Why no straws??

I was just wondering why Dr. Bour doesn't want us to use straws. I know because of the air and gas but I was wondering if it could stretch the pouch. I find it a lot easier to get the protein in if I can drink it out of a straw. I am not drinking it to fast because I don't feel overfilled when I am finished. I should have called Chris today but it was too late before I thought about it. I just tried to drink one of my shakes with no straw and it separated and got all yucky before I could fini**** I guess this goes back to my wild drinking days when you drank through a straw to get drunk faster. Rachel

Hey girl, hope your doing better this week! The last optifast meeting I went to covered the "NO straws" thing. All she said was it puts too much air into your pouch, no mention that it could cause any other problems. I guess the air can cause you to feel full faster and burp alot or poot alot, lol. I will have a problem not being able to use a straw, especially if I go out to eat, I can't stand putting my mouth on a glass, I know it's strange but that's how I am. Heck I guess if the glass has germs then it will be in the drink too, but, you know how phobias go, no real reason for them. So that's all I know about the straws. You take care and keep up the great weight loss! Mary

I can handle the pooting and burping. LOL!! I work around children all day so I can blame it on those around me. I just don't want to stretch my pouch. I used a straw a couple of times to get in my shake before it got nasty and it worked fine. I had no gas. I did feel a little full but I had just drake a protein shake so I should have!! Did she mention anything about stretching the pouch? Rachel

No, she didn't mention anything about stretching the pouch, just about the fullness and gas, lol! Mary

Someone might have said this already....but because you will drink too much air and you don't want air in your pouchie when you drink Its tough at first, and habit too, but even at one year post op...no straws Glad to know you are on full liquids...food now YEAH!!!! Deb

many people (me included) drink through straws with no problem. it won't stretch the pouch and some believe that the extra air (i have no problem with "extra air") will just fill you up faster. by the way, many (not just a couple) of docs believe the straw thing is crap. i believe with all my heart dr. bour is among the most compete bariatric surgeons anywhere. i wouldn't have trusted anyone else and have no regrets, but he is human and "ain't always right"!!! you have to listen to your body. i'm not saying don't follow orders but some things are common sense. if you can handle it fine, if not don't.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, YOU MADE MY DAY!!! LOL I tried drinking my protein shake without a straw this morning and couldn't get it down as well. (only got about 1/2 of it down) I know I drink it faster with the straw but it gets it down. It doesn't give me gas. I'm not having any problems with liquids. I can drink pretty much the way I did before surgery. I've been freaking that I already stretched my pouch to no return!!! I'm so ready for food. It will be so much easier to get my protein in when I can have bars and real food. Thanks again and have a great day! Rachel

ok, i was writing so fast that apparently i am incompetent!! i hate spelling stuff wrong and leaving proof........

lol I did the same thing....would drink a whole protein shake and think I stretched my pouch! You can't do it on liquids, and I heard it is VERY hard to stretch your pouch. The ONE thing that can stretch your pouch is if you were to puke non stop for days, that could do it, but only a little bit. Over time it will "relax" but not stretch soo much. You would have to cram food down all the time and to the point of throwing up to stretch it, so no worries! I am freaking because this morning I was able to eat 1 whole egg cooked with turkey sausage (in a muffin tin) recipe, and 4pcs of strawberries, 1/2 piece of toast and 1pc of bacon crumbled on it!! That is a lot of food for me, so I am wigging out that my pouch is stretched to the size of a football!! I know its just relaxed now, so I know at 13 months I will have to start measuring my food out. You are doing sooo good!!! I am so proud of you!! Can't wait to see your after pics