Hi!

I had my first fill this past Wednesday. At first, I had no restriction. Then a few days later, something strange started happening. Maybe this is "first bite syndrome" or something, but recently when I eat, I get a horrible (like, I start sweating and my eyes start watering and I my heart starts racing) pain when I eat. It is right in the center of my chest. I don't want to call it a "golf ball" because having a golf ball stuck in my chest would not hurt as bad! Rather, it feels like a charlie horse, right in the middle of my chest, and it burns. I can almost feel it coming on like a cramp and I think "oh no!" as it slowly but surely creeps up. Yesterday was the worst! I started eating a chicken sandwhich (though it has also happened with eggs) and it was so bad, I had to get out of my car (I was parked) and walk around the parking lot in severe pain. Finally, I heard a loud, large gurgle as a big air bubble escaped my throat in a burp, and suddenly, the cramp released and I felt much better. So, my question to you is: is this simply "gas"? Is it esphogeal spasm? Is it "first bite sydrome"? Is it all of the above? Oooooh man does it hurt!!!

sounds like gas if it is slowly creeping on like that, and the burp relieving it doubles that assumption. maybe you should try some enzymes or gas-x or something like that before eating. help to keep the gas from building up. does it happen all the time? what about drinking a glass of water before eating? I heard from anopther bandster that that helps to flush the system before eating so that gas does not build up.

Honey, that was your golf ball. Since you received your fill you may have to take a break from chicken and bread which are major culprits for the band:ban:. I can't even eat a sandwich right now. I have to disect a sandwich in order to eat it. I cook chicken for my family but I don't eat it or here comes the pb.

At this point you should take very small bites and chew like hell. Somethings still may not go down so just leave those foods out for a minute.

Good Luck

Heh, congrats on signs of restriction! Since it's your first fill, my advice would be to slow down & re-introduce foods slowly, to see what you can tolerate (similar to the post-op plan). I've found that soup meat almost always will go down, but "dry" meat won't without TINY bites & extreme chewing. Food lube for the win! (catsup, dressing, etc)

Yep! You have restriction! Congrats! I have really tight restriction & had to learn the hard way. Try drinking really warm liquids before you eat. Like 30 mins before. Hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate all work great for me. Take tiny bites & "chew to goo," as Vinesqueen says. I have to swallow a bite, put my fork down & wait a few minutes between bites. It sucks eating cold food or having to rewarm it constantly, but it's better than golf balling!