Is Gum OK - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

shiver · 03-08-2010, 07:28 AM

I thought I had heard that chewing gum after surgery was a no no. But then I heard an old timer suggest it to a newbie after surgery to fight cravings. If it IS OK it will be added to my list of tools. If it just a temporary tool that works for me to.

Just thinking.

EllieA · 03-08-2010, 07:32 AM

My Dr says NO gum. Does not say anything about alcohol, carbonation, etc but gum is a serious no-no. The reason given was accidental swallowing and getting stuck. I am not sure if there is a time limit as to how long to ban gum, but because I have accidently swallowed gum in the past, I won't risk it.

kajn · 03-08-2010, 07:32 AM

Yes I buy the sugar free gum, it helps when you just need to chew. It distracts my brain when I think I need a snack. Just DON'T swallow, lol!

TxHunni · 03-08-2010, 07:32 AM

I hadn't heard that gum was a no no, but I can tell you from experience that even the sugar-free gum could cause a problem. I tried some Dentyne sugar-free and had a strange flush/rush come over me. When I re-read the ingredients, I saw that there was manitol and sorbitol in it. These sugar alcohols have given me problems in a couple other things too, but not in everything. So, I'd say proceed with caution.

mistymee · 03-08-2010, 07:34 AM

Mine also strictly forbids gum due to the potential emergency surgery that can sometimes be necessary if it gets lodged.

That said, I know many long timers who use gum as a way to find the munchies. I am a chronic gum swallower, so I avoid it like the plague.

I'd say for a newbie, that its probably best to avoid, given the swelling and whatnot and the higher possibility of something like that getting stuck.

tchristiansen · 03-08-2010, 07:35 AM

This is definitely a question I am going to ask my surgeon when I see him. I was thinking of buying a lot of it for after surgery, to keep cravings away and to use as another tool. I never thought that gum could be a no no.

poet_kelly · 03-08-2010, 09:00 AM

Docs usually say no gum for two reasons.

First, chewing gum can make you swallow a lot of air, which may give you painful gas. If it doesn't give you gas, then that's not a problem.

If you had RNY and accidentally swallow gum, it could block the opening between the pouch and small intestine. With the sleeve, though, I don't think that would be an issue. No more than if you swallow gum now, before surgery. But you might want to check with your doc on that one.

Kelly

jenny003 · 03-08-2010, 07:51 PM

you could do the sugar free mints, right?

AirForceW1fe · 03-08-2010, 08:01 PM

I chew gum all the time but I was never a gum swallower pre op. For me it was critical in helping curb the need to always have something in mouth (Misses Jobu for the comment that would surely follow this posting)

Only you can answer if you have a tendency to swallow it or not. If not there is really no reason not to chew gum other than the possible gas issue. Last night the DH referred to my surgery as "Gaseous Bypass" so since I am gonna fart anyway, I may as well chew gum since I enjoy it!

Pink Stella · 03-09-2010, 04:35 AM

I was never told to avoid gum, and I do chew it sometimes. I chewed it when I was still in the hospital and wasn't allowed anything to drink and had terrible dry mouth.

I find that the taste of food lingers in my mouth too long after eating, and I can't drink anything for 30 mintues, so when I can't brush, I chew gum. I get tired of the flavor of the gum very quickly now, so I don't chew it for very long.

I don't think I've ever swallowed gum in my entire life, but I can see that if you did, it could be a problem.