How Do I Get Food Unstuck?

[kimmym 0]

HI, I am new to this group. I have been banded for 2 years and I have NEVER had a piece of food stuck for more than a few minutes. Well, last night I had a piece of steak get stuck and I still can't get it out. I am barely able to keep Water down. I have tried to throw it up....I have sipped warm water...I can't get it out. It feels horrible. Oh yea....and I am in Venezuela and have no way to get the Fluid removed. I'm getting worried. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance...

[SashaWLS 412]

I haven't had this happen, but I heard that if it's meat that's stuck, that drinking pineapple juice or having papaya enzymes will break the meat down faster...

[kimmym 0]

I haven't had this happen, but I heard that if it's meat that's stuck, that drinking pineapple juice or having papaya enzymes will break the meat down faster...

Thank you. I have read this several times and I have just got down a cup of pure pineapple juice. Does anyone have any idea how long it should take? I can't tell if I still have to food stuck...or if my esophagus is just swollen from trying to throw it up last night. At least I am able to pass liquids now.

[Cocoabean 430]

Sometimes I stay swollen for a couple of days but I don't have that gut wrenching stuck pain that whole time. Just an irritated tightness.

If food is stuck and you need medical care, they can go down your esophagus to grab the food, rather than unfill. Unfill is the first defense for badly stuck bandsters. But bypass folk get stuck too...they get the food fished out.

I am 4+ years out, I just used paypaya enzymes for the first time this week when I got stuck on some salad. It seemed to work very well. Coincidence? Maybe. Deserving of another try? Definitely. pineapple juice did nothing for me.

One thing I have tried when well and truly stuck is to suck down a few ounces of Water. It will bring on a wave of nausea and come right back up, but it usually brings the offending item with it. But there are those times when the item is just plain stuck...

Glad to hear you can get fluids down, that is a great sign!!

[kimmym 0]

Sometimes I stay swollen for a couple of days but I don't have that gut wrenching stuck pain that whole time. Just an irritated tightness.

If food is stuck and you need medical care, they can go down your esophagus to grab the food, rather than unfill. Unfill is the first defense for badly stuck bandsters. But bypass folk get stuck too...they get the food fished out.

I am 4+ years out, I just used paypaya enzymes for the first time this week when I got stuck on some salad. It seemed to work very well. Coincidence? Maybe. Deserving of another try? Definitely. pineapple juice did nothing for me.

One thing I have tried when well and truly stuck is to suck down a few ounces of Water. It will bring on a wave of nausea and come right back up, but it usually brings the offending item with it. But there are those times when the item is just plain stuck...

Glad to hear you can get fluids down, that is a great sign!!

Great to know about fishing it out. That is something I never thought of. In the past when food has been stuck, I do the Water trick. It has always worked in the past for me. But it did not work this time. I got scared and a little panicked. Maybe that made it worse...Like being stuck in a tight place.. I slept sitting up last night and tried a few sips of water this morning. It came right back up. So I stopped and came to the internet. I have relaxed and I am on my second cup of pineapple juice. It is going down provided I take very small sips. But, it is going down so I am taking that as a good sign. I do feel a slight pressure in my chest still (like a piece of food is stuck) but I have not felt it move. It must have moved or the juice would be coming back up. My plan is to finish this second cup of juice and if it stays down I will try a Protein shake. I'm very hungry since it was my second bite of dinner last night that caused all the drama....This is a great site and I am so glad I found it. I feel very alone here in Venezuela with my band. Until last night the thought of needing medical help never intered my mind. Now I am going to be paranoid for a bit, but I'll get over it. Thank you so much for the fishing advise. I'd hate to do that here....but it is better than dehydrating myself into the hospital....Yuck! LOL!

You seem to have had some great weight loss. So happy for you. I have found the process slow, but very happy with my results as well. Like I said, I don't get stuck often and never for long. So I must chalk this up to human error....I was so hungry and didn't chew my food good enough....I will remember next time because this is a very unplesant feeling.

