Do you chew Gum?

If you have had the WLS (RNY) do you chew gum? I have not chewed any and I know that my surgeon and nutritionist said not too because of the risks of swallowing it or whatever. I am just wondering if that is forever or was just for the first few months. I would like to chew some sugar free gum sometimes. And what if you are flying, I always had to chew gum when I fly because of the ear thing. Not that I plan on flying anytime soon but it would be good to know that if I ever wanted to chew gum again in my life, I could. So, do you chew gum and what have you been told about it? Misty

I'm not a gum chewer but, I have been told that if the gum is swallowed it poses a protential risk of blocking the stoma. I guess if you are very careful to never swallow the gum, and you chew sugarless, there shouldn't be too much of a problem with it. I wonder if the risk of problems from the sugar alcohols may also be a factor.

yeah they told me not to chew gum because of the risks of swallowing it... but when have you ever swallowed it on acident before???so yes, i chew gum. i make sure its sugarless ( i chew orbit ) and i am careful... but yeah i say go for it.

Hi Misty, I chew gum too. I always like to make sure my breath smells good. It seemed to me that a couple of months after surgery my breath was rank. But all is back to normal now. Mike

I do chew gum, the only risk is swallowing. I have been chewing it since about 3 months post op and haven't swallowed any. Darlene

I sometimes chew gum. But I make sure to spit it out soon. OK I am going to fess up. I have been a chronic gum swallower my entire life. I don't know why. My parents taught me to spit my gum out... as did my teachers! haha But I had this evil wicked desire to swallow instead of spit. So... I cannot chew the gum very long. Just long enough to get the sweet out of it, then I have to get it out... and each time I put in a new piece of gum, the thought goes through my head, "OH MY GOD, DID I SWALLOW GUM LAST TIME I CHEWED IT?" Every single time... So I probably should not chew gum... I just am very very very cautious. It helps my breath, and also after eating to get stuff out between my teeth... other than that, not a big gum chewer.