Post op i know we are not supposed to chew gum. In case we accidentally swallow an lodge it. But i never "accidentally" swallowed gum before ever in my life. Im a grazer i chew gum to keep my mind off of food an keep my mouth busy.

Has anyone chewed gum or had any problems with it?? If not to chew gum any other ideas for a grazer?

I get horrible stomach cramps within minutes of chewing gum. I can drink through a straw and drink soda which my Dr. said would do the same but gum gives me horrible pains. I've tried a few different times with the same outcome each time. I've moved on to breathmints. I was banded 10/04/11. I've read on here that others have no problems with gum...trial and error.

I am not a gum chewer, wasn't really before surgery either. I don't know if it would get stuck, I swallow pills that are bigger than some pieces of gum. If it did get stuck, would it not come up like stuck food does? Would stomach juices dissolve it eventually? I have no clue...

Here's my doctor's response to a bypass patient's question about gum:

Kim,

I don't think there's any problem with gum. I don't know why a prohibition of gum crept into the WLS mythology.

Dr. Callery

I started chewing it because about a week after surgery I felt like I had horrible breath all the time. I have never before surgery had a problem with swallowing gum and don't think I will now. It doesn't upset my stomach or anything.

pre-banding I always chewed gum, but it used to give me gas. post-band, i haven't tried it because I have enough gas

I don't chew gum because I developed a terrible habit of swallowing my gum when done with it. I know that if I chewed gum now, I might accidentally swallow it by and run the risk of it getting lodged.

I chew mints or sugar-free hard candies instead now.

I accidentally swallowed it the gum broke down in my mouth and I swallow some of it.. is this serious with a sleeved patient 6 weeks out .. scared

Not good but still not as bad as it would be for a bypass patient. Our stoma is the size of a dime, most or less, between our new stomach and our RnY, also known in the medical community as a "j/j" , now THAT could easily,get blocked.
FYI back,im the day when I was a teenager and the Ghrelin Monster would attack , I would eat gum to,keep him quiet until I could get home to Mama and Real Food!
Not bragging-Not Complaining, merely stating a FACT.