Question:
Anyone found a substitute for gum?

I am a little over a year out, and haven't really missed gum until now. I am absolutely craving it, and you can't go shopping anywhere without seeing it. I won't even risk chewing any because pre-op I rarely ever spit out a piece of gum. I always swallow it, many times unintentionally. I 've tried several chewy sf candies but nothing has gotten rid of the craving.    — sheltie (posted on June 6, 2003)

June 6, 2003
I asked about gum chewing after a woman in the waiting room yelled at me for chewing it in the first place, lol. Noone had ever told me NOT to chew it. Anyway, they said as long as I chew the small peices, like Trident, it would still pass through if I'd happen to swallow it. Gum is one thing I will not give up. :)
   — Jessica C.

June 6, 2003
I chew sugar free Trident.
   — Tami H.

June 6, 2003
I chew gum all the time. I did swallow it once, when I was only about a month post-op. Nothing happened- I'm still here. I learned my lesson though cause it scared the hell out of me! I don't dump, so sugar isn't an issue for me, but I too like sugarless Trident. I would suggest small gum (maybe like Chicklets) just in case you accidentally swallow it. Maybe once you get used to spitting it out, you can graduate to larger pieces of gum. Good luck to you!.......Karen (lap rny-9/20/02- down 145 pounds!!!)
   — karmiausnic

June 7, 2003
Okay, this may be nuts, but how about wheat kernels? I live in WA state, but not being from here, a friend brought in an actual stalk of wheat for me to look at really closely. We plucked off some chaff and little kernels fell out - she had me scoop up a pinch of them and chew - they actually chewed for quite a while, tasted sort of like all-natural wheat bread crossed with nuts. It was pretty good, but I got a tummy ache cause I chewed them so long, my tummy hurt (just like when I chew gum too long). After you're done chewing, I'm sure they are 100% fine to swallow. They were sort of pasty after the cruch was gone, but still good for chewing - but no bubbles! You could probably buy wheat kernels (I think they're called wheat berries?) in natural food stores anywhere.
   — bethybb

June 9, 2003
Nope. I defy the rules of my surgeon and dietician and openly chew Trident for kids. It's sugarless and it's made with the idea in mind that there is a possibility that it could end up being swallowed. Had it not been for the gum, I would have never made it through the liquid phase of my diet because even though I wasn't hungry, I still needed something in my mouth to chew.
   — Amanda S.