Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

"Stuck" Explanation please...



Recommended Posts

Can someone please tell me what they mean when they say a food gets stuck... how stuck? How does it come loose? What does it feel like? How do you know a food is stuck? Thank you for your help and insight!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You'll know. It hurts - like your choking. You'll panic and want to throw up but will have a hard time doing so.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You'll know. It hurts - like your choking. You'll panic and want to throw up but will have a hard time doing so.

I understand the sentiment, but since the food is no where near the windpipe, you are not technically choking, but it does have a similar feeling. As for how you get it out, it depends, if its small enough it dissolves and finally goes through, some manuevers help, otherwise you throw it up, which isn't as bad as vomiting up food that has been in your stomach a while. This can be accompanied by sweating.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Stuck....well, like Monica said, you'll know when it happens. It FEELS like it's in your esophagus but it's not. Usually, if it can't move on in a minute or two, you will start sliming (clear mucus, which is produced to try to ease the passage of the bite) and even experience some frothing (bubbly saliva). If the bite comes back up, you've experienced a PB (productive burp)...which is not vomiting. It is regurgitation of a bite of undigested food. No stomach acid, no heaving of the stomach muscles. And, frankly, if that bite of food is stuck, you'll just be glad it moved, regardless of which direction it moved!

If you get stuck, don't try to drink Water to "wash it down"....that Water will likely just come back with the bite of food.

What gets stuck? Any bite that is too big or isn't well chewed. A bite should be about nickel-sized, as a guideline. Chew whatever it is to mush. Some things will just get stuck. For me, it's soft bread, flour tortillas and white rice. So I don't eat those things (and, really, don't need them anyway). I can eat toast, croutons, etc., but of course those have a different texture than fresh bread. Over time, you may find that there are a few foods that don't work for you. Dry meat is a problem for many of us. Cooking meat in a crockpot, serving "au jus" with some broth to dip it in helps.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

trust me, you will know it...if your doctors says DON'T EAT a specific type of food DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. I can't stress chewing, chewing and chewing some more simply because once you reach optimum band adjustment the hole is about the size of dime so chunks of food will not go down and you will begin to vomit. Sorry to be so harsh but I had to learn the hard way. All the best to you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The worst times for getting stuck for me is that first bite. If I don't consciously really think about chewing up that first bite I get stuck everytime.. White breads, soft breads or cake like substances are brutally painful and like others have said, you don't need them anyway.. The only liquid that ever seem to help is pineapple juice and was suggested by my doctor.. The acid seems to help break it up.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Oh you'll know....no explanation needed. Just wait. It's an awful feeling.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow! Well thank you all for the insight. I have been so nervous to experience this. I have been working to stay low carb (below 30g non-vegetable a day) so most of the things it seems like get stuck I try not to have anyway... but I do occassionally have a low carb tortilla wrap for my burger... I hope those don't ever get stuck. I really enjoy them. :) Thank you all again for your help and insight! :frown: Best of luck to all of us on this wonderful journey! :(

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The best way I can describe it...

Have you ever been drinking cold Water or soda and swallow an air bubble? You can feel it go all the way down. It feels kind of like that but a little worse.

Kathy

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I understand the sentiment, but since the food is no where near the windpipe, you are not technically choking, but it does have a similar feeling. As for how you get it out, it depends, if its small enough it dissolves and finally goes through, some manuevers help, otherwise you throw it up, which isn't as bad as vomiting up food that has been in your stomach a while. This can be accompanied by sweating.

OK, what are some of the "manuevers"? I am new to this and get that stuck feeling a lot and do not really know what to do. At home I usually walk around some and flap my arms like a chicken occassionally... Drinking Water seems to always make it worse, like I am really choking.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

OK, what are some of the "manuevers"? I am new to this and get that stuck feeling a lot and do not really know what to do. At home I usually walk around some and flap my arms like a chicken occassionally... Drinking Water seems to always make it worse, like I am really choking.

Many here talk about the yoga position "downward dog" If that isn't right, someone will correct me. I haven't tried it exactly but getting up, bending over at the waste can help. I also sit up very straight (addding about 2" to my height) relaxing, and doing it over and over again. Getting up and walking can help. Sometimes just coughing it up is all you can do.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

To me it feels like I ate way to fast and swallowed bites to big..

Oh, and for meats I chew pea sized pieces..I try to stick to this for all food though..I get stuck easy.

Edited by klutzyazhel
forgot something

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It makes my chest hurt, then I start burping, I can feel the air trying to pass the food, then I slim. Sometimes the food comes back up other times it goes down but takes a few minutes.

-Manuevers, I have to stand up, sit down, walk, bend over the toilet whatever it takes. It is unpleasant and sometimes a litle painful but for me it is still a worthwild reminder to chew and eat slowly!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×