Maybe it was ignorance or foolishness or both, but I have had several instances recently in which I felt food (poorly chewed) get stuck and have reflexively grabbed a water glass to get unstuck. I know this is a bad idea (I have just now read several threads that warn about this), but confess that it happened. I am firmly committed that I won't let it happen again.

About 2 times out of total of 4 occurences, the drinking made things much worse. Serious pb'ing, pain etc, etc. But I have to say that the other two times, taking a drink created a momentary sensation of pressure and then the stuck became unstuck.

Understanding that I am committed to not doing this again (the 2 times pb'ing were in public at dinners with people I would very much rather not ralph on), is there anything else that I can learn from this? Specifically, if I am able to clear the blockage with a drink, can I assume that I have not yet found an ideal restriction?

I tried it once thinking it would hasten the PB. I tend to get stuck and then remain stuck for a long time, I'm not a vomiter and never have been in unbanded life either. Everyone on the table can be half dead from foodpoisening and I will be the one to not get it.

So when the blasted bit of sausage would not go up or down, I took a slug of Water, expecting it to make me ralph. Its the only time I've seriously panicked with a blockage, I really thought I was going to choke. Then I pb'd back all the water and remained stuck for a further 20 minutes until my body decided it had had enough and exited the offending item.

Its why I'm extremely cautious eating out. No such thing as a discrete and quick trip to the ladies loo, I"ll be in there coughing, spitting and jumping up and down for a good half hour.

Thanks, Jack and Jacqui. The lessons you suggest are good ones. Like Jacqui, I am becoming really cautious about eating out. Conversation distracts me from chewing leading to that stuck feeling. And it is really difficult to hold up my end of a conversation when I am dying from having a bit of whatever stuck in the opening. I guess I just need to concentrate on chew, chew chew.

You get something stuck from not chewing it well enough, and sometimes from eating it too fast. You must slow down, pay attention and chew it to oblivion.

You are told not to drink liquids when you eat so that the food will go down and fill up your small, new stomach area. Then you will feel full. If you drink fluids, this dilutes the process and the food leaves the small pouch quickly and you get hungry again soon. If you eat and drink nothing for 1 1/2 to 2 hours afterwards, you'll be full for several hours more.

I think Hot drinks help stuff get unstuck. Every time you throw up you run the chance of damaging your lap band, causing it to slip or breaking a suture. Definately not the way to go though if you get something big stuck, I totally understand wanting to get it off of therem it hurts!

Chewing small bites to a total pulp is what works. Good luck!!

Shaved ice can fix the PB's, vomitting and hiccups

After 6 months of being banded, I know what to eat, and how to eat it - Most of the time.

I do get carried away sometimes, eating too fast, not chewing enough.

I can't handle any kind of steak (except for one!!! which I discovered this month).

My wife and mother always try to give me Water when something is stuck, which I almost always refuse.

This week I forgot to check where the nearest toilet is since I haven't PBed in a while, and guess what?