I am on post op day 3 and i have not had a bowel movement since the day before surgery. I am considering taking a laxative and would like to hear from any one with this problem and what you did. I guess i will call the doctor tomorrow.

totally normal... dr warned me bout it and suggested milk of mag. I took it and pooped and all is good in the world!...lol

I didn't have one for a week and wasn't constipated. Just a liquid diet day before surgery along with a bowel prep and clear liquids afterwards...there wasn't any substance to form stool! Once I started eating mushie....I started making poo!

Yep totally normal- the anesthesia & pain meds really slow the GI tract- plus not much going in... soon enough (if you are like many others) you will be complaining about loose stools!!

Yep totally normal- the anesthesia & pain meds really slow the GI tract- plus not much going in... soon enough (if you are like many others) you will be complaining about loose stools!!

Okay now I have that. How long does it last?

totally normal... dr warned me bout it and suggested milk of mag. I took it and pooped and all is good in the world!...lol

+1 to that!

I'm on day 4...my doctor told me to use Mirilax and/or add Benefiber to my water. I've done both and still nothing. I agree, I'm not eating anything so why would anything happen yet? My doctor says I should be though....and so I wait...I may take some Smooth Move hot tea, it helps me usuallly (and the name cracks me up!)

I did not go for over one week..when I did all hell broke loose had to leave work next day I lost 2 1/2 pounds!! LOL...holy cr*p

There's a difference between a change in bowel routine and constipation. In your shoes, I'd assess whether you have abdominal discomfort and feel as though you have to move your bowels. If not, the lack of bowel movement is more likely due to having a whole lot less to evacuate from your bowel than you did preoperatively---and would not concern me.

If you do feel truly constipated, check with your doctor, if s/he hasn't already given you guidelines. Preoperatively, my doctor listed potential problems and solutions, and green-lighted a mild stool softener.

I have had 2 days of diaherria. I finally had to take imodium. Any thoughts on this?

I did the same thing. I added a little benefiber to my protein shakes for 4 days. Just as i was about to take the next step to relieve the discomfort, all hell broke loose. I was at my sister in law's house and had to drive home. I didn't leave my house for two days. No more benefiber but I do still have a lot of gas ad it takes two days or so sometimes to get any relief. I guess it just has to build up. I am still in the liquid phase.

Very normal. My doc says to use miralax. Now that I can take pills I use sennakot (sp?). The miralax was far too explosive for me, especially being in the classroom. Now things are very normal and I wonder if the constipation/loose stool is band related or just normal in and outs (ha ha) of things.

I've been constipated for 2 years! Drink lots of water, and try adding Benefibre (or any other such product) to your protien shakes. Also, believe it or not, bran cereal works wonders. I hate bran, so I sprinkle it on top of frozen yogurt.