cat lady

Hi All: I was banded 7/25/11 and just experienced my first bad stuck episode. Has anyone else had a similar experience. I was away in Vegas with my husband and friends. First two days went well and ate cautiously with everyone. Monday about noon my hubby and I went for a late breakfast and I ordered scrambled eggs with bacon. After 2 bites I knew I was in trouble. I think the bacon got stuck. Went to the ladies room to try to relieve it. Nothing seemed to work and I could not even get a sip of water in. After 12 hours of trying everything I called my Dr at home. He said I could not stay too much longer without any liquids. He was afraid of dehydration. At this point we went to the closest ER and they put me on IV drip to avoid dehydration. They took a CAT scan to see if band slipped.....but thank God it did not. They said my esophagus was dilated but the band was in the right position. I still at this point was heaving, burping, hiccuping, just miserable feeling in my chest. Went back to hotel at 5:30 am and tried to get some sleep. Still bringing up slime every hour or so. Could this all have been caused by a very small piece of bacon???? Still could not get any liquids in so the next morning decided to get back home where my lapband doctor is as he said I should have an endoscope. At the airport it finally seemed to ease and by the time we landed at home I could finally drink liquids again. The pain was gone also and I knew it had passed. Today doing only liquids. Did not need to be scoped since I am drinking and feeling better now. They said my esophagus was dilated and I guess that happens when you get stuck. It was just so terrible to have this happen so far from home. Hope whatever happened in Vegas stays in Vegas.......and this never happens to me again. It lasted nearly 24 hours. Has anyone else experienced this?????

Thanks for the advice Sparkplug. I too have no fill in and dont want any since I'm losing about 2 lbs per week like this. I don't want to be more restricted than I am. I must be more careful when eating out with friends. I do think the excitement has something to do with it. Also talking too much when I eat out. I only had 2 bites of scrambled egg & bacon ? ? ? Guess it was the bacon. You are doing great 90 lbs lost is awesome. I still am happy with the band......I could have never lost 30 lbs so quickly. CAT

Carnation Instand BF - Sugar Free with Non Fat Milk works for me. Tastes like a chocolate shake and no after taste. You can get Vanilla also and add some fruit. Really good.....but only 15 gr of protein. I guess you can add some protein powder to boost it up a bit but I dont.

Had the band in July and lost over 30 lbs. Happy with the way I am losing. Would not want to lose any quicker.....not healthy. Band really makes me make good choices as I cannot tolerate alot of carbs. Happy I made this decision. CAT

Thanks for the tip.....I will get some today. Feeling much better but still a little sore in throat and below. when I drink water I can feel it going down. Guess I'm still swollen. It was quite an episode for me. Really cautious now. CAT

Hi MelBanded: I also am an East Coast girl. Dr. said the plane ride might make the band tighter. But the first two nights I did fine eating out with friends. The band is really unpredictable. I also am very cautious now more than ever when eating anything. On only liquids and today is my third day. Afraid to eat anything solid. My throat and below (I guess esophagus area) is still sore. CAT

Sounds like the area by the port may have an infection. I don't think that happens with a slip. You are really doing great with the weight loss and I'm sure the endoscope will tell the tale of whats going on. I think if you had a slip you would also be having difficulty eating. Good luck.

I was told no asprin.....but I had a real bad episode of being stuck on Monday while on vacation in Vegas. Could not even swallow water. Kept bringing up white slime. Tried everything I could think of....papaya pills, antacids, even tried to get it up by promoting vomiting. This lasted for nearly 24 hours without getting any liquids in. Had to go to ER to get IV so I did not dehydrate. The next day I guess the swelling around the band eased up and I could finally sip water. Now only liquids for a few days. A real bad experience. I only had 2 bites of scrambled eggs with bacon when this stuck episode began. Im sure it was the bacon.....and will not be having that again!!! Really bad happening so far from home.

Hi All: Banded the end of July and have been having a few stuck episodes without any fill. First one at my home with my family and it passed in about 20 minutes......I did have white frothy slime come up (sorry for TMI). After that felt fine and was very careful. Last week went to Vegas with friends and first 2 days did well eating with others and choosing carefully what to eat. Monday a.m. went to late breakfast and ordered scrambled eggs with bacon. Wrong Choice for me!!! After 2 bites I felt like I had something stuck. Went to ladies room and tried to get it up. Nothing seemed to help. Could not get even water down. Could not relieve it no matter what I tried: papaya pills, gas X strips, tums, etc. After 12 hours of being very uncomfortable...still not being able to sip even water we went to the ER in Vegas. What an experience. Was there 5 1/2 hours. Scan showed band did not slip (thank God) but my esophogus was badly dilated. Said I needed a endoscope but could wait till I got home. They gave me IV so as not to dehydrate. Went home the next day on doctors orders. Finally after about 24 hours of this episode I was able to sip water again! Pain subsided but I still feel very irritated in my throat when I drink. My lapband doctor advised only liquids for the next 24 hours. That is where I am today. Has anyone else ever had an experience like this. I hope not. Really hope what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas......LOL

thanks Mary.....I will take a card with the lapband info. Also PA at drs office suggested looking up a doctor in the area and hospital that does lapbands just in case. I thought it was a good idea. I must be very careful when eating or I will regret it by getting stuck. CAT

