Poll for those that have accidentally swallowed gum

 Gum gives me horrible bloating and gas.  I can chew a pack a day if I let myself, and gum days are really bad gas wise.  Non-gum days I barely have any gas issues at all.

So, it's true.  For the gum at least.  I also use a straw but have not noticed any difference either way with that.

Occasionally I have found myself chewing gum while sitting in church waiting for the Mass to start; chewing gum in church is a big no-no, especially with one particular priest. Not wanting to get up, find the bathroom and maybe lose my seat, I have swallowed.

No problem.

I haven't swallowed gum since my surgery, I guess just in case there might be some problem from it, but pre op I did swallow gum once in a while when I didn't have a place to throw it away.

I was also told not to chew gum or use a straw.  The whole straw thing is bunk, IMHO.  I get LESS air when I use a straw.  No idea why anyone thinks it's the opposite.  I am much more likely to slurp when I tip the glass up and have to kind of work around the weird-shaped icemaker ice.  I always use a straw.  I also used to swallow gum pre-op whenever I was in a situation in which pitching it was inconvenient.  Because of that, I have been afraid to chew gum post-op because I figured I would swallow it without thinking.  But, if folks haven't had any problem with it, maybe I will risk gum-chewing again - without swallowing on purpose, of course.  No need to borrow trouble.