Can you chew chewing gum post op? I am thinking it would be a good way to chew something in the liquid stage but I am not sure if it would get my stomach doing something it shouldn't!

Let me know if you have been told either way or have experience. Thanx

I was told not to chew gum for at least a month out. I'm guessing because of the chance of accidentally swallowing it, but maybe there's another reason.

I actually had a dream a few nights ago I was chewing gum and swallowed it and it screwed up the band. And I don't even chew gum!

Nothing should happen while chewing gum but just remember as kids are told, do not swallow it. Eventually it will go away but you wouldn't want it to accidently stick to your side wall of your new stomach and cause nutritional food that needs to go down there to have any problems.

Chewing gum lets in air and causes gas, not pleasant.

I was told no gum, and as far as I know that is forever. Like Michee said, it is an air issue, like carbonated soda.

I wasnt told one way or the other about chewing gum. I have been chewing it without any problem. I like to use it to moisten my mouth and freshen it after eating until I can drink water.

I wasnt told one way or the other about chewing gum. I have been chewing it without any problem. I like to use it to moisten my mouth and freshen it after eating until I can drink Water.

I am with Pammycakes on this one. I have never had a problem and I chew it everyday.

Josephine

I chew daily and it doesn't give me any problems.

My surgeon told me the reason they say not to chew gum for a month or so post op is the same reason you can't drink out of a straw. You swallow too much air opening and closing your mouth. Thats why they want you to wait.

Don't swallow it. There have been bandsters that swallowed it and it was stuck for quite a while. Do a search on gum and you will find a lot of threads.

I was told that if you swallow it, it can cause an obstruction. I do believe there are a few posts on here to that effect...

Gum can block your stoma and does not easily break down- at this point I am too afraid to chew it!

Yep...I started a thread a while back.

Had gum, swallowed gum, ER and under a general to retrieve it by GI docs.

I was having convulsions as my body was trying to throw it up...but it was stuck.

yeppers...no more gum for me!

chew it every day. I have since 1 day post op. My doc says it's not an issue.

I attended a seminar before my surgery and was told chewing gum generates as much as a quart of saliva which is way too much for a newly banded pouch to hold.

I found this to be true the first few months post banding but now I can chew gum for a little bit before needing to spit it out.

Like Pammycakes, I like to use it to moisten my mouth after eating. I haven't noticed a soliva problem, but I don't have restriction yet, my first fill is next Friday.

As for air, this one is simple, chew with your mouth closed the way your mother taught you.

I don't know about you all, but I go in and out of ketosis and when I'm in, my breath is horrendous! My husband doesn't even want to kiss me. I chew gum to freshen my breath.