Do you use a straw?

[lotsabirds 0]

How else ya gonna drink thoses muscle milks etc.? I have my post op tomorrow so I guess I'll ask.

[riley4183 0]

I have been wanting to post this poll!

I use a straw when my teeth are bothering me (they hurt if the cold touches them), but feel guilty about it. It does not give me pain or anything, and everything makes me burp so what they heck, right? But I was told not to, it can stretch yur little pouch to swallow the air, so I feel guilty. I am 4+ months out.

[MistyD65 1]

I've never had a problem with using a straw. I get an iced green tea from Starbucks just about every day and use a straw for that - no trouble with extra gas or feeling any kind of impact on my esophagus or pouch.

Guess it's just one more example of how personalized this surgery and its effects are for everyone.

[JASON R 0]

the reason we are told not to use a straw is because you drink to fast when drinking with it. which we all know is bad for you.

[SanDiegoPhotog 0]

I actually burp more without the straw. I've been banded for 1 year and I've been using a straw for about 9 months now. Same thing happened to me as happened to another poster: I was using one all day one day without even thinking about it and had no ill-effects, so I just kept on using it. My doctor never forbade me from using straws, though. The first surgeon I went to said no straws, but the surgeon I ended up going to didn't mention it.

[Sarah.R 2]

Well I thought I would update my situation. My sister and I went shopping on sunday and she bought a milkshake and asked if I wanted some, thought about it and decided I'd try a little bit with the straw and I don't know if I was being paranoid but I swear I felt like there was air going in my stomach and my stomach actually puffed out a little bit. I guess it could of just been me being paranoid but I dunno lol. I don't think I'll be using a straw from now on though just because of that.

[heschete 0]

I waited a couple of months before trying to use a straw and I do occasionally now. I have gotten into the habit of letting the air out of my mouth before swallowing. I burp enough without the added air from a straw but using a straw somehow makes me drink more fluids through the day so letting the air out before swallowings is my compromise.