At my appointment with the nutritionist she mentioned that they don't want patients to chew gum because if it gets swallowed, it can get stuck. I had never heard this before. I chew gum all the time and it helps keep me from wanting to eat as much. I was thinking it would be crucial during the liquid phaze. Now she's got me paranoid, even though I haven't swallowed my gum since grade school. So do you chew gum? Did your doctor tell you not to?

If I have to give up my gum, I'm not going to be too happy!

My doctor recommends no gum and no hard candies (same reasons as for gum) - risks of getting stuck, excess air swallowed.

I chew gum all the time, it helps me not snack on foods I shouldn't be snacking on.

Oh Please! No gum? How much more can I give up!!!

Seriously, I have always been a gum chewer- it kept me from needing as many cigarettes during the day and saved the day when i quit smoking ( 3 weeks shy of 1 year!) It does take the place of grazing during the day. My dr never said anything about it and I do not swallow it. There is always a pack of trident on my desk and another in the drawer. Am I replacing one vice for another? yah, probably- wanna make somethng about it!!!???

Hi,

There is a woman at our local support group who was a huge gum chewer and, low and behold, she accidentally swallowed a peice after being banded. She suffered for two days before going to the doctor because she was so embarassed. Her doctor unfilled her and the gum went right through.

She strongly advised gum chewing now!

Funny, the morning after surgery, I went to the store to buy foods that I could eat. I was chewing gum and got tired of it. I had no where to throw it out and out of habit, just swallowed it. I immediately panicked and imagined having to have "surgery to remove it". After calling my doctor, he said I probably would be okay (I was) but to call if I had any problems. His nurse laughed at the situation. I guess it could have been a real problem, but it turned out okay. I'm very careful now when I chew gum.

Carol, I know where your going through.. I swear about 5 days after My breath was so bad, I though why does my mouth taste like a arm pit, it was so bad I got up during a meeting and went to the 7-11 to get mouth wash, now I carry a little bottle of mouthwash with me all the time.