Hi there,

I freak out when I get the golf ball feeling--I grab some drink and try to wash it down--is that the right thing to do or should I just leave it? It feels so weird, kind of like I'm choking, even though I can definitely breathe. Why do I get it and what can I do to stop it from happening in the first place and what should I do if/when it happens again?

DON'T drink. Try relaxing and stretching. Stand up, reach high, tippy toes... then relax... then do it again. It works for me.

Usually drinking only makes it worse, walking sometimes helps me. Chewing your food really good and smaller bites helps! Some foods we just can't eat all the time. One day I can eat something and the next day I can't. It's mostly trial and error with me.

why is drinking bad? if it makes it better should I still not do it? I know you're not supposed to drink in general while you're eating?

Really depends on if it is warm or cold liquid. Sometimes a SMALL amount of warm liquid helps me. But if it is tap or cold... fuggetaboutit!

Drinking is bad because that one time when something is really stuck and then you grab that drink the liquid just sits on top of what was stuck to begin with and WHAMO, both food and drink come flying up. Not a pretty picture I know.

I've just entered the PBing land with this last fill and its not fun. Chicken and eggs are my enemy now. hehe

Still if drinking helps you personally there'd be no reason not to do it. But it makes things worse for me, it just sits on top of whatever's stuck and makes it worse.

I have to get up, stretch out, walk around and above all STOP eating.

After 8 months of being banded, I now get an inkling a bite or two before the golf ball happens and now it virtually never happens to me. Once you've felt the golfball, its often a bite or two too much and its really bad. I've never PB'd though.

Cold liquids definately don't work. Just sits on top of whatever is stuck. You might try a small amount of hot liquid, but not much.

Stretching, walking, Yoga's downward facing dog, might help. Mostly, though, you just have to wait it out. Could take an hour or 24 (and I know this because ... :cry )