until you figure out what is happening. Once the slime starts, it is all over but waiting for it to clear. You will have a few moments to think back and say, OK self, what did I just do, and let's not do that again!

Getting stuck is part of being banded. I don't think anyone ever died from it. Different people have different pain thresholds. I never felt pain just discomfort' date=' like when you swallow something the wrong way. People who post do tend to over dramatize the event! Yes, it will frighten you the first time until you figure out what is happening. Once the slime starts, it is all over but waiting for it to clear. You will have a few moments to think back and say, OK self, what did I just do, and let's not do that again![/quote']

You are right about the Over dramatizing.

My stuck feeling feels like a knife jabbing my sternum...between my breasts above stomach. It hurts but not like you will die. I have the deer in headlights look when it happens...but you will learn your body responses and subtle hints it can happen.

I will say up to my third fill (which was only .5cc) I thought I chewed really well. How wrong I was. It took a few stuck episodes for me to realise I wasn't chewing half as much thats needed to. When you have none or hardly any restriction it's hard to comprehend this but practice. Chew till the food virtually is just nothing in the mouth. The few episodes I've had we're uncomfortable not painful. I automatically went for a drink thinking it would flush it down. It didn't for me, I got the slime in the mouth and mine had to come back up. It's not like vomiting as its not right from the stomach it's a bit like regurgitating but once that happened I felt ok. Tender but ok! But just remember chew chew chew!

Glad ur ok, but never drink when stuck or while eating (with the Band) you will find yourself in trouble & uncomfortable)

You are right, learning from mistakes is the key & you will learn as time goes on about what work & what doesn't.

Keep up the good hard work. Many challenges ahead for all of us "Banders" but nothing we can't conquer. #Banded 12/22/10 100lbs lost