Is this common??

MissMom24 · 03-02-2008, 05:25 PM

Has anyone else experienced this? I am nice and open and am able to eat "normally" as well as get my fluids in, about half the time. I can do this with zero problems. The other part, I am tight and PB'ing and lots of things get stuck, eventually, everything goes down. Obviously, except if I PB. Although, at night, nothing is coming up and I am not refluxing. Do you think that I am a tad to tight? I like that I am full for so long, but don't want to be risking any damage to the band...I have also heard that once your to tight, you have a difficult time finding the sweet spot.

I am just wondering if this is common or not.

Thanks!

Brandy

**Kat817** · 03-02-2008, 05:35 PM

Well....I don't think I would go so far as to say you are too tight if you can eat well half of the time.

My guess would be that on the days you are not able to eat, is that maybe you begin a bad cycle day with a first bite syndrome kind of thing, then due to the irritation of the first problem, you continue them through the day. Then following a rest at night often times it will be ok the next day.

First bite syndrome is not uncommon. For some reason the esophagus, and therefore our pouch will sometimes spasm, and tighten up when we take the first bite. When it does this, then anything added after will only hurt and cause you to PB. What is suggested for issues with first bite syndrome is to begin the meal with a couple of sips of a very warm liquid---water, tea, coffee---small sips of it hot! Then take the tiniest bite imaginable---chew well, and wait. Let it hit your pouch and allow the pouch to accept it, after a couple of minutes---serious minutes, as in 120 seconds---not just a few seconds---try another tiny bite. Then wait again. If after a few bites, you still feel good, then proceed as usual with your meal. If it feels stuck--just stop! Then in a half an hour or so, try some fluid, and stick with fluids for a few hours minimally before you try again. Anytime you end up PB'ing, the best thing for your stomach is to go onto liquids for a period of time, allowing your stomach to settle without causing further swelling.

I think a truly too tight band would be causing this to be the normal, as opposed to just happening half the time. And it would cause most things to come back up not eventually going down. If you are having problems with stuck things eventually going down, the most common cause is not chewing well. Be sure you are thoroughly chewing your food, then chew a few more times just for good measure!!

Good Luck Brandy---hope you get it figured out real soon!!!
Kat