Constant discomfort when eating- Will Papaya Enzyme help me?

Hi!

I'm coming up on my one year 'bandiversary' and since my last fill almost two months ago, I have had constant discomfort when I eat.  My surgeon says that it is my esophogus spasming.  I have gone in to see him since my last fill thinking that I needed an un-fill, but he looked at it in the fluoroscope and said that it looked fine and he actually thinks I need more fluid, not less.  He said that some people experience esophageal spasms more than others, and that I should drink lots and lots of warm/hot liquids to calm it.

Okay, I can do that.  I like coffee and tea.  I always drink a full cup of warm tea before I eat anything.  This helps, sometimes.  FYI, I always follow all of the rules.  I chew thoroughly, I take small bites, I avoid my known problem foods.  Regularly, though, even with the help of the tea, I get that stuck feeling and I end up 'sliming' and spitting my food back up.  It's almost a daily thing.  On really bad days, I put myself on a liquid diet to calm my stomach and the next day is better, but it always comes back.

I was noticing that some of you use papaya enzyme.  Will this help me?  How does it work?  Do you think I need an un-fill even though my surgeon says I don't?

I have not had this issue but a friend of mine has and she drinks rrom temp pineapple juice and it has always helped her, good luck!

I've tried papaya enzyme and pineapple juice and neither helped.

I disagree with your surgeon's view of this. If you're using good band eating skills, you should not be in constant discomfort when eating. That's unacceptable. I don't care if some people have more esophageal spasms than other people. If it were me, even one esophageal spasm would be too much. So I'd be going back to the surgeon's office in a very assertive mood....

Jean

P.S. - it occurs to me that you may have "first bite syndrome". Drinking a warm liquid before your meal can help this, and the other thing you could try is to take your first bite, chew it well, swallow it, and wait 2-3 or even 5 minutes before taking the next bite.

Totally agree with Jean the band shouldn't mean daily sliming when eating. That is usually an indication of a too tight band, it may look fine on the fluro but it's your body! Having esphogeal spasms is also NOT a normal or good thing, many bandsters have lost their bands for this very reason. I would insist your doc shape up or find another one that actually knows what he's doing.

Esophageal spasms are not and should never be considered normal.Your band doctor doesn't understand living with the band on a daily basis. The successful experienced bandsters on here will tell you that living with the Lap Band is not supposed to be painful.

Those spasms may go away, but more then likely they will return and you will end up having mucosal tears in your esophagus. I think you should start looking for a new band surgeon because I think yours is out of ideas on what to do with you and your problems. He's also wrong in advising you to get another fill. That will only make matters worse.

Let us know what you decide to do.

Lisa

I never got re;ief from papaya enzyme.It doesn't work. When I eat and food gets stuck I usually wait till it passes and sometimes it doesn't and I have to stop eating and wait as long as it takes. if I try to drink I will throw up but then feel better.

I used the papaya twice when I ate something that felt like it was sitting in my stomach and it seemed to help but maybe it was just timing. I wasn't stuck just this heavy feeling in my stomach.

If it were me I would insist on a small unfill to see if it helps. If it helps great if i doesn't at least you can start trying to figure out what is happening. The doc might be the expert but he works for you. I would call in the morning and say I am coming in for a small unfill period Good luck and keep us posted.
Amanda

I agree you need a slight un fill I have had the same thing and another fill will not make it better. Hope you get relief soon

Papaya Enzyme works well with meat. I've used it a couple of times and it helps me. It makes me burp and burping helps ME when I have a small stuck episode. If you think you need something all the time, you are too tight or are eating too big of bites or the wrong kinds of food. Give you Dr's office a call. You DO NOT want to be too tight. Not good at all. I hope it gets better.