Popcorn mistake?

Well, i've never had a problem with popcorn before but it seems that I have one now...  Or so I hope.. Wednesday night I was eating popcorn and all of sudden I got obstructed.... I haven't been able to loosen it up since. Liquids sort of go down, just not gulps...   Smooth soft food like yogurt, ice cream, pudding goes down pretty good...    But any item at all with fiber or substances instantly starts me foaming. Of course, my mental state isn't good cause I keep going back to the hietal hernia...  Cause it is signs of just like that..   Except I don't have reflux or heartburn.. I've tried hot items... Anyone had this problem...  Remember someone in the past that had this problem?    Read any suggestions on how to disolve this, what I'm assuming is a cornel or something lodge in my band.

I've seen people talk about Papaya Enzyme several times, some have sworn by it.  It's used in meat tenderizer also but tastes better!  But if it doesn't get better soon, you'll have to get an unfill to let it go through.  Too bad you don't have a tiny vacuum to suck it up, huh??

The enzyme you're talking about is actually called Bromelain, and can be found in pineapple juice and in capsule form as well :)

YummmmYum!

Popcorn itself is not a bad band food - lots of good fiber, and the crunch we need sometimes. The AIR-popped is great  -less than 100 cal for 3 whole cups.  The stuff popped in oil is not great, but some of the very LITE microwave kinds are ok - if you limit quantities.  Even a whole kernel would not ever plug you up. The stoma is much bigger than a kernel of popcorn - if yours was that small, you'd be having much more trouble generally.  So what is more likely is that you forgot to chew well, and an unchewed bite scraped and irritated the stoma, so you're now badly swollen. If you can swallow anytghing at all - and you can - the band is not plugged, and there is nothing stuck in there.  There is very very rarely anything actually stuck in the stoma - it's usually that something has scraped going through, or is too big to go through at all and this triggers barfing.  The stoma is simply an opening the size of a pea (or so) and things do not get stuck IN it. Things get stuck in the pouch and are unable to go through the stoma - this is entirely different. They are not stuck IN the stoma. It's easy to misunderstand this. You'd be completely blocked, unable to swallow a thing, and in severe pain from esophageal spasms if there was somethiung truly stuck in your stoma.  There is no danger at all here, if you can get enough fluids in, as you are. Hot liquids will be best, as they will relax and open the stoma. Cold things will close it further, so avoid them. A warm heating pad on the chest 3-4 x a day, 20-30 min max at a time, will also relax the stoma and speed healing. Have only liquids for a couple days - until tuesday (since it's been so long already).  Full liquids are fine - no need for clears. Warm and Hot things. No solids at all. No alcohol, coffee, other irritating things that will further irritate the stoma. Be sure to get in at least 64-100 oz a day, or the dehydration will cause further stoma swelling. There is nothing safe to "dissolve" anything in the stoma. Papaya enzyme and other things some suggest are totally useless and ther eis no proof at all they have any positive effect. Anything that would dissolve a solid piece of - say, meat - would also cause bad stoma and pouch damage - as they are thr same type of tissue. Dr Curry agreed that papaya enzyme was usless.  Theree is no eividence of a hernia here at all - they don';t cause sudden symptoms when eating popcorn!   If you're not better by Tuesday, you'll need to see your doc on Tuesday.  Hope you're better soon !  and - wow - look how well you're doing with your wt loss!! Great job!!!!!!  SAndy R

Oh, I hope it isnt a hernia!  I really think you need to see your doctor and see if it goes away with a small unfill.  I truly hope you feel better and get this resolved.  For your sake I hope it is just a popcorn kernel.  God Bless and take care.

if you don't have the papaya enzymes, take some meat tenderizer in a little water and that should do the trick...doesn't taste great but it shoud help clear you up...Good Luck

Hi, Dirk; It is good to hear from you again it has been a long time.  I do not hear from the old group much anymore. I hope that your job is going well and it sounds like your band is still doing good.  I am still losing, but not as fast as before.  My fill is now 3.50cc. and I do have problems if I do not eat slow enough. So far I have not had much problem with pop corn, but I do not eat as much and I take my time eating it. Well I hope that you have a good 2007 and that we hear from you again. Good Luck, Dave T. COUSINJACK