I have been banded since 3/12/07. Not loosing any weight yet to speak of. I just had my first fill. I don't know what I am feeling? I feel like things get stuck in my throat and I cant swallow!! Is this sticking? Is this the what it is supposed to feel like? If anyone has any ideas let me know.

Thanks for all the great posts here on line.

joan B

The feeling of stuck food varies. Some explain it as in their throat, some as in their chest, some get headaches, etc. For me, it's either pressure right where my band is, or pain in my abdomen.

Sometimes it is because you take too big of bites or dont chew enough....remember chew chew chew and eat slowly. See if that helps the sticking feeling.

My understanding is that if we eat too quickly, or take bites that are too large, there is a backup from the pouch into our esophagus since food won't travel through the new smaller pouch very quickly. Having something stuck in your esophagus when it constricts (which it normally does frequently to move food along) can cause a very very painful feeling in the chest or abdomen. Actually, some people (without bands) can get spasms of their esophagus that cause immense pain and often leads to trips to the ER because they think they're having a heart attack. It's called "nutcracker esophagus" which I always thought was pretty funny. So - to make a long story short. I think of "sticking" as the sensation I get (which for me is a very painful chest tightness) when I've put too much in the inbox too quickly and my esophagus is kindly reminding me.

It feels like you have swallowed a golf ball. For me it's right at the top of the ribs. If I raise my hands up high in the air, and walk around, I can usually feel it finally pass on down.

i,m glad to know this is normal. i thought i was dying, the pain is so bad when i eat. so, do i just downgrade my diet? any suggestions on what to eat? meat just about kills me and i know i'm supposed to be eating a protein at evey meal? thanks i got on this site today just to look this up because it is getting so bad i am vomiting now.

You are either taking too big of a bite or not chewing enough. I had this problem a lot when I first got the band. You have to chew until there is nothing left to chew. Cut everything into teeny tiny pieces. I usually sort of make a game out of it, trying to see if I can chew it until it's completely liquid.

It doesn't matter if it's meat. I have gotten stuck with foods I wouldn't have thought would stick. You just have to remember to chew until there is nothing left to chew. It's a pain to always have to do this, but the pain of it sticking is far worse.

I would try going to liquid protein, that should pass easily, if that doesn't then you should call the doctor, perhaps you are over filled.