Somethingn strange and terrible happened last night.....

I am 11 months out from my RNY and can tolerate most healthy foods; however from time to time I really struggle with ground meats (I know, right, these are often some of the first meats tolerated by many patients).  Anyway last night I sat down to a dinner of a ground chicken patty and sweet potato.  I had about 4 bites of the chicken patty (and maybe 2 bites of sweet potato which I always tolerate well) and I knew things were going horribly wrong, so I stopped.

It was horrible, and like no time before.  I truly felt like the food was "stuck" in my pouch.  Generally when this happens I am able to just kind of bend and the waist and "burp" (vomit) it back up, not a big deal and I feel better immediately.  Not this time - it would not come back up.  I felt HORRIBLE.  Eventually I just curled up on the couch and suffered, eventually falling asleep.  I woke up, now 3 hours out from eating and still felt a horrible pain in my gut - things were just NOT moving.

I was able to fall asleep again for a couple of hours and woke up now 5 hours out from eating and NO improvement.  At this point I was actually starting to get worried - food should just not be able to sit in my pouch for 5 HOURS, should it?  I was truly getting concerned that it was stuck and I was going to need a visit to the hospital.  As I sat there contemplating what to do, I decided that I would slowly take some sips of water to see if I could loosen things up.  So I would sip.....sit there in agony.....sip....sit there in agony....sip.

After about an ounce of water over a 10 minute period I knew something was happening, and all of the sudden I had an immediate need to vomit.  And at the risk of TMI, this wasn't the normal sort of "burping" up of the food I normally experience, this was the all out, I can't control myself, projectile type.  This has literally never happened to me before, and was a bit terrifying.

I immediately felt better - physically and psychologically.  But man, it's gonna be a LONG time before I try ground meat again.

Anyone else ever experience this horrible event where food is stuck for hours?

Here is what I think -- I am not a doctor -- but I've experienced what you've described and been around a while to have heard vets describe what you have as well.  Disclaimer: I am not a vet, but I am 3 years out.

What you experienced is often referred to as the "foamies"  -- it is usually caused by something getting stuck just before the pouch. I have had it a handful of times.  It is caused by not chewing enough/eating too fast, something that just isn't the right texture and not passing easily (such as a stringy meat or dry meat), eating just a bit too much (over full) or just bad luck.  HAHAHA.  

It feels like something is stuck -- like you should swallow -- take a sip of water... often there is mucus that you will spit out ... it feels AWFUL.  It usually makes me go in to a cold sweat -- and I feel like I need to lay down.  It feels terrible.  My experience is the absolute WORST thing you can do is to take sip of anything to drink.  It's the kiss of death.  It's completely counter-intuitive.  

It will sit there like a rock in your chest until it either finally passes or you vomit.  The vomit aspect feels a lot like a bad (really bad) burp.  It's never been acidic however.  It's almost immediate relief.

Some people recommend papaya enzymes for it.  Others recommend waiting it out.  For me, if it happens, the best thing is to VOMIT.  Get it over rather than dragging it out for hours.  My first experience was much like yours.  My advice: use a finger or a toothbrush handle if it happens again.  

The next day, your stomach will be a bit tender.  Go easy on it for the next 24 hours.

If it makes you feel better, I haven't had the foamies in a very long time.  All together I have had them less than ten times in 3 years.  Probably closer to 7.  It's really scary the first time it happens.  Now that I know what to do when it happens, it's never more than 15 minutes out of my life.  :-)

I'm only 9 months out, but this is EXACTLY my description of what happens to me too. It's always dense protein, and I'm fairly convinced mine is directly related to my bad chewing habits...

I have this happen almost every 2 weeks or so... it's so frustrating, but I'm learning how to deal (that whole toothbrush thing works well LOL)...

I kind of look at it as a teaching tool.  For me, it often happened when I was overly hungry and ate too fast/didn't chew well.  If there's any good part -- it was a nice punch in the face to get me to slow the hell down and take my time  -- and not let myself get overly hungry (eat on a schedule!).  :-)

In a very weird way, I like having this little hiccup from time to time. It is a good reminder to slow down and (for me) chew, chew, chew! 

I will be 8 years post RNY next month and this still happens to me.

 The foamies are horrible.  Usually it is (at least for me) something too dry, not chewing well enough before swallowing, or solid texture - like raw veggies that have a low water content (carrots).  Sometimes it happens with ground meat or eggs.

I do chew papaya enzymes, especially if I can't vomit.  Not being able to vomit is the worst.

My pouch is very "grouchy" for the next 24 hours and I usually have liquids and mushy (think Fage 0% greek yogurt consistency) the rest of that day and the next day.

My pouch is still in control and I respect it.

Penny

Jester, I know this must have been very terrifying for you, and I sympathize, from the bottom of my pouch!

I am nearly 15 years out, and this same thing STILL happens to me, occasionally, usually due to food texture, or me not paying attention while eating, and I'll be talking when I need to be chewing. I am a BIG believer in papaya enzyme tablets. I never leave home without them. NEVER!! They are cheap, and available in most any vitamin section.

My particular gut rearrangement doesn't allow me to vomit, so I just get the foamies, chew my papayas, and pray. Walking can also help..and fresh air

foamies... Eating too quick to fast and not chewing.

Its only happened once or twice

I am close to 9 years post op.  When something like that happens to me I don't wait. I drink wam water.  That thing is either going down or out.  I don't wait more than  5 - 10 min.  

This is what mine has been like. I never just "burp" up food like you and others have described. It is always violent vomiting from my very toes, like my gut is trying to rid itself of ever molecule of the offensive food. it doesn't last for hours usually, though it has. I have learned that when it happens there is no going back and to do whatever I can to encourage it to come up sooner than later.