I am pre-op and going through my desk drawers and kitchen, purging some things I won't be able to have for at least some time (donating to happy coworkers)... and I have a lot of gum, oddly. I *think* I read somewhere that you shouldn't chew gum after surgery because if you swallow it you can't pass it? Is that true? Sorry if silly question.

Also, can you have mints after surgery, or do they cause you to produce too much saliva?

I was told may times, NO GUM!!! I still don't chew it though it is probably fine now.(5 years out).

Not sure about mints. I know they said we could have those Listerine "sheets" that melt in your mouth but give you fresh breath.

Yeah, they gave me like a 200 page manual on the do's and don'ts of exercise, mental health, diet, etc... but no mention of gum.

If they didn't mention it, they are not considering gum and hope you aren't either. When I was a teen-age Frustr8 I used to eat gum during my afternoon classes to stave off hunger, imagine what sorrows I would encounter with a dime-sized stoma between my pouch and intestine? Haven't chewed any since July, and it, like NSAIDS are forever gone from my life!!!

Sleeved here .... but no issue with gum whatsoever.

15 minutes ago, sillykitty said:

Sleeved here .... but no issue with gum whatsoever.

I think the issue is if you swallow it? ... which I notoriously do. Just wanted to know if it would come out the other end! lol.

Yes, the issue is completely if you swallow it. Apparently many people do and they just want to make sure this doesnt happen because it could cause problems. It is really the only reason to not chew gum.

My nutritionist has said that sugar free gum is okay. I haven't tried it yet. I think the issue is if you swallow it.

On 10/11/2018 at 9:29 AM, mousecat88 said:

I am pre-op and going through my desk drawers and kitchen, purging some things I won't be able to have for at least some time (donating to happy coworkers)... and I have a lot of gum, oddly. I *think* I read somewhere that you shouldn't chew gum after surgery because if you swallow it you can't pass it? Is that true? Sorry if silly question.

Also, can you have mints after surgery, or do they cause you to produce too much saliva?

My doctor said no gum. Puts to much air in your gi tract but she said I could do sugar free mints as long as I could tolerate the sweetness.

I don't because I notoriously swallow it. And since I had my sleeve done on the 17th of October I read all of my manual and it says no gum. For folks like me

Edited October 28, 20187 yr by Tyebee