Anatomy of being "stuck"

[Nooshie 0]

I have a question for you all. I'm trying to figure out what STUCK feels like. I've read posts about how it's kind of like a bubble in the chest area, as if you have swallowed air. But logistically speaking, WHY? Why would you feel it in your chest? If the band is at the lower end of the newly created stomach pouch, wouldn't the food that gets stuck be stuck in the band area as it empties into the lower stomach?

This morning I had a couple slice of peeled fresh apple for my Breakfast with a couple spoons of yogurt. I didn't get a feeling of stuck in the chest...but I did feel it in the stomach....not pain, but just this pressure...like it was sitting there and not going down. This was the first of this feeling, so I thought, "hmmmm...maybe it's stuck" and took a papaya enzyme, a few minutes later, it was better.

But the threads all point to "stuck" being in the chest...so I'm trying to figure out, anatomically, why. Any revelations?

[kiz 1]

The band might be higher than you think. My doctor leaves a 4 oz pouch (upper stomach), so that small pouch is all that separates the banded area (stoma) from my esophagus. I'm sure the pain can also radiate a bit. When I've eaten something that feels tight in my band, I feel the pressure in the center lower part of my chest.

I know this picture isn't to scale, but it sort of gives an indication of just high the band is in our abdominal region.

http://www.minnesotasurgery.net/the-lap-band-system/the-lap-band-system

Edited November 13, 2009 by kiz

[Nooshie 0]

Liz, thanks so much for the diagram. I had no idea that it could be so high up. Interesting.

[k-statearmywife 6]

Thanks for asking this question, and also to Kiz for that picture, I learned something today!

[LollyMoe 1]

Thanks for the picture. I'm a retired nurse, researched it well, I thought, but learned something new today.