Are Straws as Evil as they say?

I know the advice is to NOT use a straw when drinking...BUT...I find it stops me from gulping my drink to quickly.  I haven't noticed any particular problems with swallowing too much air or having increased gas. Gas is just a fact of life with or without surgery!

What's your experience?

I haven't used a straw, but I noticed that when I suck on a freezie (sugar free of course), I have to be careful because I did get some awful pain once from swallowing too much air. Just be careful, if you're good with using one, I say do it until it hurts lol 

Yep, extra air can indeed get in there and it hurts, nevermind the gas even lol  Oh well, people will do what they feel justified in doing. ;)

I'm glad you posted Linsie, I was actually thinking about you yesterday and wondering how you're were making out - things are going well so far?

K.

I started using a straw about 6 months out and have had no problems. Actually feels better and helps me get enough water in a day. Now over a year and I still prefer it to gurgling out of a bottle.

I also use a straw or a drinking bottle with a straw it's what I prefer, and asked at my Center before I did so.  For me it has caused no issues with increased gas.  I have a couple glass straws which are environmentally friendly and I love.  

I was told (like many of us) that straws would introduce air into the stomach and potentially cause discomfort or pain with the extra air in there. I stayed away from straws until about 3 months post-op.

I knew from these forums that some people have no trouble with them at all. I wanted to try it, to see how it went... mainly because I drive 1.5 hours per day (45 min commute) and that is the easiest way to drink while on the road. Tipping up a bottle to my face while driving is not really an option! Very difficult to do and a pothole or two ended up with me making a helluva mess on my clothes and car interior!

So I gave it a shot, and while it did bother me a little at the beginning (I stopped and tried again a week or so later), I find that now it doesn't bother me at all. I have a water bottle with a built in straw that is exclusively for my car. I even took that bottle with me to yesterday's post-op follow up and neither the behaviourist nor the dietitian said a word about it. Lord knows, they both saw me drinking from it!

To each his/her own. I say give it a shot but if it gives you pain or gas, slack off a bit or try again later. And as always, feel free to check with your doc or centre. They'll have some tips or tricks I bet!

at my 3 month check up, i remember the dietitian asking if i was able to use a straw yet. I should ahve clarified with her, but i inferred from her question that straw use was something we were to try to acheive.

I only use one when I am at a restaurant, but they've never given me issues :)

I am 5 1/2 yrs post-op and have never used a straw, not sure why people do, maybe for the reason the poster mentioned, but I don't typically gulp, maybe that's why.  I am more sipper

i have never had any troubles with straws. I asked at the clinic about it (HRRH) and she said if it works for me and it doesn't cause pain..go with it!