Nancy,
Yes, I know about the gum. Did that last time also but to no avail. I even talked them into letting me eat Italian Ice while I had the NG tube in since it was just going to get sucked back out anyway. I figured the more I stimulated the salivary glands and the more I chewed, the sooner the intestines would kick in.
I know about the walking and made quite a name for myslef last time. I think I broke some record or something and I'd also help people with bigger surgeries walk farther when I saw them in the halls. I know about epidural reducing the risk as well. Given that I have had SUCH a problem with this, I have been studying it like crazy.
Given that it drives my daughter crazy when she sees me with this alien type thing poking my shirt out, I figured I had to get it fixed. I also don't want it to get worse and it has started to.
Since it doesn't hurt, I just kind of waited until finishing up a couple of client deals instead of getting it fixed right away. Rather than do what we call (in the consulting industry) "bench work" it seemed like surgery was actually the more fun option between the two.
Mike