Trouble with food getting stuck

I am about 7 months post RNY and have had great success.  Occasionally, food will fet stuck and the only way to dislodge is by several hours of vomiting, which after one episode sent me to the ER.  The called it esophageal blockage. It has only happened three times, so I feel very lucky.  Anyone have similar experiences and what do you do?

Thanks  

Hi Marby,

That seems a bit unusual to me.  Have you been careful to chew your food well before swallowing?  Maybe you need to slow down when you are eating?  I had the band until recently , not RNY but the same rules usually apply.  You should not be vomiting like that nor have the 3 episodes in so few months I wouldn't think.  Try to figure out what is going wrong when you are eating, ok?

I've had some food get stuck and it's usually for one of these reasons: too dry, didn't chew well enough, ate too fast. I had one that was a nightmare... Nutritionist recommended an app called "Eat Slower" that is basically a timer that tells you when to take a bite. It's been a God-send. Haven't had any major "stucks" since I started using it and only some minor ones when I ate without using it. It's about training our bodies and mind like so many other things. Try it, it might help and Good Luck!

If you properly chew your food to "mush", it will not get stuck.  Apparently not all surgeons instruct their patients to do so, but if it is the consistency of applesauce or oatmeal, it cannot physically get stuck.  If it is getting stuck in the esophagus -- which means it isn't even making it to your pouch (and keep in mind that your esophagus had not been altered in any way) and would get stuck even if you had not had surgery -- it is too bulky and/or dry.

Chew more thoroughly and eat dry foods such as chicken with moister or higher water content foods (e.g., green beans).

The only time I have ever heard of food getting stuck is here. No one I know IRL has ever had that happen, but my surgeon was very emphatic about chewing properly because you need the additional saliva to moisten food when you cannot drink with your meal.

BTW, if you DO get something stuck again (I have never had anything get stuck and didn't vomit a single time until I was 18 months out), you would be better off going ahead and drinking something to wash the offending food down into your pouch (or even out of your pouch) than to spend several hours trying to vomit!  You will not do any physical damage by drinking, but with that amount of attempted vomiting you can cause tissue damage (not to mention pain).

Lora