Band + 12 days and I had my first true "stuck" episode. Wow... what an awful experience! I dumped some scrambled eggs down my gullet and was so busy talking I forgot to chew. I hope I don't make that mistake again.

This made me think about something i really didn't bother with before - the definition of "stuck". I also have some other questions I should probably already have the answers to.

Which opening gets stuck, the band site or the start of the stomach pouch? What happened today makes me think the stick wasn't at the band site but the stomach entry point. I'm thinking it must be related to swelling from surgery and that when the swelling subsides that kind of stick won't happen.

If the intent is for food to land in the pouch and stay, how does something like a Protein drink work? I'd think it would immediately go thru the band opening negating the point of lap band.

I think you misunderstood or were informed incorrectly. Look at this video, watch it all but the question you raise is covered about 6 minutes into the video. And, swelling at the band site can cause more stuck episodes but swelling alone isn't usually the cause. Eating too fast, too much and chewing improperly can cause a stuck episode with no fills or 6 fills. It's always a possibility.

part 2

A couple of years back we were told that the band created a pouch which would hold the food for 20 minutes or even longer before it would pass through.

When eating something that was not properly chewed or was too big etc the stuck feeling would be felt instantly. This was confusing because if the food was supposed to be sitting there then the discomfort should only have been felt later.

We are now told that the band only slows the process of the food down, that it does not sit in the pouch that it in fact passes through the band very quickly. This would explain why the stuck feeling is felt instantly.

When you are stuck the food is blocking the stoma ( band site)

Technically a Protein drink doesn't work. Most people are advised to only use them for the preop and postop healing stages. After that we are supposed to eat our calories not drink them.

Watch the videos or buy a book and re-educate yourself.

I don't really understand how the band keeps you from feeling hungry if it doesn't keep food in the pouch. I guess I need to read too.

Watched all the videos. Thanks for posting, it was informative!

2MuchFun,

Thanks for this video! I also watched the others associated with it and all I can say is: "Wow - lots of what's in there is counter to what I was told or read earlier". To summarize for others (and to explain my questions and concerns):

• There's no "pouch" that holds a meal. Instead the full feeling comes from many iterations of the espophagus squeezing food, bite by bite, through the band which signals satiety to the brain. Makes way more sense.
  
• Drinking during meals is fine, alcohol included. I was under the impression we were to wait 2 hours post meal to drink anything.
  
• 3 meals/day or less. Given that I'm supposed to get 1500 cals down, the only way I can see doing so when each should only include 1/2 cup of food is to supplement with Protein drinks and/or alcohol.
  

If these vids aren't sticky'd, they should be (I didn't see them). Stuff like this is way more useful to me when I understand the what's, why's and how's. Beautiful!

Thanks again!

Elcee,

The Protein drink I use (Muscle Milk) always makes me fill as though I've eaten. When I drink them I have to do so slowly. If I do much more than sip and wait I notice a stick-like feeling. I'm guessing since my band has no fill (other than the initial air) I must be experiencing swelling.

Given the info in the vid my full feeling from these drinks makes more sense. My esophogus has to squeeze to get it through so my brain thinks I've eaten. I love it!

2MuchFun,

Thanks for this video! I also watched the others associated with it and all I can say is: "Wow - lots of what's in there is counter to what I was told or read earlier". To summarize for others (and to explain my questions and concerns):

• There's no "pouch" that holds a meal. Instead the full feeling comes from many iterations of the espophagus squeezing food, bite by bite, through the band which signals satiety to the brain. Makes way more sense.
  
• Drinking during meals is fine, alcohol included. I was under the impression we were to wait 2 hours post meal to drink anything.
  
• 3 meals/day or less. Given that I'm supposed to get 1500 cals down, the only way I can see doing so when each should only include 1/2 cup of food is to supplement with Protein drinks and/or alcohol.
  

If these vids aren't sticky'd, they should be (I didn't see them). Stuff like this is way more useful to me when I understand the what's, why's and how's. Beautiful!

Thanks again!

RE: Drinking....Keep in mind that this is this surgeon's protocol and may not be your surgeon's protocol. I think most doctors still adhere to the no drinking rule.

I agree with you on the 1500 calorie intake rule. I have no problem with it since I include a little cheese and olive oil in my diet as well as whole eggs sometimes. I also eat more than 1/2 cup most every meal. Then again, I'm going in for a fill next week since I'm not feeling that restriction I felt 6 months ago.

tmf

Back to your stuck episode- I have never been able to tolerate scrambled eggs- but poached, fried, hard boiled are fine. Go figure

Vip,

That's a toughie for me - eggs pretty much have always grossed me out. I can usually only managed them scrambled if I eat without thinking too much about what they are. Or with lots of buttered toast!

I guess that's a wrap on them dudes for moi...

RE: Drinking....Keep in mind that this is this surgeon's protocol and may not be your surgeon's protocol. I think most doctors still adhere to the no drinking rule.

I've never been one to drink anything during a meal. My grandma was old school about that. Her opinon was that if you have to wash your food down then you aren't chewing well-enough. She would never serve liquids with meals.

Still, if the reason not to drink is to avoid washing food past the band, so long as drinking occurs after the bite has already passed, I wonder how that can be a problem.

I don't see it as a problem but most doctors still see it that way. I'm not sure if they just aren't buying into the food passing in one minute explanation or they haven't spent the time to research it? Could be that so many of us have so little control over our eating habits(evidenced by our big a$$es), doctors are afraid we'll abuse the privilege and follow each bite with Water or soda pop which would wash the food through too quickly. I'm thinking your grandma was onto something?

tmf

I am 16 days out and I try to adhere as much as possible to what the doctor says. I am on soft/mushies now but I also understand why they tell us not to drink with the meal. If you drink with your meal, the fluid along with the food can not only stretch your area of stomach that is supposed to help restrict the amount of food being taken in, but if you are on softs, it can wash the food through too quickly, which defeats the purpose. If you eat and drink you may not keep the full feeling for any amount of time, or you could throw up. Im not a puker, so I would rather not. Everyone's body is different and not every process is going to be the same, but the purpose of even having the surgery is to help to restrict the amount of food taken into the body. If you drink all your calories, or wash them all down with fluid, you will not get the restriction that the lap band is for. Always remember that it is only a tool to help, and if it is not used correctly, it may not work. Just my thoughts.

Erricka,

If you haven't done so, have a look at the video provided by 2muchfun in the 2nd post of this thread. I'd been told the same stuff as you've mentioned but it just didn't make sense. The videos really cleared this up.

Interesting video.