Question:
Can you chew sugar-free gum post op w/out gas?

Hi, I am 5 weeks post op lap-rny. I chewed sugar free gum a few weeks ago w/no problem, but this past week when I tried to chew gum it made me uncomfortable. What's the verdict on gum?    — laura T. (posted on June 24, 2001)

June 24, 2001
You should not chew any type of gum - EVER!!!! Your stoma is very small now and if you accidentally swallow gum, it could get stuck. Normally, with food, this isn't a big deal because it will eventually break down. As we know, gum does not break down and to get it out of there, they will have to perform endoscopy. So, in my book, I wouldn't chew gum anymore. Just to be safe.
   — Dawn R.

June 24, 2001
I chew SF gum on occasion. My surgeon said just don't swallow it. So as soon as the flavor is gone out of the gum I throw it away.
   — [Anonymous]

June 25, 2001
I chew gum all the time, sugar-free, no gas problems. As for NEVER chewing gum again because of the risk of swalling it -- technically, this is correct because the gum won't break down. However, I don't think this justifies such an extreme response. I can't remember the last time I swallowed gum, accidently or otherwise, can you?
   — [Anonymous]

December 3, 2001
I don't know about all WLS people out there, but I don't think I have swallowed gum since I was 5, so unless the Surgery makes me revert to Childish behaviors like swallowing gum I don't think this should be a problem. To the lady that said do not chew gum EVER, grow up a little...
   — sbinkerd1

December 3, 2001
May be the sugar alcohols in it. Some simply don't tolerate them, even a little. Check your labels for the "itols", maltitol, manitol, sorbitol..... You may be able to tolerate them in time. My dad's a normie and he cannot tolerate them. I'm a distal and should not be able to, but I can do reasonable amounts of them.
   — vitalady

December 3, 2001
I chew gum fairly often. Maybe I am childish, but I have swallowed my gum twice in the past year, once laughing so hard the gum was gone before I knew it & once when I took a real header on my skis. Both times I kind of wondered what would happen & really watched & waited for any signs of trouble.............nothing. I continued life as normal & went on to chew another day. ps: I do other childish things, too, like running & skipping & playing hide & seek with my dogs. That's my confession for the day.
   — [Anonymous]

August 25, 2003
I was told never to chew gum because it could get stuck in the stoma. I was one of those kids and adults that swallowed gum. Hey, it always passed fine before and it beat leaving it on the street or under a desk! I have been tempted a couple of times but since I've never found a sf gum I like it hasnt been much of a problem.
   — Amy G.

September 23, 2004
I 'discovered' that chewing gum the first couple of weeks after surgery satified my need to 'chew' something. I didn't have a problem with it and my doctor told me that it should be just fine - as long as I didn't swallow it.
   — Paulene A.