Forgetting to chew

[vsgnewbie77 41]

Hey guys!

I was just wondering if anyone ever experienced eating too big chunks of food?

I've just started on soft foods and still getting the hang of eating slowly and chewing super well and sometimes I just really forget to chew and end up swallowing bigger pieces. Luckily they're soft foods (eggs to be exact) so I haven't had any issues but just wondering what happens if you swallow a too big of a piece of let's say chicken or meat? Does it get stuck in your pouch? and how would you know to seek medical help or to wait it out?

Thank you!

[Matt Z 4,139]

1 minute ago, vsgnewbie77 said:

Hey guys!

I was just wondering if anyone ever experienced eating too big chunks of food?

I've just started on soft foods and still getting the hang of eating slowly and chewing super well and sometimes I just really forget to chew and end up swallowing bigger pieces. Luckily they're soft foods (eggs to be exact) so I haven't had any issues but just wondering what happens if you swallow a too big of a piece of let's say chicken or meat? Does it get stuck in your pouch? and how would you know to seek medical help or to wait it out?

Thank you!

It happens. I had an instance after I had my band installed where I was eating and orange, not thinking I swallowed a large chunk... which then had to come back up because there was no way it was going to go through the stoma. Just work now on chewing until it's baby food. Putting down the fork/spoon between bites helps greatly.

If you swallow something too big, odds are it'll just be uncomfortable. You'll know when to seek attention when it's really painful or causes excessive vomiting that doesn't bring up the food item that caused the issues.

[vsgnewbie77 41]

5 minutes ago, Matt Z said:

It happens. I had an instance after I had my band installed where I was eating and orange, not thinking I swallowed a large chunk... which then had to come back up because there was no way it was going to go through the stoma. Just work now on chewing until it's baby food. Putting down the fork/spoon between bites helps greatly.

If you swallow something too big, odds are it'll just be uncomfortable. You'll know when to seek attention when it's really painful or causes excessive vomiting that doesn't bring up the food item that caused the issues.

Thank you, Matt.

I'll definitely be more careful from now on. I'm imagining scenarios of me being wheeled into the ER to remove something stuck in my pouch- definitely want to avoid that.

We're a family of fast eaters so I really have to train myself to put my fork down between bites.

[Sonyawon 135]

I'm almost 2 yrs out .....I still have to remind myself to slowwww downnnn. Definitely put fork or food down ...set a timer if need be. My daughter pointed out I can sit beside her and I eat nice and slow " she's a fast eater " but sitting across from her, she said I keep pace with her. So maybe family can also point out what your doing that you may not realize.. Now we laugh and she will say mom don't sit across from me.

Loving Life

[Sonyawon 135]

I also find that while I'm away at work during the day I have no problem eating slow but I'm by myself it's much harder to eat slow when you're around people

Loving Life

[vsgnewbie77 41]

1 minute ago, Sonyawon said:

I also find that while I'm away at work during the day I have no problem eating slow but I'm by myself it's much harder to eat slow when you're around people

Loving Life

Yeah, I think it's me subconsciously trying to keep up with everyone else and I don't know why haha

Funny when you mentioned the sitting beside vs. sitting across thing too

[Jazzy1125 1,008]

thanks for the question and feedback. This is one of my concerns. I can see this being something that will take a lot of practice.

[vsgnewbie77 41]

1 minute ago, Jazzy1125 said:

thanks for the question and feedback. This is one of my concerns. I can see this being something that will take a lot of practice.

Glad it helps!

[Beachladee3 74]

Hey guys!
I was just wondering if anyone ever experienced eating too big chunks of food?
I've just started on soft foods and still getting the hang of eating slowly and chewing super well and sometimes I just really forget to chew and end up swallowing bigger pieces. Luckily they're soft foods (eggs to be exact) so I haven't had any issues but just wondering what happens if you swallow a too big of a piece of let's say chicken or meat? Does it get stuck in your pouch? and how would you know to seek medical help or to wait it out?
Thank you!

I experience pain but not choking


Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

[vsgnewbie77 41]

3 hours ago, Beachladee3 said:

I experience pain but not choking


Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Thank you!

[clsumrall 535]

I had horrible pain at 1 month out with a very soft boiled potato. I chewed well and had pain like a heart attack for 24 hours. 2 weeks later I added some milk to it and made it super runny and have been ok since

[Letsgetgoing2018 448]

I have experienced vomiting if I swallow big pieces. It takes practice to learn to chew everything to baby food consistency when you’ve spent your whole life scarfing down food in minutes.

[vsgnewbie77 41]

15 hours ago, clsumrall said:

I had horrible pain at 1 month out with a very soft boiled potato. I chewed well and had pain like a heart attack for 24 hours. 2 weeks later I added some milk to it and made it super runny and have been ok since

Thanks for the tip- I mashed a boiled potato with some sauce from a stew the other day and it went down fine. I just had to make sure I mashed it super well

Edited November 15, 2018 by vsgnewbie77

[vsgnewbie77 41]

15 hours ago, clsumrall said:

I had horrible pain at 1 month out with a very soft boiled potato. I chewed well and had pain like a heart attack for 24 hours. 2 weeks later I added some milk to it and made it super runny and have been ok since

I mashed a boiled potato with some sauce from a stew the other day and it went down fine. I just had to make sure I mashed it super well

[vsgnewbie77 41]

13 hours ago, Letsgetgoing2018 said:

I have experienced vomiting if I swallow big pieces. It takes practice to learn to chew everything to baby food consistency when you’ve spent your whole life scarfing down food in minutes.

I agree- it's re-training myself that's harder