Tight Feeling in Throat

[soxaholic 0]

Hi All - I'm 12 days post-op today, and I woke up with a strange sensation in the bottom of my throat; it feels "tight" or as if something is there. The only way I can think to describe it is to compare it to swallowing a pill that you can still feel for hours later (like it never quite went all the way down and you can feel it in your esophagus). Also, I'm not sure if it's related, but I constantly feel like I need to burp, but can't...almost turns into a hiccup.

I'm not in pain, but the feeling is giving me a bit of anxiety. Could I simply be swollen and tight after surgery, and feeling it even when I'm not eating? Is this a symptom of being tight, or does it sound like something could be wrong?

I know we're supposed to stay away from anti-inflammatories, which was my first thought because it sort of feels like the throat is a bit smaller. I am on what my nutritionist calls "super soft mushies" (mashed potatoes, yogurt, pureed Soups, etc.) and I can get food and Water down okay. I moved to them (with approval) early, so I hope I haven't slipped or stretched my pouch.

On the bright side, I have a two-week check-up on Thursday, but meanwhile, I'm looking to see if this sensation is common. There's such a fine line between what's expected after surgery, and what is cause for concern!

Does this anxiety and constant worry that something is wrong EVER go away?

Thanks!

[aqgrad 0]

That happened to me as well, only it was after my very first fill and I had some saline taken out. You may be eating too fast -- even though it is only mushy stuff -- make sure you aren't eating and drinking together. But, call your doctor and see what he (or she) says. Good luck!

[ParrotheadCathy 0]

If you'd had a recent fill and had problems drinking and eating, I'd say you needed a little unfill maybe. But since you haven't had your first fill yet, could you be coming down with something? And that's just where you have happened to feel it first? Or did you take a pill that might have stuck there for a little while and simply irritated your throat. I seriously doubt you've made your band slip (really doesn't happen that often and not as easily as you might thing) and you aren't eating enough solid food to stretch your pouch. Relax until Thursday. Drink your liquids, eat your mushies as allowed and discuss it with your doctor. And, I promise you will get more comfortable with your band after you've lived with it a little longer. This is just all new and you don't have much to compare to yet! Good luck!

[khayles 0]

I too seem to have this somewhat. I was banded 4 days ago and I have had such nausea that I can't keep much of anything down. Today all I have had is about 5 bites of sugar free Jello and a little Water.

My stomach makes all kinds of noises and it feels like it is tightening or something. I have been belching a whole lot as well.

Is this all normal? How long before this tight feeling goes away

I had to have 4.2 cc taken out at the hospital a few hours after my surgery. I also had a large hiatal hernia that had to be repaired and I am thinking that is why I am having a difficult time maybe.

Any thoughts?

Thanks Kathy

[Gillian3711 0]

I dont no if this is the same thing or not, I had my first fill last wed and i would say from the Thursday it feels that i have something in the back of my throught like a fish bone or something. I dont because i havent had any thing like that to eat but its that type of feeling,I am really please I am going to see my surgen on Thursday its a horrible feeling

Gillian :crying:

[Lolagirlie 0]

I have been banded 5 months, and there are some days I have that feeling all day..It's as if I can't swallow, but I can and don't have trouble eating. I asked my surgeon, he thinks it could be esophageal spasms..nothing really to do about it. It should get less and less for you as you are not that far out from surgery. Good Luck!! Lola

[RestlessMonkey 7]

It may very well be gas. Do you have some gas-x? 12 days is a little early for some of us for mushies...but if your doc says it, you're good there. However if you've been on liquids for a while and are now eating "food"...your stomach and intestines are probably having a party down there and you're producing gas.

If you try Gas X and it doesn't help, call your surgeon. :smile2: Don't let it panic you...you'll be fine.

[felkatz 3]

Ohh goodness feeling the same thing.. Feel somethin in the bottom of my throat.. then i can feel tightness in the middle of chest. I"m thinking its because eating too much.. I"m also in the mushie stage.. eating broths.. hmmm

hmmm GASSSSS you say? hmmmm

[daqui26 4]

this must be a common thing, im less than a week out and i feel the same thing. im on Clear Liquids so i have no solid food. im going to call the drs ofc anyway and i will post their response in case it helps the next person.

[freespirit63 112]

are you better now? i am 6 months out and still have that feeling

[Tranquility 0]

Hi. I hope that my experiences can spare you some time in research and worry. What you are describing is very much like, well just like, what I’ve got going on. I have a hard squeezing feeling under my Adams apple. It is very uncomfortable –miserable I’d say, not painful, but ever constant. Torture. At first, I thought that my band was not in place, so I called and requested testing. My surgeon finally sent me to the hospital for x-rays and a barium swallow test- no, they are not routine as part of the surgery. (My doctor’s office prefers to guess about these things- I do not.) I'm being sour and cranky here and freely admit it – unrelenting discomfort and anxiety does this to me.

They found that my esophagus was in spasms. In the barium swallow test, I could see the barium just sit in my throat for a long while until it decided to go down.

When I went over for the test results my doctor said that all was fine and that this is typical for having a large hiatal hernia repaired. I told her that it was not fine with me and that all day long all I could think about was that I felt like someone was choking me. She said it would go away in two weeks and gave me two medications at my request. I took the medications and called within one week because the symptoms had not subsided. The doctor told me that she would not give me anything else for one more week because it would take time and that the next medication would make me sleepy. Now, three weeks later and 7 weeks of misery, I still have the problems. I go in to see her tomorrow.

One note, I have no fill, they took out what they put in during surgery at week two. I can eat most anything that I want, but need to eat slowly and small amounts. And now, my second biggest worry is that I’ve gotten into the habit of eating too many sauces, creams and gravy in order to make food go down –at all.

I still have the throat problem. It is dysphagia- esophageal spasms. I’m not happy, but I do hope very much that yours will go away very soon! Hope this helps, and let me know…

ps. Stay away from cold foods as these can exacerbate the problem.

Edited August 30, 2009 by denouement

[freespirit63 112]

how do you treat that?

[Tranquility 0]

how do you treat that?

I hate it when people tell me this...but you will have to ask your doctor. Mine has given me 4 prescription medications and the only one that worked made me jittery and agitated, so I had to discontinue it.

good luck