Question:
What do you do when food gets stuck?

I am over a year post op from RNY and doing great. I'm down from 254 to 153 lbs. My problem is this. I have had three different episodes where food didn't agree with my stomach. I have ran to the bathroom to throw up and for some reason, the food gets lodged in between my chest and my throat and won't move. I am afraid one of these days, I am going to choke to death because it just won't move. I am positive that most of the time it happens because a piece of food was too big BUT that doesn't help while I'm choking.    — Breathin4him (posted on January 14, 2009)

January 14, 2009
Cut your food into small pieces, and chew each piece until "it's mush" to help breakdown the food. I'd venture to guess it's larger chunks of food that you feel lodged. I find it very difficult to throw up since my RNY--I've done it twice in 32 months. I drank some iced tea too quickly at 3 months post op, and it came back up like a rocket. A second time, my son bbqd some bad meat, and that came back up. But other times, I've acutally put my finger down my throat trying to throw up to feel better, and was unable to do it. Limited stomach acid from your pouch makes it somewhat more difficult to throw upas a postop. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

January 14, 2009
I have found drinking a lot of water will help me throw up if I am feeling food is stuck. So far it has only been food blocking the stomach opening. I have not had any food stuck in my throat.
   — trible

January 14, 2009
I was told to NOT drink a lot water when food is stuck..but to take tiny sips of warm water and/or chew 3-5 papaya tablets...They have enzymes that break down food fast! It is the main ingredient in meat tenderizer! Then walk to help it pass...You have to pay more attention to chewing...Yep...Even at 3-4 years I have gotten food stuck but mostly from eating too fast and not so much big chunks (But I have done that too when I wait too long to eat and I just start shoveling in large bites too fast and forget I have a little stoma) and that awful high heel in your chest feeling is not nice! But we get side tracked and forget...Old habits die hard! My nut told us that drinking water was bad because the water puts heavy weight on top of the food and can cause your stoma to tear from the pressure or if you ate someting very absorbable like bread...That food will swell even more and make matters worse...So try tiny sips of warm just to moisten the food if you must...But I highly recommend the papaya and walking it off...
   — .Anita R.

January 14, 2009
Cut your food into smaller pieces and chew very slowly. That is right. I'm not sure about the papays but walking slowly should help some. I also would check with my doc. Maybe its something else. Or perhaps go back to the liquid preop diet for a day or two to let your body rest and then start back with the food. Good Luck and God Bless, vinnigirl, retired RN
   — vinnigirl

January 14, 2009
I chew a bite and swallow it in sections. Helps me.
   — lesleigh07

January 14, 2009
I really haven't had this problem yet (I'm so scared it is going to happen that I am "overly" cautious of what I eat). However, at our bariatric support group this week the nurse (and several of the post-op patients) said that pineapple juice is really good to help with "stuck" food - the enzymes in the juice help break it down quickly so it goes down.
   — Wendy M.

January 14, 2009
theresa, when something gets stuck in my stoma or pouch, I go to the bathroom, and bend over the toilet. Then I just begin to gag. No fingers in the mouth, no forcing, but for me, the bending over the toilet action activates my gag reflex and as I do, the flem and the backed up food comes out. It's not pretty, but it has worked well for me. I am five years out, and I throw up probably 5 or 6 times a year on average from something I wish I had eaten slower. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

January 14, 2009
I just want to address the choking to death part. The food is in your food pipe..not the wind pipe. So you shouldn't choke as if you swallowed it into the wrong pipe...unless I misunderstood what you meant. When I have food get stuck I just kind of wait it out. I never make myself vomit, cuz its just so nasty. but I wait about 30 mins then drink slowly little sips and I have tried the papaya pills too. they seem to help. You can get them at walmart..so probably any drug store too. Good luck and slow down! lol Enjoy your new self! Congrats on the loss! You are doing great! hugs, Kim
   — gpcmist