Can someone tell me why we cant use s straw.?.. I enjoy my shakes with a straw

We tend to swallow a lot more air when using a straw.

This explains it well, but do follow your doctor's guidelines: https://www.bariatriceating.com/2016/06/159477/

There is also this:https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/recovering_from_bariatric_surgery/

Flatulence

Everyone has gas in their digestive tract. Bariatric patients have a shortened bowel, which can cause gas to be more odorous and expelled more forcefully. Gas comes from two main sources: swallowed air and normal breakdown of certain foods by harmless bacteria that are naturally present in the large intestines.

Foods high in carbohydrates cause gas; those high in fat and protein cause very little.

The foods that are known to cause more gas are beans, vegetables, some fruits, soft drinks, whole grains, wheat, bran, cow's milk and cow's milk products, foods containing sorbitol and dietetic products.

To help prevent flatulence:

• Eat your meals more slowly, chewing food thoroughly.
• Lactose intolerance is generally the culprit of gas. Discontinue eating all cow's milk products. Yogurt is OK.
• Avoid chewing gum and hard candy.
• Avoid drinking with a straw.
• Eliminate carbonated beverages.
• Remedies for flatulence include Lactobacillus acidophilus (a probiotic or "good bacteria" that aids digestion), natural chlorophyll and simethicone.

Edited January 19, 20197 yr by 2shea

You *can* and I fought my team tooth and nail about it... I still had great results

BUT

I suspect it's the reason I have larger sleeve capacity today. Know what you are getting into and weight the risks/rewards.

I "trained" myself about 5 weeks prior to surgery to stop using a straw because I knew I wouldn't be allowed to use one after I got my sleeve done and it worked . . . although I would rather use a straw, I have adjusted and know that I'd drink too quickly and take in too much air if I used one. So I just sip out of a Tervis Tumbler.

Straws can let more air into your stomach. My program allows straws to be used at 6 weeks post-op.

I have heard that if you must use a straw, the tiny sippy straws that come on boxed drinks are better to use than the normal ones (which can cause you to draw in a lot of air.) It wasn't specified in my program oddly, but I choose not to use them, since I already have other pains and don't want to add more into the mix. XD

It's discouraged by my Dr's team too. For the fact that you can swallow air. But this last meeting the nutritionist said that if you're good at drinking from one without swallowing air that it's ok. She said that generally those who usually drink from straws pre surgery are those who do the best post surgery with them. IDK, I'm just staying away from them, tummys still healing.

On 1/19/2019 at 9:19 PM, GradyCat said:

I "trained" myself about 5 weeks prior to surgery to stop using a straw because I knew I wouldn't be allowed to use one after I got my sleeve done and it worked . . . although I would rather use a straw, I have adjusted and know that I'd drink too quickly and take in too much air if I used one. So I just sip out of a Tervis Tumbler.

So glad to see I am not the only one.
I have been doing the same thing and have truly struggled with sipping instead of using a straw.

I use a straw...I really try but its just to hard for me

My doctor said it is ok to use a straw. He said there is zero scientific evidence that it has any ill effect. It won't stretch your pouch and there is no evidence that we take in more air than we should. He said zero, it is old, out-dated information.

I've been drinking from a straw all day every day since 2 weeks post-op. I have sensitive teeth and won't drink without one except for warm drinks. I'm down over 100 lbs. The straw has not hurt me and in fact, I get far more fluid in each day when I use one. I struggle to get fluid in on days that I don't.