Stuck? eating too fast? or something worse?

Hey there everyone,
I'ts been a month or so since I've been on here.  You know how life gets sometimes. 

I have a question for you all.  I just got my first couple of fills in the past few months and I've been experiencing something new and i don't know what it is. 

Sometimes when I eat, I suddenly get a burning like pain right about under my sternum and it feels like a golf ball is right there.   The pain will almost come in waives and feels a tiny bit like the wost heart burn you've ever had.  It hurts pretty bad.  The only way I can make the pain go away is to vomit up whatever I just ate.  Then it instantly goes away.  This has happened like 3 times in a couple of months.  I know vomiting is a big no-no with the band and it can cause a slippage, so I'm  alittle freaked about this. I'm trying to be careful to eat slow and with small bites and to eat the right things. 

Is this food getting stuck that is causing this?  I never have had a productive burp bring anything back up, just had to vomit. 

What are your thoughts? 

Hi Tootser,
Sorry you are having problems.  I am just wondering if you HAVE to vomit or if you make yourself vomit.... Because if the pain forces you to vomit, then you are eating too much, too fast, or not chewing enough... But if you are in pain and you FORCE yourself to vomit then that is something else entirely.  If you are stuck, then you need to just move around and wait it out... But if you vomit, you can do so much damage.  If I get stuck I just wait.... IT HURTS! I know, but vomiting is so bad for us.  If I do vomit, I am stuck on liquids and maybe some very soft food for a full day. 

Remember, tiny bites, chewed to liquid, and measure your food.  Good luck and I hope your don't have any more stuck episodes!

Thanks Angi,
I have been going back to liquids each time this happens for a day or 2 afterwards.  I'm ashamed to say that I have been making myself vomit, I know this is a horrible idea.  

Just curious, how long does it take for the pain to go away when you wait it out?  I've tried waiting once and it continued for an hour or 2. 

a few things come to mind for me.


you should never make yourself vomit. theres times I would have liked to but I didnt. You need to wait it out if at all possible and let it pass. There are times that I have slimed for a long time but it dislodged eventually. Although, there is another side of it... if you have a burning pain, food getting stuck, and you're pb'ing you really should speak to the doctor and see if you need to have a small amount taken out of your band.

Last but not least if you know that it could be your eating habits you need to really just me more diligent in watching what you eat and how much. It's not always easy but take it from someone who has slipped it's not fun once you have a complication.

i'm ten days post op  but have a question...how did you know your band slipped?

It's very noticeable with telling signs. Mine is a small slip luckily... I havent had to have surgery yet.

I just began to get tighter and tighter and eat less and less. It got to the point that I lost 15lbs in a month 3 years out from surgery from lack of eating. I also had heartburn all night long even after taking prilosec. I would slime constantly from just swallowing my saliva.

Also this is just a thought....do you still have your gallbladder. It half way sounds like a GB attack. The whole "almost comes in waves and is like the worst heartburn you have ever had." Made me wonder .

A few suggestions:

Get some chewable papaya enzyme tablets to keep on hand when food gets stuck.  They seem to help some people.  I get mine at Walmart.  Many drugstores carry them.

Try drinking a little hot tea or coffee or even warm water with lemon before your meal.  I usually have hot tea.. esp. when eating out, to help insure less problems with stuckage.

Make sure the foods you are attempting to eat are moist.  Many people have trouble with foods that are reheated in the microwave.   You may need to drape a damp paper towel over things before reheating in the mw to help prevent drying out.

Use some sort of "food lube".  I use low calorie bbq sauce alot, others use watery veggies, like cukes.  I know another gal who can eat spinach salad if apples are mixed in.. but has trouble if no apples.  I often mix my textures to help.. 2 bites protein, 1 bite veggie.  Scrambled eggs alone are hard for me, but put some spinach & mushrooms in them and I'm good to go.

Hope this helps.

Thanks to eveyone for all of your suggestions and thoughts, it really helps. 

I think I need to just keep moving formward, but make sure I'm more diligent with my food choices and chewing. 

I think I may try the hot tea and papaya enzymes too. 

I also use a heating pad, or even take a hot bath.  Pain makes us tense up, and if we can find a way to relax then the food can go through easier.  As long as you measure your food, take small bites, and chew well - eat slowly and pay attention to the way you feel, you should be fine!