So, I'm not quite two weeks post op and I'm struggling with the liquid/mushy phase but it is soooo much easier than the slimfast!! The problem is as I get closer and closer to real foods I'm developing a fear of PBing. I know all of the precautions but more than likely at some point I will get something stuck and I'm already freaked out by the idea of it. Will I feel like I'm choking? Can I choke to death if something gets stuck? Will I be able to breath? Someone please calm my (perhaps somewhat irrational) fears.

Oh,

It's nothing at all like that. In fact, when I Pb, I can Pb or wait it out if I want to. It's just that it's pressure in your chest and sometimes I don't want to wait it out so I just lean my head over and it more or less comes up itself. It's not like puking at all. I was scared too death but it's a very simple, quick process. I can usually walk it off, do some yoga and give it some time and it will pass. But you can breath and everything else is normal, just some pressure pain. It's not bad at all. You'll be fine.

I think that it is inevitable that at some point you will PB, slime or get stuck...but it probably won't be anytime soon. When you first start on solids I'm sure you'll be like me...I remember my first solid meal of fish and canned green Beans..... I took miniscule bites and chewed the h*ll out of it. It took me 45 minutes to eat about 1.5 oz of fish and 5 green beans! LOL Once you stick your toe in the Water like that and you realize you're not gonna die, every day gets easier. You'll be just fine. The one day you'll be extra hungry because you've waited too long to eat, or you're out with friends chatting and eating and not paying attention....and right away you'll realize you've taken too big of a bite. It happens to everyone sooner or later....and it's not a big deal....it's just not much fun. Just remember these five things:

1) stop eating

2) don't drink anything

3) if you start feeling the saliva (slime) at the back of your throat, go find some place to spit it out....don't keep swallowing it

4) relax

5) breathe

You will not choke and you will be able to breathe just fine.

All of us who have been banded still love our bands....I don't think we'd be so in love if it was a tortuous thing, do you?

Good question - I've been wondering the same thing, thanks for asking!

ME TOO! I am so glad you asked, I have been terrible pictures in my mind of what it would be like, I am happy it isn't as bad as I was thinking.