Blockage

cherreg · November 25, 2008

I was banded on 11/10, everything seems to be going great. I am wondering what to do if something would get stuck , like a pill or some food. Any hints about what to do before I call the doc and he has to take Fluid from the band. I am still on purried so I doubt it will happen now. :blush:

BethFromVA · November 25, 2008

I understand PBing, but what exactly is "slime production," or "sliming," as I have seen it mentioned?

HeatherO · November 25, 2008

You slime when you get stuck, your mouth fills with a substance that is thicker than saliva (kind of like snot but I am sorry for the description). It goes on overload in that you produce so much of it you will have to keep spitting it out into the toilet.

When you are really stuck, you don't want to be anywhere but in the bathroom, believe me.

Sometimes walking around or stretching your arms over your head help. Sometimes it doesn't.

Being stuck usually lasts about 20 minutes for me, but sometimes people can be uncomfortable for over an hour.

When I am stuck, if I lean over the toilet while standing and let gravity help to pull it out, it helps it to be finished faster (never vomiting, which you want to avoid at all costs and is dangerous for your band, but food that can not go down comes up through a process called PB or productive burping which happens a little faster if you assume this position).

Other people have suggested drinking a little pineapple juice, or mixing a little meat tenderizer with Water or drinking something warm which they say works for them. When I am stuck I can not drink anything, I just get more stuck.

Other people swear by papaya enzyme tablets which break up the food quickly but doesn't harm your stomach. You should be able to find these at Vitamin stores. Everyone who uses these says they work wonderfully but I have not tried them yet.

Biggest thing about being stuck, once it happens a time or two, you learn to avoid it naturally because it is exceedingly unpleasant. It is almsot something that early bandsters are more prone to as they are first getting used to restriction.