Food stuck in throat

[Kaylieghm 2]

I had gastric bypass surgery on July 20th. When I switched to the purée plan, I have been choking on food and barely able to swallow.

I am very depressed about this and wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

[Jdymitc 43]

I had a sleeve surgery in July 2019 and within the first two weeks it felt like I had a piece of hamburger stuck in my throat and could not get it cleared. It stayed that way for months. I ended up with additional issues that caused me to have a revision from a sleeve to a gastric bypass in February of 2020. (I am not saying you need to have anything changed just explaining my journey). In the process to having the revision my dr did a scope of my throat and almost immediately after that the closed up feeling of my throat and “stuck” food feeling went away and has not bothered me again. I would strongly suggest you speak to your team and explain what you are going through. I can Not emphasize enough the importance of getting your nutrition in and know how difficult that is going to be if you can’t swallow.

[Kaylieghm 2]

Thank you so much for your reply. I’ve been feeling helpless and regretting my decision having this surgery. I’m going to call my doctors office in the morning. Did they do an X-ray with contrast die on you? What was the scope procedure like? Was it your bariatric surgeon that did the scope procedure or a gastroenterologist?

[Jdymitc 43]

The bariatric surgeon ordered the scope but a gastroenterologist did it. I was under sedation when they did it so all I remember was having a slightly sore throat when I woke up. I do not believe I had xrays with contrast at the time of this complaint but truthfully with the complications I had going on some of the procedures and tests timeframes get a little blurred. I can only speak for myself and my experience and it took almost a year for me to get back to feeling like myself and I will be honest I wasn’t the best about making sure I reported all my symptoms and following up with my team where I probably should have. I attribute that to me being so used to health issues being blamed on my weight that I just figured it would eventually get better. I was speaking with someone the other day and was asked if I would recommend wls to others and I honestly answered yes but with the caveat that they were warned to report anything that doesn’t feel right to them to the team. After my revision that’s what my surgeon advised my husband and myself They were like don’t feel like you are being a bother please if something doesn’t feel right or is bothering you call the office it’s easier to document and correct when we know as soon as possible.

[Kaylieghm 2]

I haven’t wanted to be a bother to the office so I have been really suffering from these issues. You made me feel hopeful and not as depressed as I have been feeling. I’ll let you know what happens after my phone call tomorrow morning.

Are you able to eat healthy and normally now? I’m so sorry with what you’ve gone through. Sounds like you a a very strong person.

[Jdymitc 43]

I am sorry I forgot to include that in my answer. Yes I can eat and drink normally now. I actually went to a tasting for my daughters wedding last week which I know even 6 months ago would have never been able to happen. I know it’s hard to imagine while you are going through it but it can get better. I’ll keep you in my thoughts and yes let me know what your team says.

[kellym1220 474]

Have you seen the Uvulitis post? I'm not having this issue...just trying to be helpful!

[Kaylieghm 2]

I’ll look at that. Just joined this forum this morning. Thank for letting me know about it.

[AZhiker 2,253]

3 hours ago, Kaylieghm said:

I haven’t wanted to be a bother to the office so I have been really suffering from these issues. You made me feel hopeful and not as depressed as I have been feeling. I’ll let you know what happens after my phone call tomorrow morning.

Are you able to eat healthy and normally now? I’m so sorry with what you’ve gone through. Sounds like you a a very strong person.

Don't ever suffer because you are afraid of bothering the office. YOU are paying THEM to be your providers of care! They work for YOU! Most people have a scope procedure before having bypass surgery - to check for esophagitis, hiatal hernia, strictures, ulcers, and general anatomy. The procedure is simple. IV sedation, you go to sleep and wake up a short time later. If there is a stricture, the doc will dilate. You cannot recover well if you can't eat, so I hope you call the office soon and get this taken care of. That's what they are there for - to help you. If you don't stand up for yourself, no one else will, so get brave and make the call.

[Mr Alley Gator 263]

They nailed it above but in my case the dang hose the stick down your throat and a run of heartburn I had the same issue. Went in 6 months later got it stretched out and wammy no more issues. Was a easy procedure

[Kaylieghm 2]

I called my doctors office office and they gave me a number to call for a UGI test. I called and can’t get in for two weeks. I can barely swallow Water, let alone food and pills! 😌

[Lychee 22]

On 8/10/2020 at 4:55 PM, Kaylieghm said:

I called my doctors office office and they gave me a number to call for a UGI test. I called and can’t get in for two weeks. I can barely swallow Water, let alone food and pills! 😌

How are you? I hope you've been seen and are getting the help you need.

[Kaylieghm 2]

On 8/9/2020 at 2:12 PM, MsMocie said:

Yes, it is common.

If it lasts a bit it is some sort of dysophagi, meaning that you are not able to swallow foods properly for some reason. It might go away as you heal a bit more.

Have a contrast X-ray + a scope of your surgery done to check there is nothing wrong.

With me food/drinks hang around the esophagus a bit, boucing up and down before entering the stomach where it hangs around a little longer than it should.

On 8/9/2020 at 10:00 AM, Jdymitc said:

I had a sleeve surgery in July 2019 and within the first two weeks it felt like I had a piece of hamburger stuck in my throat and could not get it cleared. It stayed that way for months. I ended up with additional issues that caused me to have a revision from a sleeve to a gastric bypass in February of 2020. (I am not saying you need to have anything changed just explaining my journey). In the process to having the revision my dr did a scope of my throat and almost immediately after that the closed up feeling of my throat and “stuck” food feeling went away and has not bothered me again. I would strongly suggest you speak to your team and explain what you are going through. I can Not emphasize enough the importance of getting your nutrition in and know how difficult that is going to be if you can’t swallow.

[Kaylieghm 2]

I went to my doctors office yesterday because I felt that that food getting caught in my throat sensation was getting worse. I started having issues with drinkable Protein yogurt and swallowing pills. I spoke to the nurse on the phone and she told me to come into the office. I asked to me seen by an MD.

Three days ago I noticed a bulge the size of a softball sticking out on my right side under my breast bone. I’ve also had pain on my lower back.

When I went into the office, the NP came into the exam room. She was very dismissive of my symptoms that I have been experiencing in conversations with her. I told her that I was told that I would be able to see an MD and if I couldn’t, I was going to call my PCP and go see another bariatric specialist.

She left the room and came back with a surgeon. The NP examined me and said I had a hernia and asked me if I ever had issues swallowing. I haven’t. Seconds later my surgeon came in. He is well know and people come from all over the country come to see him for bariatric surgery with him. That’s why I chose him. He examined me and said that I didn’t have a hernia and the bump was tissue that is healing. He sent me to get an X-ray with contrast die and that’s when I learned I had stenosis. The opening of my stomach was narrowed due to scar tissue.

On Monday I have another operation scheduled for my surgeon to remove the scar tissue. He said that this happens with 2 percent of patients after surgery. After surgery I have to go back to the liquid food plan and start over.

I’m feeling really scared and hoping that one day I’ll be able to eat normally and healthy. I’m worried that something happened to me and I may have to live with a disability for the rest of my life. I’ve lost 25 pounds since my surgery day, which was July 20th. I’m not that excited about that because of these complications that I’ve been having.

Edited August 15, 2020 by Kaylieghm

[Kaylieghm 2]

52 minutes ago, Lychee said:

How are you? I hope you've been seen and are getting the help you need.

Just posted a response. Thanks for your reply. I’m trying to figure out how to use this website.