Why is it that the doctors don't want us drinking from a straw? Is it the volume of what we would swallow? I'm trying to figure this out. On two different occasions now I have accidently drank with a straw. Just curious what you all think?

I was told drinking from a straw will cause air to go down with your fluids and cause burping which could cause band slip.

After Surgery they do not want you to drink through a straw because you swallow air, which will expand your stomach. The same is so w/ soda and gum they are to be avoided. Hope this was helpfull

my doctor told me that it will take a lot more then burping to have a slip. He actually recommends using straws. He said burping will release the pressure in your chest.

My doctor advises against straws to prevent swallowing of air. Says swallowing of air will increase discomfort from gas pains.

This is his recommendation only for the immediate post-op period. After we quit having incision and gas pains we can use straws or not as we please.

Hmmm, I don't remember if I was ever told not to use straws or not. Oh well, I've been using a straw to drink my soup broth but that's it.

when drinking through a straw you swallow air which in turn gives you increased gas.. if your band is tight you will get that tightness in your chest.. found this out the hard way.. ouch.. just take small sips and do not glup

When I had surgery back on Aug.3,2010....I was put on a straw diet for four weeks! My Dr. never said anything about not using straws! Go figgur':rolleyes:

I was told that drinking from a straw makes it hard for you to judge how fast you are taking in fluids and it should be avoided post op and after fills

My surgeon doesn't have this rule. He suggests that in the immediate postop period, it can increase discomfort due to gas.

I tend not to use straws for this reason--but it's not really a big deal, IMO.

Thanks for the answers folks. I have always been a straw drinker and it seems I can get more fluid in me with a straw. I'm only 8 days post op so I think I will hold off for a while. Thanks!

I was told NOT to drink from a straw. One day I realized as I was drinking my decaf iced coffee - opps I've been drinking from a straw for weeks and I'm not supposed to. Well I continued to drink from a straw for weeks after that. I was also noticing that wow I'm burping and well farting A LOT! Stopped drinking from a straw about one month ago - incredible difference. I no longer burp at all! Just my experience!

I was told for my initial post-op diet to only drink liquids that are thin enough to drink through a straw, but not to use an actual straw to drink them as that would cause increased burping and gas.

my doc told me not to use a straw....he said with a straw its easy to take in too much liquids at once..................I always use straws .......... and I always feel like the liquids are stuck...when will I ever learn??? anyways im using them less and less

I was told NOT to drink from a straw. One day I realized as I was drinking my decaf iced coffee - opps I've been drinking from a straw for weeks and I'm not supposed to. Well I continued to drink from a straw for weeks after that. I was also noticing that wow I'm burping and well farting A LOT! Stopped drinking from a straw about one month ago - incredible difference. I no longer burp at all! Just my experience!

:puke::lol:ROTFLMAO:lol:...that gave me the best laugh!! I love how honest you guys are on this board!! I get the best laughs!! As for drinking from a straw, I was told no also, and have done it a couple of times and not been bothered, I feel like I take less air in with a straw..but with or without a straw...I have never burped since surgery and oh sometimes I wish i could...but it never happens. Before surgery, i could burp with the best of them...I miss that relief from it though I know that!!

My surgeon doesn't want us to drink from straws either.. Several months ago I started my quest for the perfect water bottle. One that fits in my car cup holder, keeps drinks cold, and easy to drink from while driving. I found a great one it held 25oz of water, it fit in the cup holder and i could twist it open with one hand..... but it had a straw.. I tried it anyway and I was drinking 4-5 bottles of water a day.... until one day when I had such bad gas pains in my back and chest that I thought I was having a heart attack.. at my next drs appt they told me it was because I was taking in too much air from drinking with a straw.. and I'm still on my quest for the perfect water bottle..:smile2: