Question:
Not a question--Warning to really chew your food!

I don't want to alarm anyone, but feel I should share my experience yesterday (day after Thanksgiving). My husband was haveing a turkey "snack" so I grabbed a small bite. I apparantly was not paying attention because I swallowed a piece which was not properly chewed. I was in agony for several hours. I felt it go down every inch. I tried to throw it up but was not successful. After 4 hours, I tried water and threw it up. Then 2 hours later I could drink water again and the pain was better. I just want to remind everyone to take very small bites and chew, chew, chew!! I am so thankful it was not serious. Hope this helps someone.    — Dot W. (posted on November 27, 1999)

November 27, 1999
Diane, sorry you had to go through that. I had heard it's not the most pleasant feeling. It's neat that you should mention it though today. I just got another packet of guidelines from my doc today. One of the things mentioned was about food being stuck. Especially chicken or turkey. I just thought I would share with you what they told me to do should this happen to me. One, don't try and get it down with water, as the water will just sit on top of it and cause you more discomfort. This is the remedy they suggest, use Adoplph's meat tenderizer: 1 teaspoon tenderizer to 2oz of water, stir and sip it all immediately. I have no clue if this works, but it certaintly sounded interesting.
   — Julie R.

January 12, 2000
Hi, I have had the same problem, especially with chicken and turkey. My solution has been to stew both birds to the point of fricasseeing them and eating them only with sufficient amounts of gravy. I am now 9 weeks post-op and still have difficulty with anything that is not "wet," foodwise. I cannot eat any breads yet, they make me vomit or choke. My best success has been eating either cereal with milk, or foods with gravies, or (strangely enough)frozen foods like macaroni & cheese, etc. And of course everything has to be chewed to a fine mince, otherwise there's that choking sensation again. The way to get over the choking, if it really feels like you are obstructed, is to induce vomiting. I have foound that helps, although it is only a last resort.
   — Peter W.

March 8, 2000
I am eleven days post-op from an open RNY. I have had a tough recovery as I have a very low tolerance for pain. For the first nine days, I had clear liquids with a few sips of the resoure drink provided by the hospital. I could not tolerate that drink anymore. On the ninth day, I had my staples out and started eating real food. That day, I ate a heaping teaspoon of cottage cheese every 3 hours. I tolerated that very well and was so pleased. After talking to my MD in the afternoon, he said I could eat chicken and fish. That night I ate some chicken. I chopped up finely and chewed it well. I ate slowly. Then, I suffered for two days. I knew I had a blockage. I felt terrible pain in my pouch, probably at the opening. That left side was very tender. After eating the chicken, I stayed on clear liquids a day and a half. I was up all night in pain. I tried reaching my MD and could not. I cried and cried. On this site I read about taking a teaspoon of meat tenderizer with some water. I tried it aand it seemed to work. I do not want to see another piece of chicken for a long time.
   — joanne R.

March 19, 2000
My doctors at Rocky Mountain Associated Physicians in Utah say: "Chicken really needs to be moist. If it is the least bit dry it can get stuck right behind the breast bone area. This is usually quite uncomfortable. If this happens to you do not try to get it down by drinking water. The water will just sit on top and cause more discomfort. You can try a little remedy using Adolph's meat tenderizer. It is as follows: 1 teaspoon of Adolph's Meat Tenderizer to 2 oz. of water, stir and sip it all immediately."
   — Shar /.

March 19, 2000
Is it ok to moisten chicken or tuna with something like mustard or fat free or lite mayo?
   — merri B.