Yes, it's 3:30am and I decided it's time to find out if anyone has the same problem. When I feel food or water getting "stuck" I find that I get relief sooner if I don't swallow my saliva until I feel "clear". This means I look and act like a tobacco-chewer - spitting in a cup. I do this at restaurants, which is getting bothersome to my husband (can't imagine why ) I do it at home, right now in fact. I'm feeling a bit loopy right now, but would really like to know if this is common. I've been banded since March 30 - have had several fills and an unfill. I'm trying hard to master the band and am happy with the results... but it can be exhausting. Thank you for any replys.

I'm finding this spitting in a cup problem a little alarming. I'm not banded yet, but I can tell you that my husband (and all other family members) would be absolutely mortified if I took to spitting in a cup at mealtime, or any other time. I was under the impression that this was something within our control. I need to know if this is an unavoidable problem before I get the lapband. My husband would leave me sitting at the table alone if he saw me spitting into a cup.

Debi

Trust me it is not as bad as the other alternative

Gosh, Carol, what's the alternative???

Not having the surgery and being overweight

Agree, that would be bad, but I think my family would freak if I had to carry a cup around for spitting. My family won't even eat messy foods in a restaurant. I can just see my husband's or daughter's face if I had to spit in a cup. Gotta admit, it's an almost funny visualization, but I'd like to leave it at that. I'm going to give my surgeon a call to get some more info on this. Glad I caught this thread.

Thanks... Debi

The problem is very easy to control so that you won't have to ever spit in a cup. The answer is - SMALLER BITES. I have had to learn the hard way that all it really takes is eating VERY SLOWLY and taking tiny bites. I read the best article about how to eat, and they said "picture the amount of food should be able to fit on a toddlers spoon" so thats what I did. When I was home, I used a toddlers spoon to measure how big of bites to eat, and thats what I ate with. Lo and behold, NO RETURNS!!! Now, when I go out, I know how I have to eat so I can avoid this unfortunate occurrance.

Hope that helps.

Trust me, not all bandsters spit in a cup. I've never done this or had to do this. It sounds disgusting and I wouldn't want to live that way either. The only time I get in trouble is after a fill, 6-10 days later. It's because I was overfilled and my stomach can't take that. I've learned now that I can only have small fills. Don't let this thread discourage you from having the surgery.

Just remember it is a learning process for everyone, and unless you are from the few that never have spit in a cup or napkin or whatever, it is going to happen. There are alot of issues that will come up after you have your surgery, and no matter what they are if you are committed to having this surgery it all seems like a small price to pay, again considering the alternative.

Does anyone wake up in the middle of the night choking on their spit? It scares me that it won't go down in my sleep. I'm not too tight. I actually think I need another fill. I keep spit cup in my car as well & go to the bathroom at restaurants. Drinking with my meal makes a huge difference in whether I spit/pb. Do you think we will continue to spit/pb for the rest of our lives? I'm 2 yrs post op.

If you have nocturnal reflux (fluid coming back up during the night), you have a potentially serious problem. You may not be over-filled, but you could have a dilated esophagus. You need to go for a swallow test under fluoro.

Thank you Jack, Jesse & Barbara for another side of the story. I really don't think I could live with the spitting thing. Glad to know it's in my control by eating slowly, chewing & not getting overfilled. I'll be checking in with my doctor to make sure, but I think this sounds like something that can be managed. Having to carry a cup for spitting up would definitely be a reason to cancel lapband surgery for me.

Thanks... Debbi

I am not a spitter,except for a rare a few times when I have tried to eat too fast or not chewed properly, I will use cup or napkin or whatever is handy.

I try to be discreet.

My mother, who was banded in Oct 2001, is a big-time spitter. She has the older "first model", non-adjustable band and this is very often part of eating for her. Even tho she is very careful and chews well. She is very discreet, and if you didn't know her....you would never realize she was spitting and not wiping her lips or taking a sip.

She lost and has maintained a 140lb wt loss for 5 years now.

This is so funny. :grouphug:

I was banded on Oct.3rd and have been spitting into a napkin real often. I thought I was having sinus drainage!!!! Now I realize what's going on.

Well I have been reading this forum for 5 months now and would feel like something was wrong if I didn't spit, considering all the people I have read about who DO. I kinda think it is nice to know the pros and cons of things.

Oh yes I forgot to mention, I don't spit in a cup I stand at the sink, sometimes if it lasts to long I get the cup, but that has been rare for me. And I know nobody knows that I do this except my DH.:peep: