Day 6 post op/Is chewing gum OK???

Anyone know if chewing sugarless gum (EXTRA) is OK or not. I love chewing gum and it sure would help with this metallic taste in my mouth constantly! Any suggestions- JoAnne

I am going to say no only because there is the possibility of accidently swallowing it and plugging your new pouch. I would say call your dr and ask them to be safe. So how are you doing today? I hope things are getting better for you. Hugs Judy

Doing OK today, not feeling too great. Glad I didn't just go ahead and chew it. I'll just keep brushing my teeth 5 times a day Thanks for all the input!

DID YOU TRY THE SF CARNATION INSTANT BREAKFAST?? ALSO I HEARD SOMEONE SAY SF TIC TACS WAS OK??? NOT SURE IF IT IS THO..CHECK WITH DR TOMORROW OK??? HANG IN THERE...BETTER DAYS ARE ALOMST HERE!!! HUGS JUDY

My Dr said no. Again, the possiblity of swallowing. Cusi

Well.... i would say a BIG NO. I was allowed, and too, wanted to get rid of the awful taste in my mouth (my Nut says that's the ketones breaking down). Friday night after my visit to the ER (see other post), my mom stopped and got me gum. Come home, sitting here at the computer waiting for pain meds to kick in, chewing the gum, it just slid down my throat w/out me even thinking about it! I panicked, started crying, didn't know what to do. Called the ER doc who had just seen me, told her what I did. She said luckily it was just a piece of Trident and not something larger. She said if I start to vomit or have pain, I'd have to go back to the ER, and in some cases, they have to perform surgery to get it out if it blocked the stoma! I asked if I drank a lot of water if it help, she said it may. I drank 20oz of water, went to bed and prayed, and cried! Woke up the next morning, ate some pudding, took some vitamins, and had some water. Waited a few hours, and all seemed to be fine. They say if something were to happen, it would have happened within a few hours. I threw the gum in the trash immediately and never want to see it again. I have since purchased sugar free lifesavers and sugar free jolly ranchers! and when the metal taste in my mouth is too bad, I rinse with mouthwash.

Michelle- That story is certainly enough evidence to make me not chew gum! You poor thing- I just read your other post. Just take it day by day. I was horrified about the whole "intubation" situation. But it's over. And so is surgery. And even if you took one step back in recouperating, you took a huge step forward by doing the surgery. It'll come one of these days where you feel good. I promise! Take care of yourself- JoAnne

I guess I am the dissenter here. I do chew gum all the time and my surgeon said it was okay as long as I don't swallow it. My favorite is Orbit Citrusmint. Elizabeth

You are going to have that "taste" in your mouth for awhile. But it WILL go away. Its because you are loosing rapidly now. (I wish I was!) Enjoy it because when you get where I am now, loosing weight almost comes to a complete stop, and you really have to work on it! As far as the chewing gum, I would NOT chew it because it promotes air into the pouch. That can make you miserable. I had surgery 9/2005, and that is what our doctor tells us. I don't think that you are far enough out yet to chew gum. you must be VERY careful now. Michelle Allard 298/139/135 Surgery date: 9/20/2005