Question:
My nutritionist says no more chewing gum after surgery...
I was surprised by the fact that I cannot chew gum after lap RNY surgery. I will miss this, as that is the only thing I have been able to "chew" during my 3 week liquid diet. I haven't seen any posts about gum, so I wondered if anyone else has been told this and does it mean I can't chew gum for the rest of my life, or just until things heal? — gclark918 (posted on April 25, 2008)
April 25, 2008
i was told the same thing. i think it's because it causes gas. you will
have plenty of gas problems after surgery. you dont want to add gum to the
list.
— soliisoul
April 25, 2008
Yes, it is the gas problem. People who chew gum take in a LOT of air.
Maybe later after you heal and life gets somewhat back to normal. Believe
me you will have enough gas the next months to last a life time ;-)
Gena
— Gena L.
April 25, 2008
I chew gum every day and I also was told not to chew after surgery, yes it
does make yu a little more gassy and yu have to be really careful not to
swallow it as it will get stuck that is why I was told not to chew it.
— acalderilla
April 25, 2008
When you do chew, if you do chew, never swallow the gum when you are done
as I causes big clogging problems in the pouch.
— SkinnyLynni2B
April 25, 2008
OK, From the replies, you know about the gas, and not to accidently swallow
the gum. It may not pass out of your pouch or worse, it may cloge it up.
I was told that I could chew sugarless gum after 3 months, but now I don't
miss it and never started back.
— William (Bill) wmil
April 25, 2008
I had LapBand, but I do know quite a few people who had RNY and were told
not to chew gum for 2 reasons: swallowing gas and the potential of
swallowing the gum resulting in a blocked stoma. Can be very dangerous.
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
April 25, 2008
I AM ALMOST 6 YRS POST-OP AND I CHEW TONS OF GUM DAILY.I ACCIDENTLY
SWALLOWED IT 1X BUT I STILL CHEW
— deb44m
April 25, 2008
Hi, sugar-free gum contains a high level of artificial sweeteners, which,
if you chew a lot of gum, will cause dumping syndrome (and gas, as others
have mentioned). You don't need a bad case of diarhhea all the time (or
other symptoms). You will lose whatever you eat and we already have
serious problems with malabsorption. I've experienced this and it is not
pleasant at all. I got really weak and dizzy and kept having to run to the
bathroom wherever I was. Not adviseable! Good luck.
— cherub13
April 25, 2008
Gayla I was also told no gum because of the gas and possibility of
accidentally swallowing it. At the time I was chewing 10 + sticks a day.
I work with the public and worry about my breath. I did give it up...cold
turkey. I cannot tell you how many times I have searched through my desk
drawers and purse searching for a piece of gum. When I'm at the store I
stare at the gum at the checkout line, thinking one pack won't hurt, right?
No one will know. But somehow...me the lady with NO willpower...I've
resisted. This by far has been the worse thing for me to give up. I just
keep reminding myself it's for my own good. AND I'd rather have bad
breath than gas...I'm sure my clients feel the same.
Maybe we should start a gum chewers anon?
Good luck.
— Caribou ME
April 25, 2008
Odd...I have never heard this and I chew gum all the time. I am going to
ask my doc next time I go.
— [Deactivated Member]
April 25, 2008
I guess I get the accidentaly swallowing risk, as I read through these, but
gas? You arent told to avoid foods that give you gas...like veggies...and
if it is a air intake thing, chew with your mouth closed. Also, it is NOT
possible to get dumping syndrome from sugar free gum. Just be careful and
keep your mouth closed. I chew all the time...always have since I was a
kid...and I cannot remember ever swallowing it. IMO, this is non-issue
really.
