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Chewing gum post-op

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 4/20/2008 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
There has been a study that shows that postoperative gum chewing appears to significantly reduce the length of hospital stay after colorectal surgery by 2 days to 3 days.

Resource:
Chan MK, Law WL. Use of chewing gum in reducing postoperative ileus after elective colorectal surgery. A systematic review. Dis Colon Rectum 2007:50(12):2149-2157. [PubMed abstract]
Posted 4/20/2008 7:21 PM (GMT 0)
You are right. I just read about this in one of my nursing journals. It makes perfect sense, the enzmes stimulate the digestive juices and wake up the bowels.
Posted 4/20/2008 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
Not to mention the junk in chewing gum which also wake up the bowels...according to research just 1/2 a stick of Extra gum can cause bloating gas and D for many, and that's because of the sugar alcohols in it.

:)
Posted 4/20/2008 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
I'm with pB4 on this one. the sugar substitutes in gums kills my guts. You want to recover from surgery? Get up and start walking.
Posted 4/20/2008 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
I've found that Winterfresh, Big Red and Juicy Fruit don't have sorbitol. I'm sure there are more, but these seems to be easier on my gut.
Posted 4/21/2008 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Unfortunately they have sugar and contribute to tooth decay, but you're right they don't cause me as many problems either. If chewing helps promote the return of gastric motility and it's for a short while, I guess it's something to consider, but for me, walking is the great reliever. I've only had one bad experience post-surgery (at least regarding gas) and that was a resection that didn't go well. I coded when they tried to get me up the next day and when I finally was lifted back into bed, after coming too on the cold, dirty hospital floor with the paddle cart by my side, I was ordered on bed rest for another 48 hours. That was enough to slow down my return of function and instead of 2-3 hours of gas and then relief, I remember being excessively uncomfortable and gassy for days before things finally started working.

So chew gum like a cow chews its cud but still get up and walk as soon as possible and as often as you are able.
Posted 4/21/2008 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
I say if chewing a bit of sugary gum gets you out of the hospital sooner(which according to studies it seems to do), fo for it.
I wouldn't do it without permission jsut in case. I think this will turn out to be standard in time. It is inexpensive and it may work.
Don't tell the drug companies, soon they will have an RX gum for post op resections!(You read it here first!)
Posted 4/21/2008 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
I would stay awaY from other form of sugar. skull

I mean choose the one with regular sugar.I can't beleive these "new" sugar are everywhere now.

BLOATING TRAUMA!!! nono

Posted 4/21/2008 5:01 PM (GMT 0)
I don't smoke, drink or go out in the sun without sunscreen, but I must confess, I'm a gum chewer.  I know you're not supposed to chew gum the day of surgery, but if it's OK with my surgeon, I'm going to start chomping away the next day. 

Belleenstein - you coded after surgery?  That's horrible.  Was it emergency surgery or elective?  I woke up this morning at 4:30, thinking/worrying about surgery and my heart rate was over 100.  I think my heart rate just went up another 10%.  

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