Is food stuck?

October 14, 2003

Hi Everyone.

I need some help from any of you that have gotten food stuck in the small part of your band. I think I may have something stuck in mine. It feels like a knot in my chest and I haven't been able to eat anything without PBing it back up for almost an entire day. Water goes down if I sip tiny sips but if I take a big drink it comes right back out. I have a 4cc band that is filled to 3.25 cc's. That may seem like a lot, but for me that is the sweet spot. I haven't had any problems until today. Got any advice for getting un-stuck?? Thank you!!!

Presh

305/247/135

Banded 5/13/03

shellyj · October 14, 2003

i would call your dr.

if the food doesnt dislodge itself then you will have to have the fill removed to let it pass. when something is stuck the skin around the band will probably swell and if you are already tight it will just get tighter. CALL THE DR!!. and if you are PBing that is probably irritating the skin around the band causing more swelling.

what about drinking warm liquid like chicken broth or just something warm.

good luck and let us know what happens incase someone else has this happen.

Alexandra · October 14, 2003

I agree with Shelly. Time and warm liquid may help, but if you are really having trouble getting anything down it's probably time for a small unfill. PBing can irritate your tissues, and they can't get better until whatever it is gets unstuck for real.

MeganA · October 15, 2003

I don't know if this will help or hurt, but a lady I saw speak about the RNY said that when she gets something stuckin her pouch, she drinks some coca cola and it helps to disolve it faster. Maybe not such a good idea for a bandster...but thought it was kind of cool that coke can work magic. It can clean a dirty penny off, so I suppose it would work on food, too.

I definitly think you should call your doctor though...no sense in getting sick over something like this.

Good luck!

Megan

quakergirl · October 15, 2003

EDIT: I just read up on this matter over on the Bandsters mailing list and found out that it is recommended to AVOID the idea I initially mentioned (warm Water with a bit of meat tenderizer) because it might just irritate the stoma more. Sorry about that!

I do think that it's important to call your doctor. If you can't keep anything down it's possible that your band has slipped or something, in which case you definitely want to have that fixed ASAP.

Good luck.