Straws

[Dawn 16]

So my NUT says not to drink through a straw because you intake too much air and that will "stretch your stomach". Has anyone else heard this?

Now I don't really believe in the whole streching of my stomach because of the research I have read that says you basically can't really stretch it out that much because that part of your stomach has been removed. But I am curious if drinking through a straw can "damage" it some how?

I didn't touch a straw until we went out to dinner over the holidays and then it hit me like HOURS later that I had been using a straw! I haven't experienced anything bad from drinking through the straw (have done it a few more times) but if it really is going to "hurt" me then I won't do it anymore!

[thinoneday 445]

So my NUT says not to drink through a straw because you intake too much air and that will "stretch your stomach". Has anyone else heard this?

Now I don't really believe in the whole streching of my stomach because of the research I have read that says you basically can't really stretch it out that much because that part of your stomach has been removed. But I am curious if drinking through a straw can "damage" it some how?

I didn't touch a straw until we went out to dinner over the holidays and then it hit me like HOURS later that I had been using a straw! I haven't experienced anything bad from drinking through the straw (have done it a few more times) but if it really is going to "hurt" me then I won't do it anymore!

I was given a straw to use the day of surgery and have been using them ever since and i'm 1 year out. . . if your nut say don't then i guess don't but it has helped me get my fluids in really well cause i love drinking from straws. . . no it won't stretch out the tummy. . .that is dumb I think

[Dawn 16]

I really try to "follow" what my NUT says but I'm here first sleeve patient! My doc told me not to use one in the begining and I'm now over 8 weeks out so I think I'll be fine. I don't use one everyday but if I grab a tea or something while out then I'll use it!!

[PlannerGirl 3]

I was always a straw drinker….I just really like them, don't ask me why, I don't know. At my last appointment with my surgeon about 6 weeks post op, I asked if I could ever use one again and he laughed and said yes, use one now. He told me they discourage it right after surgery as you tend to drink more and faster with a straw but that's not an issue any more.

If your drink of choice is something that could stain your teeth, you'll be thankful for straws as it helps the liquid bypass your teeth all together.

[Kris 78]

I was given straws with my beverages while in the hospital recovering from VSG and have been using them every day since I got home with no problems. I also got LOTS of dos and don'ts from my surgeon after surgery, and not using straws was not on the list of don'ts. I really don't notice any difference in how I feel when I drink through a straw and when I sip other ways (i.e., sipping Soup from a spoon, or sipping tea from a cup). Maybe I swallow air no matter how I swallow ... LOL. I do find drinking with a straw helps me because I like straws and more likely to get in my fluids using a straw than just flat out sipping.

I guess this is just one of those things that varies depends on who the surgeon is.

I also bought some great double-insulated cups from World Market that come with a "permanent" straw made out of hard plastic. I love them. They keep cold beverages cold for a long time and when it takes an hour to drink a cup, that's a godsend. And I don't feel guilty about throwing away straws and putting them in the waste stream.