Hi all July bandsters: Doing well here. Went to Dr yesterday and down 27 lbs. which I'm happy with. Finally reached ONDERLAND. I am having some issues with getting stuck. Did not experience this until now. Guess I'm trying too many different things.....and probably eating too fast. Old habits die hard. Good Luck to all ........CAT

Hi all July bandsters: Doing well here. Went to Dr yesterday and down 27 lbs. which I'm happy with. Finally reached ONDERLAND. I am having some issues with getting stuck. Did not experience this until now. Guess I'm trying too many different things.....and probably eating too fast. Old habits die hard. Good Luck to all ........CAT

Hi Johnathan & Mary too: Funny how now 2 1/2 months out and I am getting stuck also. Had a bad episode on Sunday with the whole family eating over. It lasted for about 25 minutes before it passed. Did not vomit but I did "slime" (sorry its gross). Could not get liquids down to help it along. I did take papaya pills -- don't really know it that helped either. Went to Dr. yesterday for my monthly visit and they said to eat slower and chew better......which of course I know. Don't know why this is happening more now. Will be much more careful when eating. Going on a trip with friends to Vegas saturday........hope all goes well over there. Dr. G. said the band will get tighter when I fly. I don't have a fill yet and not anxious to get one at this point. Thank you Johnathan for the congrats on my reaching ONDERLAND. That was a big milestone for me. Mary, hope all is well with you......sorry you are getting stuck too. At least we know it is a common occurance with the lapband.....but its not a good feeling. Good Luck to both of you. CAT

Sorry for bragging but so excited I finally got to Onederland!!! Got on the scale this morning and it finally went slightly under the 200 mark. Havn't been there in over ten years. I can honestly say that without the lapband I don't think I could have done this. Thank you lapband for helping me do this. Hope it continues. CAT

Thanks everyone for your good thoughts.......Now I have to make sure I stay in ONDERLAND........forever!!! CAT

i bought them in CVS pharmacy. I'm sure they have them in Walmart where the Vitamins and supplements are. CAT

Had a semi stuck episode and used the papaya enzyme pills. I carry them with me just in case. They really helped me. The pain in my chest went away after I chewed 2 tablets. It says to take 4 at a time if needed. Good idea to keep on hand. CAT

Its funny.....I was banded 2 months ago and the one thing I craved was having a slice of pizza. The other night my hubby got takeout for himself and I got a thin slice of regular pizza. I ate it slow and chewed well and it was fine. I really enjoyed having it and I don't think it was so bad of a choice for dinner. Once and a while we need a treat. CAT

Good idea to move to someone else.....he sounds really off base. How could you eat 3000 calories a day and not gain??? I would not listen to him at all. You are doing great on your own without his advice. Don't let him second guess you and your band. I'm losing slow also....about 1-1/2 - 2 lbs a week. Thats okay with me. I am not in a race to do this since this is a lifelong commitment. Time is on our side. Keep up the good work. CAT

Hi I had a similar pain about a month ago. I was banded on 7/25 and on 8/24 I got this pain in my left ribcage.....high up under my bra line. I took tylenol and stayed with it. The next day we went upstate and it was sill there. I decided to call my dr. in case it was band related. They sent me to the ER and took lots of tests to rule out a blood clot. Nothing showed up so they kind of ruled out a blood clot and think it was just muscular. That it what I thought but was not sure. It really scared me to think of a clot but I'm glad they were so thorough. It went away and now I feel better. Hope your pain goes away soon. Tell the dr. just in case. CAT

Congratulations on being in ONDERLAND! I am so close.....almost there. Havn't been there in over 10 years. Also just made it to a size 16. It feels good doesn't it? Keep up the success. Hope to see you soon in a size 12. CAT

Hi Mary: How did it go with Dr. G today?? I also must have a little drink when I eat. I always had this problem even bfore the band. I get hiccups if I don't have something to drink. I know they tell you not to but whatever.....Glad to hear you are feeling well. Chris