Today is my birthday and I went out for dinner with my son and duaghter in law. I didn't eat a lot but maybe too fast and now I am in a lot of pain. I have only had one fill. What can I do? What works ...what doesn't? Thanks.:grouphug:

You probably have a piece of food stuck either in your esophagus or at the band. Try sipping on something acidic like pineapple juice. That will help break the food down faster. Just take sips or you might cause more pain. A hot drink might help to realax things. Hope this helps.

When I get stuck like this I stand up and put my hands over my head. It takes a few minutes, but eventually it works. Afterward, I sip hot tea and try to relax. I try to stick to soft foods for my next meal.

I have noticed that the first few bites are always difficult. I've started drinking a few sips of lukewarm or warm liquid before I eat. It seems to help.

Good luck!

This has happened to me x2 and the last time it was more than 1 hour, i could not move, the pain was excruciating and i couldnt even swollow my own saliva, nothing would go down water juice, so in the end i had to stick my fingers down my throat. and make myself sick, i know sounds disgusting, but i did not know what other options besides going to emergency, and i thought that may have been a little meladramatic. So now i will never eat lamb again, the fear of that happening to me is enough to never want to try it again. I know we are not suppose to vomit as it can cause slippage, but what other options are there if it is evident that it is not going to go trough the band.and is stuck.

I always keep a jar of papaya enzyme on hands for times like these. I keep a small tin of it in my purse at all times too. You can buy it at Walmart or GNC. GNC has the small purse size tins. I read about this in a post on here years ago and it has worked like a charm for me. It seems to speed up the process of breaking down the food when you take it.

Thanks everyone. After 1 1/2 hours the pain went away. But it got worse the last 15 minutes and I think that is when the food was pushing its way through the band opening. But I called my surgeon and found out he doesn't have an answering service - it says just to go to the ER after hours. That will be another thing I bring up on my next appt. on Tuesday. My experience tonight was not because I ate too much. I have eaten more food than this but I think I ate too fast and thus didn't chew as well. When I eat at home I time myself with a timer but when I eat out I tend to set my pace with other eaters. Big mistake. I think I will get soup from now on when I eat out. Thanks again.

I usually try to stay away from the things that have gotten stuck in the past. Lately though chicken and tuna have been getting stuck and those are things I don't want to stay away from. No matter if I mix them they are getting stuck. I may need a slight unfill, I was filled two weeks ago. I am hoping I am at my sweet spot. Remember to chew your food really, really well and to take really small bites. After a fill you should also stick to mushies for a couple of days. This will give your stomach a chance to recuperate from being irritated. Good luck!

Thanks again. I hadn't heard about the papaya enzyme. I am going to get some. When I eat out I tend to eat at the pace of the other people. Big mistake! It definitely wasn't the amount of food. But I just ate too fast and thus didn't chew as well as I should. I think I will stick to soup when I eat out. Plus I think the two onion rings were problematic. I am learning. Tough way to learn, though. Also, I was in such pain when I posted, I just noticed I spelled a word wrong in the title.

Cleo's Mom, I have the exact same problem. When I am eating at home or in my office privately at work, I never have problems with getting stuck. If I go out to dinner with just my family, I don't get stuck. But, when I go out with friends, coworkers or other people who don't know about my band I feel pressured to eat faster. I don't want them to all be left sitting there while I am still eating. This usually results in my taking too big of bites and eating to fast and then a race to the bathroom.

Every time I go out, I tell myself I won't do this, but I do and it is my one hangup that even after 2 1/2 years of banding, I just can't seem to get past. It drives me crazy.

By the way,

I second the papaya recommendation. After a couple of lengthy stuck episodes, I figured out what works for me. I just take 3 papaya tablets, chew them and within 5-10 minutes, I'm unstuck. They also taste pretty good and anyone at the table with you thinks you just reached for a breathmint or something after dinner.

I went out today and got two bottles of papaya enzyme and both came with those little tins (I will keep them in my purse). Why don't the doctors have a help sheet with this info that they give out to patients? I am going to discuss this with my surgeon. I NEVER want to have that experience like I did last night. Instread of getting better the pain got worse over time and the last 15 minutes I was in extreme pain, got very pale and my heart was racing. Then boom - just like that the pain went away. I mean one second I was in pain and then the next - gone. I guess that is when the food finally got through the band. Is that how most of your experience it?

does the papaya enzyme make your food break down faster and cause you to be more hungry later?

i have been afraid to try it.

pineapple juice does not work for me. i tried small sips and it made things worse.

i second that on why don't doctors give us this information!

Just banded - I don't know how it (papaya) works but maybe the pineapple juice being liquid is problematic because they say when you get stuck don't drink liquids but the papaya enzyme are chewable tablets and taste like papaya. Those that posted here said it worked for them. I would have tried anything last night to get relief.

The papaya tablets break down whatever is stuck but won't make you get hungry any faster. I have never had them work for me to get unstuck, but they do seem to make whatever is stuck come back up a few minutes after I chew them .

Edited January 11, 200917 yr by Oregondaisy

I will be banded on January 27. I have read so much that will help me through that time before and after. I will go to the store Papaya Enzyme's. My sister in law had the bypass. I wonder if it work for her the same way? Thanks for all the info

just remember to go on liquids for a few days, since you're puoch is swollen now.