Getting Stuck

lapbandmexico · July 18, 2008

Can anyone tell me if getting stuck is dangerous? Can you choke to death like some people do when they get a grape or hotdog stuck in their esophagus? Thank you for your replies.

Insky67 · July 18, 2008

I don't think it is dangerous as far as choking. The food is stuck in your pouch or stoma. It will usually either go down or come up. It is extremely painful and I have found the best thing is to try and remain calm. I was told you can keep papaya enzyme tablets or meat tenderizer on hand in case something gets stuck. Both are supposed to help break down the food.

TheGh0st · July 18, 2008

The item that is stuck like the above poster said is stuck down in your stomach not able to pass through the band. With the possible added complication of too much food being stuck behind it and backing up against your stoma.

Though it really can feel like you are choking or having a heart attack. (Not always and not for everyone, but for some people.) You just have to stay calm and keep reminding yourself that you really are able to breathe even if it doesn't feel like it.

I've been banded nearly 3 years and this has only happened a very few times. I'd say 5 or less. It doesn't take too many negative re-inforcements like this from eating too much or not chewing well enough before you realize you need to change whatever behaviour caused it or to get a slight unfill.

lapbandmexico · July 18, 2008

So, when you say "it will either go down or come up" does that mean it will come back up your esophagus, or come back up your stomach to your pouch, or something else?

TheGh0st · July 18, 2008

Going down means the food that is blocked manages to pass through the band and the discomfort goes away

Coming up is referring to the concept of PB'ing (or Productive Burp) a PB can mean different things to different people. For some it is a simple and painless as the term suggests, a burp that happens to bring up some food with it. For others it can be more like throwing up. But it should NEVER be the gut wrenching, praying to the porcelein god type throw up. If it by some chance it was that would be a major red flag that your band was too tight and you needed an unfill.

Try not to let all this talk scare you too much. It is good to know that if you don't chew well enough or eat certain foods that they can get stuck and feel uncomfortable. But you have to realize that this is very different from person to personThere are some bandsters who never really have a problem with this. For some it is just a mild discomfort that tells them to back off for others it hits like an unsuspecting freight train.

But how many times does it really take a person jumping off there deck and crashing down below before they realize they can't fly no matter how many beers they drink?

OK couldn't refuse that bad analogy. :wub:

The Fireman · July 18, 2008

I've had that happen a few times.I know you know not to drink when you eat but,when something gets stuck,stand upright and take a small drink of warm carbonated soft drink and do burp and let the pressure push the obstruction through the stoma.

TheGh0st · July 18, 2008

Interesting idea, I never thought of trying that before.

lapbandmexico · July 18, 2008

Wow - thank you all so much!

ebinsc · July 18, 2008

Fortunately, people don't choke to death having something stuck in their esophogus. They choke when something accidentally gets into their trachea, which is the breathing tube that goes to the lungs. When you get something stuck in your trachea, it cuts off your ability to breathe. That's when the Heimlich maneuver is used.

The trachea isn't flexible like the esophogus, it's made out of a harder tissue. The esophogus, on the other hand, is flexible and works to squeeze food/drink down when you swallow in a process called peristalsis. When something is "stuck" in your esophogus it will eventually go down or come back up like Ghost explained. That's how your digestive system is designed.

And luckily the band doesn't alter your digestive system too much. You just have to make a few adjustments, like taking smaller bites and chewing extremely well. And if you do happen to get something "stuck", the others made some good suggestions on how to handle yourself.