8 days post op and I am not hungry but I realize I am losing my mind because I miss chewing. I don't miss food but chewing. Last night and a couple of other nights....I have taken bites of the dinner I made for my family and chewed until it was complete mush and went to the trash car and spit it out. Then I rinsed my mouth and brushed my teeth. I felt so much better. I didn't miss the food. I missed the actual chewing. Yes, it is consuming a few calories but I will take it for my sanity. Cheers

Just be careful...chewing and spitting can cause stomach ulcers. See links in my sig. Its a slippery slope.

I did that about a week out with a small piece of Brownie but stopped cux its dangerous for me and not worth it.

I agree that it's not recommended. That is the way that many people begin serious eating disorders such as bulemia!

I fully understand your missing chewing though. I went through the same thing.

Someone suggested to me in my early days to chew on ice cubes. It worked great! I got to really chomp down, and it added to my Fluid intake!

Just a thought............

Not chewing is only temporary. Pull yourself up and take control of this journey you are on. You will have to make some sacrifices to be successful if only for a short time. Don't start into any bad habits so early on that will lead to others and eventually lack of success.

I didn't think about ice. Thanks for the tip. Yea, its not the food I miss. Its chewing. Thank you again.

Or you can chew on SF popsicles

Is gum an option, or no?

I have TMJ. No gum. I am not suppose to chew ice but for me....its better than gum.

There is considerable discussion regarding the safety of gum in the VSG patient post-op.

There is a good post (and comments) regarding gum chewing here on VST:

http://www.verticals...no-gum-chewing/

as well as on some other sites:

http://tinyurl.com/cv3ysfy

http://tinyurl.com/cj3g94s

So I guess the official word is "it depends!" Some programs say "yes", others say "no", while others make no mention of it whatsoever. I personally still chew gum on ocassion. No more or less than I did pre-op. It helps my breath (especially if I've eaten something with onions or garlic). It does not create too much excess saliva for me (though it does for some people) and no problems with swallowing air either (again, for me personally).

Once you're settled into a good routine that's not changing too quickly (I would say several weeks into solid foods), if you want to try chewing gum (and it's not disallowed by your surgeon or NUT), then go for it. With caution......

Maybe you could make some ice with crystal light to give it some flavor

I have TMJ. No gum. I am not suppose to chew ice but for me....its better than gum.

I'd you have Sonic where you live....I love getting a sf cherry ice! I can eat on it for nearly an hour!

I'd you have Sonic where you live....I love getting a sf cherry ice! I can eat on it for nearly an hour!

Mastiff_mama,

I am headed to Sonic now. They have sugar free drinks? Yay?