Hi Everybody,

I am counting down the days to my gastric bypass, which is this Thursday, and I'm very nervous and excited at the same time. I've read a bunch of books on WLS and think I know what I'm in for, but I have a question about food getting "stuck." What does that feel like??

I have a fear of choking and freak out anytime something gets stuck in my throat. Does it feel like you're choking? And how long does the sensation last?

Or should this be the least of my worries? I've been laying low, trying to stay calm. However, I've been having trouble sleeping and it's thoughts about this kind of stuff that keeps me awake. I'd appreciate any wisdom. Thanks...

Hi Kathydee

Firstly good luck for your operation. I'm sure everything will go well in spite of all the things going through your head. Thats perfectly natural by the way.

I have only had one experience of something getting stuck, that was enough. It isn't choking because it's not in your throat, it's at the opening of your new pouch. My experience with this was about 3-4 weeks post-op and I was having a beef casserole for dinner. I had eaten this particular casserole before so I knew it was safe. Why I had the "stuck" exerience was because I was talking to my husband instead of concentrating and I didn't chew properly. It was very painful! It was like chronic indigestion. Made my eyes water I can tell you! I simply went to the bathroom and let it come back up again then went back and finished the rest of the casserole..............but I chewed properly!

Hope this answers your question and puts your mind at ease a little.

Barbara

Good Luck with your surgery. Im sure everything will go well. And its normal to feel exactly what you are feeling. As far as the stuck thing,I agree with Barbara, It isn't choking at all it is just uncomfortable. Like when you eat too much and are too full or when something doesnt set well with you and it makes you nausiated. It does hurt too. It feels like there is something there that shouldn't be were it is. It shouldnt happen very often. I have heard tho that if it does you can take meat tenderizer with a bit of lemon juice to desolve it away. As far as how long it last that usually depends on how long you can refrain from going to the bathroom. Thats usually the easyest and quickest fit. Just be sure to chew properly and eat slowly,. God bless you and your surgery and recovery.

Hi and congratulations on your surgery date. I agree that food getting stuck isn't pleasant. It is a heavyness in the middle of your chest that is very uncomfortable until it passes and as was mentioned above is usually due to the fact that you aren't paying attention. Either by taking too large of a bite or not chewing enough. We all have to experience these things so that we know what to do to avoid future incidents but hopefully, once will be enough.

Wah-hoo! Thursday is the day! I'm so excited, I could just bust!

Stuck food just feels just like you'd imagine it. When it happens, you'll most likely know...at least I did. Your pouch contracts as it tries to digest, the food isn't going anywhere, so you sort of feel the waves of cramping. For me, it was very regular...as opposed to the pain of menstrual cramps. They just come and go willy nilly.

You're going to be just fine! Don't forget to take some lip gloss or Chapstick. Man, my lips were dry right after surgery!

Congrats on your date!!! We expect updates!

I've only had 1 experience with something getting stuck and it was a pill. I took it and it went down my throat fine. I tried drinking liquid after about a half hour and it was painfull. Like a big gas cramp but up higher. The water wouldn't go down. Couldn't go down because the pill was in the way. I had to go pick up my hubby at work and had to stop twice on the way to lean out of the jeep and vomit up water. I kept trying to drink hoping the pill would dissolve in the water and slide down but I just kept bringing it back up. I think the heaving either shifted the pill and allowed it to slide down or the water did the trick but after about 2 hours all was well. Not a fun experience all in all but not a frequent one luckilly!
The best way to avoid things getting stuck is to chew chew chew. Chew everything to a paste and you shouldn't have any problems. When it comes to pills, cut or crush what you can and let the prescribing doc know that you've had the surgery and the risk of large pills. Mine will usually prescribe smaller pills or things that are ok to crush or split. Your pharmacist can be a great help in educating you on pills too.
Best of luck to you!!!

Aloha,

Oh not pleasant at all.

I want to share what I did in the early months post op.

I had a bad cold so I decided to suck on one of those cough drops.

Well, it so easily slipped down my throat and I literally flipped out. I could feel it stuck right there where my small intestine is attached to my stomach. I had to sip and I mean sip cause anything more than a sip I would be sick and feel like I was drowning, tons of warm tea to get that cough drop to disolve. I was so worried I'ld have to have surgery to take it out. I also had the foamies when this happened.

So please be careful, okay.

I'm not a lap bander and I'm not sure what you are getting done, but just in case I felt I should mention the above.

hugs
Meliss

Oh Meliss...I remember this!

As a side note, I had a nightmare a couple of evenings ago that I swallowed a piece of gum. Nothing would melt it and it just sat there! What a horror! I can't remember what it was that I ate before going to sleep, but it must have been sitting heavy!

Hi,

I wanted to add that for myself and my sister, we don't eat things that are dense and dry, like chicken breast or very cooked beef steaks. There's no way to chew them enough. I have tried the meat tenderizer and it may help but it's really nasty. I hadn't heard about the lemon juice with it, but disolved it in warm water. But, the getting stuck feeling is like a really bad gas bubble only up higher. It takes a bit of time for it go away but it does and usually with no side affects. I hate throwing up so I just put up with the pain. It's bad tho, just one of the trade offs you'll learn to deal with. I wish you well on your journey. I would do it again in a heart beat.

Hi Everybody,

Thanks for the advice and warm wishes! You guys did ease my mind. I'll be careful about what I eat and make sure I chew, chew, chew. I'm very relieved that it won't feel like I'm choking...I live alone with my cat and she doesn't do the heimlich maneuver. Since I was a kid, I've had trouble swallowing pills and always have to split them...avoid taking them if possible.

When I first heard of the vitamin regimen for the gastric bypass I thought I could never take all of those pills. But the chewables my surgeon recommended don't taste too bad, so I'm not worried about the vitamins anymore.

I'm also used to inhaling my food and I've been trying to slow it down in preparation for the surgery. Now I'm on just liquids until Wednesday night. I'm soooo hungry! Can't wait until the surgery is behind me...just a few more days....

First of all...Congratulations! You can do it!

As far as my experience with getting things STUCK...IT HURTS LIKE HECK!! The first time this happened to me was when I tried to eat my first hard-boiled egg. I was hungry and very excited to eat something...Well, I obviously didn't chew it enough and as soon as I swallowed I felt immediate pain!! It feels like someone is stabbing me in the chest!!! Every time this happens I need to induce vomiting...Yes, it's unfortunate-But it immediately takes the pain away!! I am happy to report that it doesn't happen that much anymore...But it is an unpleasant experience for me!!! Just remember to CHEW, CHEW, CHEW!!!!!

Good luck on Thursday!!!!!!! Let us know how it goes!

Jewel

I had lapband surgery mid-october. I've had a few things get stuck. It's uncomfortable, but not excruciating. I find it makes it hard to talk and that I feel like I need to keep moving my head around to find some position that will let it go down (not sure it helps, but that's what it feels like I need to do).

I think what helps me most is using a baby food spon and a seafood fork. Both help me keep bite size small. I find I can't handle really dry foods and need some moisture with them..like fat free gravy or some kind of sauce.

I was told to get papaya tablets from the health food store. They are a digestive aid and help break up the food. They don't taste bad and they seem to help.

Good luck!
ITM