I am new, and I have my first Dr visit Wednesday at 10am...I have been reading quite a few concerns on the liquid diet after surgery and many people still need to chew something...Can anyone give some advise on chewing suger free gum???? Can we have it??????:confused2:

My Dr. says no, because of the risk of swallowing it and getting it stuck, which ay require a visit to the ER. But I have to admit, I still have a piece after meals, I just try to be careful.

I've given up gum. I've seen too many people in pain for days and days because a piece they've accidentally swallowed gets stuck. There's no way it's worth it.

I had the urge to chew, so I chewed ice. Satisfied the urge + added to my daily Water intake, and usually felt really good going down. Have you tried ice? If you swallow a piece unchewed, at least it will melt. Can't say the same for gum.

The gum really is kind of a no-no. Not only is there a risk of swallowing, albeit low, if it gets stuck you will end up with an endoscopy. Also, it produces air in the stomach which is not good. So in a word should you chew it; NO. My opinion is it is just not worth the risk.

Wow this is new to me. I never knew this. My doc never said I couldn't have it. I've been chewing it everyday. I never accidently swallowed gum before so I think I'll be ok.

Oh, I should have thought of this earlier, but one other point on the gum. It makes you salivate much, much more than normal. If you're like me and tend to be tighter earlier in the day, the extra salivation from chewing gum can lead to some discomfort.

Just keep your fingers crossed, I guess. No one's going to tell you not to do it, but everyone has never swallowed gum, until that one time it happens.

I've been thinking about this now...I don't wanna give up gum...I love gum. It helps me when I'm craving sweets too. Man! I'm so upset about this!

I have never had a problem with gum....I have tons of sugarless gum....I'm grown, so I know not to swallow it, so I don't see where it could hurt. For me, it actually curbs the hunger.....

Chewing encourages stomach acids that break down the food in your stomach quicker to make room for what it thinks is coming. In sort, chewing gum makes the stomach think something is coming and you will be hungry sooner than you would if you don't chew. The stomach acids attempts to digest the food that is there to allow room for what the brain is telling it is coming. Even though nothing is coming, the stomach and brain only knows that you are chewing and sends signals that something is coming in. (hope this makes sense).