[dianalyn 11]

I promise- the psychiatrist said they recommend drinking meat tenderizer. ( this came up during a what if question session)

[MrsColeman 3]

Have a fizzy drink, you'll burp a few times, and sometimes you just bring up the chunk, that always works for me even days on. Then the pineapple juice is good for settling the stomach and can ease the pain. If youve been in pain with it you will probably be a bit swollen so i'd stick to liquids for a couple of days and then mushy foods until you can feel things going down ok again. Good luck!

[MrsColeman 3]

Also if your swollen and not stuck, some people respond better to ice cold drinks as apposed to warm fluids. Think what helps you after a fill and do the same. Cold for me reduces the swelling the best. Once unstuck (if you find out you are) i'd have a couple of dispersible asprins and that will ease some discomfort.

[kimmym 0]

Fizzy drinks don't really make me burp....but that is a great idea anyway. I also think you are right about cold instead of Hot Drinks. I have only had a 4 fills. I never had a problem with them. So I'm not sure what works for me. But cold does make more since than hot to keep swelling down. Ice Water it is... I guess if I am still stuck it will come back up and I will know for sure.....

Could it still be stuck and I have just moved it so that fluids could pass? If that is the case I am worried about it moving again and preventing me from at least taking liquids. I guess it either is or isn't and I will know soon enough.

Thanks to all for all the great advise. It has all been really helpful. Nice to know there are others out there that understand what I am going through.

[MrsColeman 3]

I'd be tempted to still stick to liquids if your unsure, If getting a small unfill is not possible to clarify. In a couple of days the swelling will have subsided and you'll feel whats going on. If you can get liquids down without bringing up what i call frothy saliva then id say your probably just sore from swelling.

I find this forum great for hearing so many different experiences. After a fill im very inflammed and it takes a good week for me to tolerate anything but others you read are happy eating 'normally' by day 2. If I get something stuck, fizzy pop works great for me but I am incredibly sore after.

Its nice to know someone here has always had a problem your going through.

I hope you get unstuck and less sore soon. Let us know how you get on.

[goddesscordelia 30]

Sounds gross- but make yourself throw up- bend down over the toilet (gravity helps) and insert finger. No fun but beats the misery of stuck steak

-Cordelia, banded 1/08

[kimmym 0]

I tried the self vomit method. It is what usually works for me. But this one was a bugger. I even drank a bunch of Water and then tried it to try and flush it out. But no success. Nothinig but Water came out. I just returned from a luncheon and I was able to eat a very small portion and had a bowl of Soup with no problem. I think I must just be sore. I'll stick to liquids for a few days just to be safe.

Thank you all for your advise....It was extremely helpful. I'm feeling much better and must be ok now. Happy weight loss to all...good day!

[Cocoabean 430]

Glad you are feeling a bit better! I'd say after what you have been through you will have some major swelling, take it very easy. I'd advise against the aspirin, unless your surgeon allows the use of NSAIDs. Most do not.

meat tenderizer will help to break down food. I believe it has papaya enzyme and some other stuff in it, like lots of salt. But hey, any port in a storm. I haven't tried it yet.

[Dulci 108]

I have never tried this but several people have recommended "Lap Band Draino". From another post in this forum:

I just went through the multi-day stuck. Only thing that worked for me was the “Drano” thing 1/3 hot diet coke (not cold) 1/3 lemon or lime juice, 1/3 meat tenderizer. Took 3 drinks first two come straight up so be in bathroom, third drink went right through no longer stuck. Believe me I tried everything. I gets worst if you lay down so put pillow behind you to prop you up in bed till unstuck. As long as you are still stuck you will continue to slime, just being swollen should not make you slime.

[Lana24 10]

I stopped eating steak for that very reason. It was stuck for two freaking days

Just not worth all the pain.

Good luck!!