heres a question, i know we were told not to drink thru straws, ever. But what are the complications of it, besides sucking down air? i have very sensitive teeth and its hard to drink liquids without a straw. am i stretching my belly out?

Oh dear I was never told not to use straws!!!!

im hoping its like chewing gum, and a preference of the doctor

I find I swallow more air without a straw than I do with one. Your surgeon told you not to chew gum either???? Oh man I missed that one too!

I was told not to use a straw for the first few weeks after surgery. But no one ever mentioned no gum...what's the reason?

Wow, I would be lost without straws or gum...

No straws & no gum chewing were told to me in both the hospitals programs I was/ am in.

Straws bring more air into your pouch, which can cause your stoma to strech and cause gas. Gum chewing is gas producing. Gas = disconfort. I was also told that if you chew gum, you are wasting time as you should be sipping water since we have to drink all day anyways!

I very very raely chew gum... too much gas and well straws are bad, i don't like them... 9.8 times out of 10, I toss the straw from my iced coffee

This is just what I was told.

I was told the same as our darling, Marla.
I figure this post-WLS life is restrictive but, shoot, I'd rather live a restrictive, healthy life than be MO & die early.

Using straws and sucking in the air can cause abdominal discomfort.

Chewing gum gives the risk of swallowing the gum... a huge no no. If you swallow the gum, they doctor might have to go in and retrieve it for you...

I chew gum.. but am very careful... and once I get my fresh breath or the food out of my teeth, I spit it out... in the beginning, I always thought, "oh my God! Last time, I don't remember if I swallowed it or not!" And it freaked me out... I used to be a gum swallower as a kid...

Some have said that they accidentally swallowed gum before, and the docs don't want that to even be a possibility... thus, rule for no gum.

I was also told no gum and no straws --- gum b/c if swallowed it would have to be retrieved, and straws b/c of taking in air (although no one ever said anything about stretching out the stoma).

Personally, I chew gum on occasion, for about 2 -3 minutes, then spit it out. I was a gum swallower, and I'm afraid I'll swallow it and cause problems.

I use a straw on occasion, and I personally haven't had any problems -- for what it's worth!

I too was told no straws and no gum for all of the above reasons. The gum scared me the most!

Gum really scared me too. Still does kind of...I mean, can you imagine having indigestible stuff in your pouch? However, I don't think that you really suck down more air with a straw than you do with normal drinking. As long as the straw stays submerged and you don't slurp around at the bottom of the glass. Also there is always burping to expel any extra air.

As long as you don't swallow the straw, I think you'll be alright. The straw precaution is for the first few weeks after surgery because the act of sucking things up puts a little more pressure on your innards--kind of like doing mild situps. If you're okay to do sit ups or crunches, you can use a straw.

Thank you Sandi!!!
I feel better now!!!LOL

I was ok with the gum thing due to bad teeth I don't chew gum!!!

I was told all of the above too. I rarely use a straw but on that rare occasion, it is a Starbuck's cold drink and I have only had two of them since surgery so I don't see that as a problem for me. The gum on the other hand has me so frightened that I probably won't ever chew any again!

thanx u guys, i feel relieved now, ive never been a swallower of gum and i only chew for a few minutes as well, it looses flavor after that lol.

i chew gum occasionally and always use straws and have never had a problem. i'm 5 years out and still doing great.

S~
202/109/119
before/lowest/current
would like to be around 115....i fluctuate up and down 5 lbs.

Gum chewer and straw sipper here too. Was never told it was a no-no. Have never really had a problem, but I'll certainly be more aware now at least.

Would a Sippy cup help with the replacement of a Straw?

Perfect!
This is exactly what I was told...
:-)

Wow....I never heard of the gum swallowing...I've done it with no problems but I was told no straws or soda for the first 3 months. After 3 months my doc said I could use straws & drink soda (SF of course) I don't like soda but I use straws all the time...I'm 5 years post & have never had problems..

I was told gum was a no-no, but I'm a rebel ;) (but always really careful) I honestly can't remember if they said anything about straws, but soda was a no-no also - unless it was sf and flat. But who likes flat soda?? Pre surgery, I lived on Diet Pepsi. Now 2 1/2 years out, I have a soda maybe once a week - but I always use straws for water and ice tea.