This is probably a dumb question but I accidentally swallowed a piece of gum. Can this cause a blockage of my ileostomy?? I do not chew gum much and just forgot and swallowed it.
freedancer
Jan 11, 2019 12:38 am
Two bags
Jan 11, 2019 1:24 am
Hi, not a dumb question at all. I have an ileostomy and get blockages from certain foods; however, I have never swallowed a piece of gum. I have thought about it happening to me, and yes, I would be concerned, depending on the size of the piece of gum. I would imagine gum does not break down from digestive juices. I can't say for sure, as it has not happened to me. Please let us know what happened; it's an interesting question.
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Posted by: w30bob
Hi gang,
I was thinking what a great resource this site has been for me since I found it. It would have been really helpful, but maybe a bit scary, to have found it before my ostomy, but that's water under the bridge. But I got thinking about it, and now I'm questioning why doctors and hospitals don't provide this site's contact info to any patient even considering an ostomy today. And how can we change that so potential ostomates can learn about the road ahead for them by getting on here and asking questions before the docs go chop-chop. How exactly do you get all hospitals to provide their patients specific information, like this website?
I just happened to find this site something like 4 years after my ostomy when I Googled "ostomy forum" or something like that. But I never found it during previous searches.....so I found this site pretty much by pure luck. We need to find a way to make this site available to new or soon-to-be ostomates......as that's when we really need to commiserate with fellow ostomates. Anybody have any thoughts on how we do this?
Thanks,
Bob
Bill
Jan 11, 2019 6:57 am
Yes! please let us know the outcome (or output). I have had bits of solid food that have remained intact and passed through without any problem so, I would presume that gum would do the same.
As two bags says - an interesting question!
Best wishes
Bill
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Xerxes
Jan 12, 2019 3:43 am
Assuming that you swallowed a normal size piece you should have no problem If, on the other hand, you swallowed an over-size wad then you might run into trouble.
Xerxes
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