First: The question:  What is blockage?

If by chance, you get a piece of food in the pouch that is a bit bigger than the stoma, it cannot go down, it may not come up.  You are blocked.

What follows is a series of emails about blockage:

Just thought of something. I remember Wayne saying when food gets stuck all
you can do is wait. That's right, but it does hurt like hell when something
gets stuck for a while so I thought maybe some of you guys might have some
tips to get unblocked quicker. I know that some are very lucky: they throw
up and the blockage is gone. Well I'm not that lucky, I can't throw up (not
even when I put a toothbrush in my throat, as someone suggested) and yep,
all I can do is wait. But while I was waiting I already tried every possible
position to stop the pain. Even praying to God!
At first I thought walking around should do the trick, but gravity let me
down. Standing on my head was not an option, I really can't (LOL)! But then
oh, what a relief I found that when I lie on my tummy it seems like the food
slides easier through the stoma. I still takes some time and it keeps
hurting but after a while I get the famous Bandster gurgle and I just feel
it going through. I, for one, try to avoid it at all times by chewing and
eating very slowly because I find the pain is really very bad. But maybe my
tip can bring some relief when it might occur sometimes.
Someone had a similar experiences? Thought it was an interesting topic. 

I have found that rotating the body in a similar rotation that is used by
kayakers works. Also the "bouncing" walk sometimes works. But, the best of all,
time. Wait it out, it will either go down, or up. Next time. chew smaller and
chew more. Learn your lesson....  Wayne

Yes, Wayne I already have learned my lesson! I think if you had it once you
will do everything to avoid it because it is so painful. But even so it has
happened to me about 2 times. I know that in the first stage of banding it
happens to a lot of other Bandsters. So my thing was: why not help somebody
else? Because next to painful it is also very scary. So I thought I would
bring the topic up?
I hope it never happens to me again and I will do everything to avoid it but
if it does happen I will keep your tips in mind. 

" Next time. chew smaller and
chew more. Learn your lesson....

This is an excellent topic....

You are lucky. You have only been blocked twice. During my heavy weight loss
phase, I almost had blockage sometimes as often as every other day. Even now,
I feel blocked from time to time, normally after I eat something with lots of
meat. Have I learned how to stop blockage? Not me. Not really....

If I could reemphasize again - If you feel blocked, relax, calm down, it is a
painful, panicky, scary feeling, the absolute worst thing that you can do is
try to drink something. BTW: After a blockage incident, wait an hour, go back
to liquids for rest of the day. ... Wayne

I take a sip of soda, jump up and down, then burp and the offending 
plug is usually there at the top of the bubbles (I know, GROSS!) I 
ONLY do this on occasions where the plug is very painful.