Question:
why can't we chew gum? I love gum and i'm 6wks. post op.
— krysta M. (posted on August 12, 2002)
August 12, 2002
hi there, ive heard its because it could be very serious if you swallow it
on accident i dont know if there is any other reason i chew occasionally i
havent swallowed it :)
— carrie M.
August 12, 2002
Hi Krysta!
My dr. told me that swallowing the gum could be bad because they'd have to
go down with a scope to get it and another factor is that you swallow air
when you chew it. It could cause excess gas, etc.... I chew it and feel
fine--- (Actually, it makes me burp!) It shouldn't be bad, but watch out
for the real sugary one's. Take care!
— imjomama365
August 12, 2002
Hi! I had surgery on 7/30, and had an awful taste in my mouth while in the
hospital. So, I decided to compromise on the gum thing from now on. I put
it in my mouth, chew until the "flavor explosion" is gone, then
spit it out... like 3-5 minutes. It's working for me so far. Good luck!
:)
— Kelly B.
August 12, 2002
I chew gum all the time. Have all my life. I had never heard of this non
gum chewing issue till I was about 6 months post op. Sounds kinda silly to
me. Are we not grown people that can spit out gum if needed? And I have
swollowed larger pieces of food than the gum. How on earth could it get
stuck to the point you have to have a scope to fish it out? I'm not trying
to discount anyones information, I'm just looking at it from a common sense
point of view.
— RebeccaP
August 12, 2002
Hi..I am 6 months post-op and chew gum a lot, have been since about a month
or so post. I've had no problems at all.
— Jennifer G.
August 12, 2002
I only chew once in awhile. (If I could find the CLOVE gum I love I'd chew
often). I thought I heard that IF you accidently swallow gum, you need to
drink something very hot... tea, coffee? And that the warmth would allow
the gum to stay soft and pass out with no problem. At least I thought I
heard that somewhere. Perhaps someone else knows if that is true. But I'm
afraid I'll accidently swallow, so I don't chew to often.
— Danmark
August 12, 2002
I have never swallowed my gum, and if I did, like the other poster said, it
is much smaller than a piece of food that I swallow. I think that it is a
doctor being overly-cautious.
— Cheri M.
August 12, 2002
I chew gum but am very careful about not swallowing it. Think of the risk
involved and decide if it is worth it to you.
— Marti R.
August 12, 2002
I didn't know that "we" can't. I do, always have. No
problems....can't imagine why there would be. Just don't swallow it,
although I have a few times, accidentally - still no problem....
— Cathy J.
August 13, 2002
My doctor order gum for me while I was in the hospital. I couldn't have
any water or ice chips; so to keep my mouth from getting dry he order my
some gum.
— Patricia L.
August 13, 2002
They talk about this in support group, and how it causes gas. Well, I
cannot relate to them on that. I do chew gum, and I do use a straw when I
want to. Listen to your body, and be careful not to swallow it.
— Tina B.
August 13, 2002
I hadn't chewed gum in ten years. About two weeks ago I totally out of the
blue had this mad craving and have fast become a sugarless Orbitz addict.
I see no reason not to.
— PaulaM
August 13, 2002
I can tell you why I can't chew gum. IT is because I am a swallower. I can
not chew gum with out swallowing it. REmember, your stoma is smaller and
less forgiving then the outlet to your god given stomach, so gum can get
stuck easily. I do crave gum sometimes, but it is something that I REALLY
stay away from. I do not want another surgery...or endoscopy for that
matter!!
— Vicki L.
August 13, 2002
I too am I gum swallower. I don't think I have ever actually spit out a
piece of gum. That's why I don't chew it post op. But I remember my
nutritionist telling me if it gets stuck you CANNOT use meat tenderizer to
get it out like you can for other foods.
— sheltie
August 14, 2002
I was curious, so I looked on FitDay.com to chec the nutritional value of
gum. Those of us counting carbs will be interested to know that all gum,
BOTH sugared and sugarless, has between 1.5 and 2 grams of carbohydrate in
each piece! This could be a problem if you chew several pieces each day.
— [Deactivated Member]
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