So I was just wondering what the consensus was out there about using a straw. I know I was told not to as I would take in too much air. I have not noticed this, however, I can't chew gum. That does make me take in too much air. How do you fellow bandsters out there deal with straws?

I love straws. Always did.... so when my Dr said no straws I was unhappy but followed his advice for the first 6 months. Now I use them in moderation 1-2x per week and make sure to sip and not suck too much air in.

i don't have any issues now with straws, but the first few weeks they caused me alot of gas. now i can use them with no issues.

My doctor said straws are OK if you can handle it. I usually only use them if I'm driving. Be careful chewing gum. If you accidentally swallow it you're in for problems.

My doctor said straws are OK if you can handle it. I usually only use them if I'm driving. Be careful chewing gum. If you accidentally swallow it you're in for problems.

Yeah, I stay away from gum!!

I use them all the time - every morning with my protein shake and when we go out to eat. I have never had any problems with gas from them. My doctor advised me to stay away from them during my post op phase but is now ok with the use.

If you look at how a straw works you'll see that the level of liquid in the straw is the same as the level in the container. From the top of the liquid to the top of the straw

is air. Every time you drink, you swallow that amount of air. If it bothers you, don't do it, if it doesn't cause you distress, you're good to go. But do what your doctor tells

you anyway ; > )

I love straws and have since day one preferred to have them.Truthfully I'm less likely to gulp with a straw.

I agree, I never used straws for about the 1st 18 months. But,now, I use them a lot. I find that I do sip instead of gulp my fruit smoothies. If I don't use one, I tend to drink too much smoothie at one time. Then. I am unhappy, as I have to wait for the smoothie to go down. Yuck! good luck, Karen

I am so glad to read others use a straw, I have not been, but I am having the hardest time and it makes such a mess to go thru a drive thru and poor my drink into something else so it does not make a mess, but than I make a mess pooring it.

In my post-op phases, I never used straws. Now, I actually prefer using a straw. I have a water bottle with a built-in straw and I actually find that I drink MORE water and more frequently when I'm sipping from that water bottle. It really helps me to get my water in each day. But honestly, I think after you've been banded for awhile it's just personal preference and, like a lot of foods, whether or not your band can handle it.

yikes---I don't remember my doc saying anything about using or NOT using a straw! I've been using a straw since day 3 post-op when I was allowed to start full liquids & Protein shakes. Its the only way I can get the Protein shake down.....(somehow, it tastes better with a straw??)

No problems yet--day 8 post op, so guess I am OK?

I was told that using straws was not a good idea, but that if I needed a straw, to bite the end of it while drinking, so that I wouldn't take in as much air.

When I don't use a straw, I tend to spill the drink all over myself, usually when drinking iced tea or Water. LOL

That said, I occasionally use a straw and bite the end the entire time I take a sip. Even if I forget to bite it, I've never had a problem with taking in too much air.

I didn't start using a straw until after about 8 weeks post-op, but even now don't use one all the time for every drink like I did pre-op.

I know a few banded friends that use a straw all the time and don't bother biting it, and they don't have any issues.

You'll find what works for you.

Using a straw is perfectly safe. It's no different than drinking from a cup where you start to sip before the fluid hits your lips. While you may get some extra gas for belching if it helps you drink more then it's worth it.

I was never told to avoid straws. In fact, the surgeon told me to use a straw for everything for the first few days, because it would make me sip more than gulp.

I only use straws in iced coffee that I get when I'm out... honestly I don't find any difference in the amount of air I'm taking in.

Also, I chew gum. I've even swallowed it a few times. OH THE HORRORS. Hasn't been a problem for me. Yet.