Just curious, I was not expecting to get "stuck" 4 weeks after surgery prior to any fills. I have never been so scared in my life. Thought I was going to drop dead! Ha. I have no fluid in my band at all. I'm concerned about my first fill this week... I am already having anxiety about getting "stuck" again. I guess I just had too big of a bite. Has anyone else been stuck prior to any fills? I'll be extra cautious now that I've been through that.

Hey Conner, I was banded about 3 1/2 weeks ago, and my band is empty now too. I had more of a PB episode with a piece of chicken. I think the bite was too big, and I didn't chew it enough. I knew what was happening, just from reading the posts on here, and talking to other bandsters. Nonetheless, it was eye opening. I just stood up and started walking until it came back up. It was uncomfortable for a few minutes, but it taught me to slow down, cause I can definitely notice my band now. I can only imagine what my first fill will be like if I don't learn to slow down and take smaller bites. Best wishes Conner

Just curious, I was not expecting to get "stuck" 4 weeks after surgery prior to any fills. I have never been so scared in my life. Thought I was going to drop dead! Ha. I have no Fluid in my band at all. I'm concerned about my first fill this week... I am already having anxiety about getting "stuck" again. I guess I just had too big of a bite. Has anyone else been stuck prior to any fills? I'll be extra cautious now that I've been through that.

Yes, it is possible to have a stuck episode without any fluid in your band, and you may not be entirely healed from your surgery.

My first stuck episode actually happened when I returned to taking my medications in pill form. Very unpleasant to have to taste a pill until it dissolved enough to move through. I was still too swollen, but felt that cutting the pill would suffice.

You should learn what the early warning signs of a stuck episode are, and they vary by individual. I feel a sudden tightness in my chest, and know that I need to stop eating immediately.

Life with a band is a learning curve for the first few months. Take a day at a time...

I had a stuck episode when I was on mushies (no fill). I think I just had 2 bites too close together. I got a tightness in my chest and experienced sliming. Then in an instant, it went through and I felt normal again. It was very uncomfortable and a bit of an eye opener for me. I don't want to experience that again! Chew a lot and eat slowly.

Retraining ourselves to take smaller bites is hard, but after 22 months, I mostly get it right now. Noticde the word "mostly." A lifetime a bad eating habits dies hard and even I forget sometimes, but Gladys (my trusty band conscience) is quick to remind me that I really don't want to do that! Best wishes to you. Chew, chew chew, and tiny bites, especially while you are still healing.

Well I guess my choking on a hot dog some 30 years ago did have some long term pluses to it. I am always extra careful with meats and cut them really tiny and have for 30 years now! So I have not gotten stuck yet. I am sure it will happen if I am not extra careful but I chew the living daylights out of my food!