What to do when food gets "stuck"?

I feel your pain. It has happened to me about 4-5 times and it is not pleasant. I would try and drink just a tiny bit of water to help the process but it took about 10 min. to pass. Basically, thats what happens it just has to pass. I wanted to throw it up but only siliva came up and eventually alot of flem (sorry) came up and then I knew it was going to pass through. After that I was ok but it takes alot out of you and you don't want it to happen again. It is definitely from not chewing enough and eating too fast. You need to let what you swallow go down before the next bite and it is hard to get used to. Hope this helps.

OMG!!!! I have had my band 5 days and you guys are scarying me to death!!!! I am going to tattoo "chew slow" on my arm so I have a reminder! That all sounds horrible!!

Total pre-op here, and really don't have a clue - but I'm just wondering if a *tiny* sip of something carbonated would help,  or  a *tiny tiny* 1/2 tsp of some kind of oil - like castor oil, Olive oil, warm butter........tiny tiny amount?   But, I haven't heard such things mentioned on the site in the three weeks I've been on........so maybe there's a reason?

Food rarely gets truly "stuck", although we use that term all the time. the stoma is only the size of a small pea, so few things can get into it.
what usually happens is that we have swallowed a chunk too big, it hits the stoma, does not go in or get stuck, but irritates the membranes and causes a gag reflux, or sliming, or coughing, and we barf it back up.
The only thing that helps is time. Eventually, if you don;'t barf, the food will break down and go thru safely. You might be standing over the sink, spitting out slime for an hour, though.
Papaya emzyme  - no way can it work. It never works, even on meat, in a few minutes. and WHY would you want to put meat tenderizer onto the "meat 'of your stomach???  Some have gotten into very serious trouble.

At the very least, there is no physiological way it can do a thing. Dr curry agrees, if you want to ask him here.

the best thing? Prevention! We will have to follow the band rules the rest of our banded life (which will be a long time IF we take care of ourselves and the Band) so we might as well learn and follow good rules from the start.
I suggest eating alone for at least a week after every fill, as hard as that may be. then, you can pay attention, turn off distractions, and do the essential "MINDFUL EATING.' that must forever be a part of our lives. the rising slip and erosion rate from those who barf often is truly alarming.

a warm heating pad to the chest will help relax and open the stoma, and is safe. I would NOT eat or drink a thing, if food is already not getting thru.

Sandy r
Band Educator
at goal > 4 yrs

I have also used papaya enzyme on protein items and it seems to help ease them through but prevention is the best way to go. A couple of painful PBs is all it took to remind me to watch my chewing!! Good luck.

This has also happend to me several times. I really chew my foods now. The only thing that I do is walk and belch!!! Belching works for me. I am not sure why but all I know is that pain goes away.

For me prevention like Sandy said, but it is very easy to slip back into old habits of eating too fast, or not chewing enough.  Liquids definitely don't help me, they just make it worse.  I move around alot, stand up stretch my arms up, sit down, stand up again.  It feels like it expedites the process, and maybe gravity and shifting things around help.  Or maybe I'm just crazy, but worse thing that's happening is I'm getting some exercise - haha.