Question:
What do I do when my food gets stuck????

Sometimes I forget to chew, chew, chew good and when I'm eating something dry like steak, I forget and It get's stuck!! I feel like I'm gonna die...................................    — rhammgag (posted on February 27, 2008)


February 27, 2008
You may have to make yourself throw up. If you get really stuck you can call your dr and he/she may let fluid out of your band. It depends on how bad it is and how long it has been stuck.
   — Lost4Ever

February 27, 2008
Most people cannot throw up. Even putting your finger down your throat. Your reduced stomach size does not produce as much stomach acid, and those fluids help to make you throw up. It's a less in chewing good. If you forget, you'll just have to lay down and "ride it out". The feeling may subside in 30-60 minutes, but sometimes it takes longer.
   — Dave Chambers

February 27, 2008
Try to start off your meal with hot tea. Dry foods get stuck very often, keep hot tea handy.
   — bariatricdivalatina

February 27, 2008
Try pureed food until you can commit to chew-chew-chewing! You can end up in surgery to remove something if you get something very big stuck. I heard of someone getting a bean stuck and had to have her surgeon go in with tiny scissors and a camera to cut it up and make it pass. (This was a year post op). I doubt that would be worth it to forget to chew. I once got a tomatoe skin stuck like duct tape over my stoma...It took 6 hours of pain before it finally passed. Then a few days of being very sore. That was 2 years post op! Papaya helps some things...as does walking around it'll it passes.
   — .Anita R.

February 27, 2008
i got steak stuck one time and i thought i was dead. I got sick so bad I saw blood and boy was I scared. I got steak stuck once in a restaraunt and i thought i would die. I got hot and wanted to lay down. I have learned to take smaller bites. Cut your food small. and chew chew chew. Dont eat if you are with people that are arguing or there is stress. You will regret it. If it gets stuck like the other person said you may have to make yourself get sick. Drinking water only adds to the pain. It will not make it go down believe me. ANd that goes for bypass or the lap band.
   — Joanc

February 27, 2008
Don't do that. You'll feel like you're gonna die!
   — 29Diesel

February 27, 2008
My Dr. told me "you will NEVER be able to eat steak again, you will just be able to lick one" That could be why you feel like your gonna die because you are not supposed to eat it.
   — rosheet

February 27, 2008
Don't eat steak! (Sorry, that's the "vegetarian" in me talking!) Sometimes some of the "drier" "dense" type foods do need to be avoided. But the chew, chew, chew thing does need to be really stressed with that type of food. How about steak sauce, salsa or your steak topped with mushrooms, something to add moisture. I do that with alot of the "drier" type foods.
   — Toni Todd

February 27, 2008
What i do is wait a little bit so it can go down if not i end up throwing it up. We need to remeber that we have to chew slow and wait in between 1-2 minuets before getting another bite.
   — 2409w.poplar_rodriguez

February 27, 2008
It is not just steak, I don't eat that and didn't before surgery. I get stuck on anything I don't eat slow and chew enough. I have to bend over and let it come out the same way it went in. I can tell when something is stuck because I start salivating and must keep spitting it out. Sorry for being gross but it just won't go down. I get pain in my chest and have to let it come back up.
   — Tawnda C.

February 27, 2008
I'm a month post op and this just happened to me this week. Worst feeling; like an elephant sitting on the inside of my chest. I felt like I was gonna puke and went thru all the motions, but it just wouldn't come up. Eventually (about 20-30 mins later) it finally passed. I did learn frm that experience that i don't wanna feel that again. What I"ve started doing is eating from baby spoon or fork (bought them from Target). Helps me totake smaller bites and then I CHEW, CHEW, CHEW. I don't htink there is any way around that chew thing...even if things are pureed, I still have to chew it good and take small swallows. Good Luck to ya. Happy swolllowing.
   — hatda

February 27, 2008
Oh I remember that! Worst feeling in the world!!! I did find if I went to bed and layed down on my side it seemed to help. I am not sure why....I also took Gas X with Maalox. It was recommended by my Dr. I don't leave home without it.
   — Carlyn M.

February 27, 2008
Roxanne, I have had this happen to me only twice. Both times while eating pot roast. It's a terrible feeling and my body responded by sweating, rapid heart beat and oddly enough, watery eyes and runny nose. It's amazing how the body will try to provide lubrication to unstop the plumbing. Both times, I just had to sweat it out and the obstruction cleared on it's own. It's uncomfortable, but it's one of those things that we must deal with when we have a momentary lapse in memory. Your system is never going to be the same again. You can't eat the same, drink the same or have the casual attitude toward food like before your surgery. It's all about behavior modification and this is one of the behavior's that have to be modified. Make that concious effort to continue to follow your surgeon's instructions and you will continue to have success! Good luck!
   — Tina C.

February 28, 2008
have not had that experience yet but according to the handbook that my doc gave me...try mixing tenderizer in H2O hold your nose and guzzle up. Should digest whatever is caught up in the pouch.
   — alonann

February 28, 2008
My nutritionist recommended that I purchase papaya enzyme powder for when this happens. You should be able to get it in a nutritional section or health food store. I haven't had to use it yet since I'm still on pureed food. Best wishes in your WLS routine.
   — Bigwyfan1964

February 28, 2008
I have found that one or two packets of Coromega help something that is "stuck" to move on down. Susan
   — Susan O.

February 28, 2008
I have tried standing on my head and it does not work. Your stomach is what usually makes you throw up but with the stomach not conected the pouch does not allow you to throw up. Washing it down with liquid just makes matters worse for me. I have sign on the wall in my dinning room that say CHEW! I never eat and work or watch TV any longer during meals. That is whn I mess up.
   — William (Bill) wmil

February 28, 2008
papaya enzymes are chewable, taste great & help break-up stuck foods in about 15 minutes
   — Donna O.

February 28, 2008
My doctor told me to try 1/2 tablespoon of Adolf's Meat Tenderizer, 1 tablespoon of real lemon juice mixed in 4 oz. of water and sip over 30 minutes. It also helps for nausea. Good luck to you and God Bless!
   — okiegirl

February 29, 2008
Im suprised you can do steak! I am out 12 months and can do a little Filet! few bites. as for the pain. After you are hurting bad enough you will chew. the pain is terrable!
   — obx100




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