Horrible experience- newbies- chew chew chew!!!

As many of you know I had my surgery on December 1st. I have actually done really well, not much in the way of vomiting food or dumping. I have tried really hard to stick to the planned menu of foods. I am a call center rep for a local florist. I used to be a designer in the shop but between my growing weight an Rheumatoid arthritis i was soon unable to stand and design anymore. Luckily we had opened a call center and i transferred to that job over two years ago. anyway Valentine madness was upon us and I worked many long hours this week. I was still able to eat and drink pretty well even though my exercise{walking} flew out the window. Just wasn't able to tear myself away long enough to walk and came home exhausted every night, after 12 to 16 hour days. Saturday was really busy and I felt a little low, I knew I needed to eat. I microwaved one of the small meals I had made for myself and was trying to get a few bites in between calls. Well something got stuck!!! I ran to the bathroom and after a lot of foamies I threw it up. I felt weak and tired from that episode, worked for a few more hours and them my boss sent me home. I slept like the dead from-
3:30 until 10 pm. when I woke up hungry. My husband asked me if I wanted to have a small Valentines celebration and go out for a meal. We chose cracker barrel and i ordered the roast beef and some green beans off their low carb menu. I had two bites of beans and one bite of the meat, and i felt something get stuck again. I got up to walk around their shop as I have noticed that sometimes moving helps me move the lodged piece of food. My hubby paid the bill while I spent many desperate moments throwing up foam in the bath room. I know my first mistake was eating something so heavy after having that kind of an episode earlier. we drove home, with hubby having to stop the car at least 3 times so i could throw up foam. I spent the rest of the night throwing up. At 6 in the morning Berrett got a hold of DR. McKinley and he advised me to try to eat some yogurt as sometimes the weight of the yogurt pushes down the food into the pouch. I had a break from the throwing up while my husband ran to the store for yogurt, and laid down. I slept for about an hour and woke up to the foamies again. I tried some yogurt and threw that up. My husband spoke to Dr. McKinley again and he told him to take me to the ER. I was Self pay and DR. McKinley said he had a colleague who had privileges at LDS where I am covered by my insurance. He said he would call ahead and let the ER docs know I was coming. I threw up continually the whole way to the hospital and from that point on. The ER docs didn't seem to know what to do for me. they took blood, put me on IV fluids and tried to put something in the iv to stop the vomiting. They sent me to xray where I continued to throw up into a paper cup. I do have to say the xray tech was very nice and very sympathetic. They gave me Nitroglycerin tablets to try to relax the muscles in my chest, did and EKG and tried to get me to drink something. They brought me APPLE JUICE!!!!!!! I had to remind them again, I had a gastric bypass and couldn't drink juice. I tried water and kept bringing that up. All the while my dear hubby kept asking them if they had spoken to my DR. No they hadn't called him back as they were trying everything they knew how to do. The ER doc says well the xrays are clear her blood work is fine, i think we should check her into the hospital, I asked again if they would contact my Dr first as he seemed to think I needed an endoscopy and they hadn't tried that. They left the room, and my husband called the answering service and asked to have Dr McKinley speak to the er doc as he was tired of them farting around!! I had an endoscopy finally and a piece of meat was lodged there. They were able to retrieve that, and I felt alot better after that!! I had some chicken broth later that night and slept like the dead again. today I woke up with acid burns around my mouth lips and chin, from all the throwing up. I am tired, dizzy and weak. I have dry mouth and i am trying to GEt in as much water as possible. I took the day off from work and I am trying to just get enough rest and water to balance out my body again. So lesson learned.... chew Chew Chew, and if you go the ER make sure the Docs talk to your surgeon!!! That made all the difference.!!!
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Thank you so much for the info.  So sorry that you had to go through this though. I had my surgery on Dec. 18, 2008 and I am so afraid to eat most things.  I hate to eat meat.  I am so use to all of my life, inhaling my food that I am having a hard time chewing over and over and eating slowly.  After reading this though, I will try to remember each time I start to eat.  Thanks again for the info.  Glad you're feeling better.  Take care,  Donna

This is a definite reminder to chew VERY well!  So sorry you went through all of that drama!  Hope you feel better soon!

What an awful story!  I am so sorry!  I am preop (going to LDS, too) but have had a band and when somethign gets stuck it is a nightmare.  I would walk around with my arms above my head, sliming and vomiting.  I plan to keep papaya enzyme in my purse in case that happens - I hear it works with meat.  After I got something unstuck, I would be swollen around the band and would have problems swallowing for a day or so.  I imagine you had swelling too.  Good luck on the bill!

I am sorry you had such a horrible experience.  To this day I can not eat beef.  It gets stuck every time, and 1 month ago I finally gave up trying for a while.

One point you made - I hope you remember - after something gets stuck - and i am able to get it lose- it feels like my pouch and my stoma is irritated and swollen, so for at least 12-24 hr I would not try to eat anything "solid" Soft foods, puree, but nothing that is dry of may gets stuck.  I guess you learn that the hard way.  Hope this was first and last time.

Good luck.

That sounds awful, I'm glad they were able to get that piece of meat out of your tummy that was causing all those problems!  Looks like we have doctors in the same practice, I used Dr Smith for my RNY.   Glad you are feeling better!

 WOW, this is the worst 'food stuck' experience ive read about.  glad you finally got the endoscopy!

i consider myself very fortunate that ive never ha anything stuck and ive been eating all sorts of meats since 4 weeks post-op.