I had my first fill completed last THursday and last night I got chicken stuck. It was horrible and the worst feeling ever. Basically felt like someone was choking you but you could still breathe and swallow. I was eating chicken which I have eaten before (sunday night rotisserie) but last night it was grilled chicken and couldn't get it down. It finally came back up and then I had a protein shake instead of dinner. Had all soft foods today and just ate chicken salad and had no problems. Is this normal after 1 fill?

Hi there, for me this was the learning curve -- leaning just how carefully chewed up the food has to be, especially after a fill when the stoma is swollen which is good preparation for being In the green zone when there may be that same kind of "restriction." Many, many people get stuck on chicken. We each have to find out what our own difficult foods are. Really I can have most anything but if I start going too fast or eating larger bites I get that tightness in the chest. I'm still tempted to push through with more food as though it would dislodge but that's the worst thing to do. Best for me is to hang my arms from a beam, open the chest and do windmill arms. If the stuck episode is not going to resolve I have had a little hot water to produce the inevitable.

I was banded in December and I had one fill in January. Sometimes I can eat whatever and as fast as I want. Then other times.... stuck. For some reason, for the past few weeks, I tend to get stuck all the time. I always blame myself for taking too big of bites, not chewing enough, and eating too fast. It is totally a learning curve. To me, this is my band doing it's job. It makes me slow down and stop and think. Then I eat less.

Thanks everyone!!

Yes it is definitely a learning curve and paying attention to your band. I haven't had any liquid problems at all but I always make sure that I don't gulp..

Does everyone do Protein shakes?

My doc wanted me to get off of protein shakes fairly quickly. He wants me to eat, not drink, my calories. I don't drink them much anymore. Sometimes I drink them before or after I work out.

Wow Leepers.

That's interesting. I wonder if I am consuming too many calories with the shake and my other bites throughout the day??