I have recently had a fill and am still getting used to it and a lot of foods are getting stuck at the band site. I had chicken get stuck and I felt the stuck part like normal, but then I felt like my heart was beating around my band. Like my esophagus was convulsing to get the food through. I finally just let it come back up and it stopped. I have never felt this in the past and wonder if anyone else has gone thru this also? I just knew my band was going to come flying out of my chest the way it felt. Any thoughts?

Kim, I know EXACTLY what you mean! We don't realize it most of the time but the esophagus has an active role in pushing food down. When food meets a barrier--the band--it can feel really strange. If there's a little too much food in the pouch, the esophagus doesn't stop its action but there's nowhere for the food to go. I was aware sometimes of a distinct pulsing sensation, almost like a muscular clenching and releasing, clench/release. Finally the large piece of whatever-it-was goes through, and the sensation stops.

You're just taking bites that are too big, that's all. Lesson learned!

You would have thought I would have learned 11 months in about the bite sizes, but with this actual restriction from my last fill, I feel like I am a brand new bandster all over again. I do need to watch my bites and pay more attention while I eat. That is something I am still learning.

Yep I've felt that exact sensation several times. Usually if I've eaten too fast or not chewed well enough. It makes me VERY uncomfortable, but it generally passes after a few minutes.

Good to know we weren't the only ones. It does scare me, but I swear sometimes these bands are made of steel, all the crap they can take.