— [Deactivated Member]
April 25, 2008
Then I guess you better listen to the NUT! I'm glad no one told me because
I doubt I would allow anyone to tell me not to chew gum. (I'm a rebel, I
know) But I'm not a child and won't swallow it knowing it could harm me. If
someone tells me not to do something I ask why, when he reasons are not
clear enough or good enough, I do my own reasearch and determine the
whether risks outweigh the pleasure I get from chewing gum (Which btw...is
a very natural human characteristic) I was told not to eat sugar too...I
won't eat out of the icing container (anymore), but I might try a sliver of
cake. Oh yes I would! I've been chewing SF gum for all four years post
op...I never swallowed my gum...I never have gas from it either...If you
have the tendency to swallow it...Just don't chew it. Most gum uses
xylitol as a sweetener...which is a natural sweetener from corn cobs. It's
deadly for dogs...Too much in humans (like eating 15 pieces of gum) can
cause gas and diarreah. Okay...So there ya have it. The scary facts!
— .Anita R.
April 25, 2008
Our group was cautioned about gum regarless the surgery simply because it
cna cause a lot of gas. Unable to drink anytihing just prior to eating and
having to wait to drink anything for 30 min leaves me with a nasty taste in
my mouth...my gum is my savior.. I do notice a bit more gas but for me it
is worth it!!!!!!!
— pjlewis1
April 26, 2008
No one ever told me that I shouldn't chew gum. 1 week after surgery I
tried a piece because my mouth was always so dry and boy o boy I paid for
it. I dumped for about an hour and a half. I never wanted to feel that way
again. But now after 2 months out I tried it again because I asked my
doctor and he said it was fine as long as I don't swallow it (I never have)
and now I'm fine and I really don't get any gas from it. I will say that
the protein drinks make me have gas for about an hour after I drink them
but it's never been painful.
— lalabear110
April 26, 2008
I was never told anything about gum. I have chewed gum since my surgery and
have not had any problems. I chew Orbit gum because it's sugarless. I read
the other responses to your question and learned some things myself. I
didn't realize that it can cause gas. Makes sense though.
— Sillyguts
April 26, 2008
I was told to not chew gum due to from someone elses bad experience in one
of the groups that i used to go to swallowed it and it got stuck resulting
in her having to have surgery to remove it. I used to chew it a few months
ago I stopped due to i swallowed it and got scared thinking it was going to
get stuck and not go down. It used to give me major gas making me hungry a
lot quicker also. It saved me days when I had nothing to do and chewed it
to help me keep my mind off eating. Sounds weird but it helped me stop
eating so regularly and while I was busy made me work faster it seems and
time just flew by for me. The gas is not fun while chewing it.
— mspisces
April 26, 2008
I don't chew gum, but I eat sugarfree mints quite a bit.
— daisyrock3
April 26, 2008
Hi: I asked my surgeon about this in January and he is ok with me chewing
gum. I did not chew it for the first maybe 6 months but I enjoy chewing
gum and I started back to chew it and I dont get gas from chewing gum and I
chew ALOT Of gum daily. And I also swallow my gum often (bad habit have
and don't realize I am swallowing it until after it is too late) and I have
not had any problems from that at all. Good luck to you!
— Stephanie B.
April 27, 2008
Chewing gum is an appetite stimulant, that is the main reason, same
w/caffeine. But the gum can also block the opening to your intestines.
— redlilies
April 27, 2008
I was told the same for the main reason being that if I accidentally
swallowed the gum it would probably (99.9% likely) block the stoma and the
surgeon would have to go get it out. This means NG tubes and all kinds of
yucky stuff and being back in the hospital. Secondarily, I think if your
stomach tends to get irritated easily the "drainage" from chewing
gum could enflame your pouch and cause gastritis. My bet is on swallowing
it and having to have surgery to get it back out because it will cause
total blockage. Not a good idea. I still do it, but short term and throw
it out real quick. :-)
Yours, Jo Ann
— PedalSteelGirl
April 27, 2008
My surgeon said not to chew gum because of the possiblity of excess gas and
the gum would affect the amount of water you would feel the need to drink.
I used to chew alot of gum and I changed that during the programs 3 months
pre-op and now I don't miss it. Good luck. Paula
— Paula K.
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