When something gets “stuck” do you feel it immediately? :teeth_smile: Or can it creep up on you?? :biggrin:

I read the post on here the other day about someone saying they could not breath after getting something stuck for the first time and it kind of scared me. :biggrin:

I’m just now introducing soft foods and scared I’m going to eat something and think I’m ok and then 10 to 15 minutes later be hit hard with the OH NO THAT IS STUCK. :thumbup:

I know right away when I'm stuck. For me, there are varying degrees of stuck. It varies from, "Oops!, I need to slow down, rock back and forth a few times to get this stuff through." to "Damn....get out of my way, it's coming up before I die."

When something gets “stuck” do you feel it immediately? :teeth_smile: Or can it creep up on you?? :biggrin:

I read the post on here the other day about someone saying they could not breath after getting something stuck for the first time and it kind of scared me. :biggrin:

I’m just now introducing soft foods and scared I’m going to eat something and think I’m ok and then 10 to 15 minutes later be hit hard with the OH NO THAT IS STUCK. :thumbup:

i was banded in feb. and have just now had this problem. and i know when it is happening. just chew really good! it is a terrible feeling so if it does happen a small warm drink and walking usually helps me. hope this helps.

You'll know it pretty quick. The main thing that really gives me that stuck feeling is scrambled eggs. I always slime in my mouth and have to spit, but I've never PB'ed (brought it back up). It would go down after about a minute and then I'd be fine. But yeah, you know pretty quickly.

Whenever you're introducing a new food that you know gives some other people problems (like eggs, or grilled chicken, etc) it is smart to take a bite, chew well, then wait a couple of minutes (seriously) before the next bite. If you've eaten 4-5 bites and haven't had a problem then you probably won't. Then your next hurdle is not to eat too much, too fast. I can eat just about anything if I take an hour+ to do it!

You'll be a pro at this in no time, just proceed SLOWLY....soon enough you'll recognize all the little signs that you need to modify your behavior in one way or the other.

Getting stuck is not the end of the world and it will happen to you sooner or later. Panic'ing will make it worse. Relax, take deep breaths, walk around, flap your arms (LOL), and/or take a Papaya Enzyme chewable to help move things along.

For me, it creeps up on me. Then it is to late!

The thing that gets me is when I am too hungry. I take too big of a bite and swallow (old habit) then while I am in the middle of the second bite/swallow. I realize I am stuck. But for me if I try to walk it off I will definitly puke. But If I give it a few minutes I might be ok. It is the sliming that gets me. ick

Who knew saliva was that thick.

But I always know if I am stuck while I am still eatting.

So, it really does not block your airway? I am assuming not since you don't hear about a lot of deaths.

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question but for potential bandsters, it is a real concern.

I went to KFC one day and ordered some mashed potatoes and when I got home they were not in my order and I did not feel like going back out. My husband had some chicken wings, so he told me to try a piece without the skin. I had a very small piece without the skin and chewed (what I thought was very well) and no sooner did I swallow it I was in full choke mode. It was majorly stuck and I was so scared. I tried to drink some water to see if I could push it down (bad decision) and the water came right back up. I eventually went into the bathroom and was able to relieve myself by bending over the toilet. After that little episode I am terrified of eating any fried chicken. I also had this same problem with a small piece of baked pork chop it would not go down. You usually can tell within the first bite or two if the food is not going to sit well. Best of luck to you!!!!!

i can tell that i'm stuck right away but sometimes it comes up within 2 minutes, other times it can take 20 minutes. after about 2 bites of something that isn't going to say down i get a horrible pressure in the middle of my chest. i try really hard to keep it down (don't ever drink on top of being stuck!) but sometimes it hurts so back it's just easier to PB.

So, it really does not block your airway? I am assuming not since you don't hear about a lot of deaths.

Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question but for potential bandsters, it is a real concern.

No question is a dumb question.

No it dosent block your airway. Sometimes it feels like it. if it did you would just cough and puke it all out.:biggrin:

And usually if your stuck you will be able to tell with in a few moments of taking that bite.:teeth_smile:

I can usually tell a few seconds after I swallow. It's pretty immediate for me. I walk around with my arms up in the air and give my tummy as much room as it needs to let it pass through. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't and I'm miserable. I've never PBd though. I've slimed a time or two, but nothing ever came up. I get my third fill tomorrow, so I'm expecting some new troubles after that. Right now I can eat just about anything.

I have been stuck twice - first time on MacDonalds chicken burger I was hoeing into to quickly (after a 20 minute wait I was so darned hungry) and to top it off I had a hot flush (the kind you get when you are going to spew) to boot. It took about 3-4 minutes for it to pass through but in that time all I did was panic! Second time was bread. I wanted to see if I could eat it and low and behold I now know I can't eat crusts! I haven't PB'd yet through.

It's not pleasant, it's scary the first time around and the pressure in the chest is awful. But it usually passes for me in a small amount of time. Evenyone is different, you just have to be careful and listen to people when they say eat slowly, small bites, chew, chew and chew.

So far it has only happened once. I knew it the moment I did it. It was a Brussels sprout. I was not paying attention, popped it into my mouth, chewed quickly, and swallowed. I could feel it going down and I felt it get stuck. It hurt, I didn't want to breath.

Thankfully, I haven't had a fill yet. It passed after a short period of time and I was fine. I didn't finish my sprouts, regardless. I was a bit nervous.

It is a bit of a learning curve and every one is a bit different to the next. It's good to ask others with the band who have had it done in the past what kind of foods can be a problem. For me it's sweetcorn, asparagus, roast chicken, lamb, white bread, fizzy drinks. I'm now used to pushing the plate away after the first few mouth fulls and see what happens before I continue. Mind you if the band is doing it's job I wont be able to eat much more anyway. The great thing is I don't feel hungry anymore. Always remember to drink before your meal if passable. If your thirsty after you my not be able to drink for sometime. Jim.

I have been getting stuck a lot. After talking with the doctor I am back on liquids and soft foods. I have not had my first full yet. I was banded in April I should of had my first feel this week but, because I ended up in the hospital last weekend with what I thought was my heart thank God it was not. The doctor put off my first full until the 23rd. I am still having trouble eating without food getting stuck. If it does not get any better I might have to have the band remove.