Straws ..

Got a question about straws .. They told me not to use them because it will put more air in my stomach. is this just for a few weeks after surgery or is this forever? I must admit I drink my protein shakes with a straw and have no problems, but didn't know if I should really be using them.
 

 Personally, my surgeon's office says "for good".  I'm afraid to use a straw - I had post-op complications and am really afraid to do anything to mess things up.  I bet the shakes would go down better though if I could use one!

Your best option is to ask your surgeon.  You may not like the answer, but you'll at least have your answer!

I find that I swallow less air with using a straw. I did avoid them during the first few weeks after surgery, don't seem to have a problem with them now. Check with your MD for their opinion.

Melissa I have seen lots of people on here who do use straws because like Kathy said, they say they swallow less air that way. I'm just over 2 weeks out and have a lot of air issues so have not tried using one, but I sometimes feel it would be easier to get in all my fluids if I did. I may try it when I'm a little further out and see how it feels. (Doc rules say no forever.)

Darlene, I don't blame you after all you've been thru. Take it easy and follow all your doc's rules. We want you to have an easy road from here on out!

Rhonda

Brain Fart- that was supposed to be Darlene, not Colleen!

Sorry, that was supposed to be Darlene, not Colleen! OH never allows my edits to go thru, don't know why, so can't correct any mistakes once posted!

I also use straws although I did stay away from them for about 2 months post op.  I believe the theory is that you swallow more air when drinking through a straw but I find it to be less.  It also helps when I am trying to choke down a protein shake (I don't always do well with the taste) because the straw allows me to direction what I'm drinking toward the back of my throat so it isn't hitting my taste buds in the same way it would if I was drinking it from the glass.  Does that make any sense?  Probably not, but I often don't make sense!  LOL!

Colleen

When I woke up after surgery, I had one of those hopital mugs with the big straws in it next to me on my bedside stand. It is the "sucking air" they want us to avoid. I have never had a problem from straws, at least not that I have noticed. But it is best to do as your doc says.. so ask away! pART OF IT TOO, MAY BE TO KEEP FROM PUTTING PRESSURE ON YOUR INTERNAL WOUNDS BY BUILDING UP THE "VACCUME" WE DO IN ORDER TO SUCK A STRAW. OOPPPSSS sorry for the caps!

my surgeon office want us to avoid straws because we can't control how mush we drink not  for the air