Can I chew gum before surgery?

You’re not supposed to chew gum, but I don’t know how strict it is. I think mouthwash would be okay. You can suck on some ice chips, just try not to swallow much water.

The risk is in the anesthesia. Many people vomit under anesthesia, and can choke and asphyxiate. That’s why it’s important not to have anything in your stomach.

Hot damn; that sounds dreadful. I think, in light of your info, I’ll rough it.

When I was a wee-little one, after surgery, I went to pee and vomited instead, so perhaps I’m sensitive to the anesthesia

I showed up for surgery and a nurse said, “Gum? You weren’t supposed to eat.”

You can chew gum. Spit it out before you get to the hospital so you don’t piss anybody off.

You can’t chew gum. It said so on the anaesthetic information pack they gave me before surgery. They did let me drink water, though, only a tiny amount.
As for your question about peeing, with me they took me to the bathroom before taking me to the anaesthetic room. But I suppose that really depends on how mobile you are.

Chewing gum is a no-no. It activates the saliva glands in your mouth.

You can have just a sip of water to down your allowed medications the day of surgery.

Liquids and foods are eliminated after midnight, so you will not puke and choke, during your surgery. You guessed right on the peeing situation.

On the peeing thing, depending on the length/severity of your surgery they may just have you go beforehand, or they may catheterize you once you’re under.

I’m telling you, chewing gum is fine. You can even take your medications with sips of water the morning of surgery.

And just so you know and don’t go flaming me, I am the medical director of a high risk preoperative clinic. I know what I’m talking about.

Well, ultimately I erred on the side of caution, and did not drink or chew gum. It was weird, though: whenever I walked through the kitchen, I automatically went for the fridge, or the tap for a quick “sip.” Overall, though, it was all right. I tried to not do anything that would cause thirst*; it worked out fine.

*In other words, I laid on my rear and watched movies. Kinda cool, actually, to slow myself down. Then afterwards, jello and pudding. So much for my diet, temporarily, of course!

Glad it went well. The reason why chewing gum is fine is that people swallow a couple of liters of saliva every day anyway, and the little extra generated from chewing gum isn’t a big deal. It’s why we also say you can drink sips of water with your medications. It’s far safer for you to take, say, a seizure medication before surgery than it is to hold it. (There are certain meds, of course, we don’t want you taking, but those are a minority).

The reason why people go on about the no eating or drinking is that a full stomach increases vomiting risk during anesthesia induction. But a few extra teaspoons from swallowed saliva doesn’t increase that risk. A hamburger does.