Hey all...

Don't know where else to turn for this question, may have to call dr soon...

I had surgery on 2/24. My last BM was on 2/23. I have not had one since... Going on 5 days now. I am on Clear liquids for post op... But have been mixing in some benefiber and miralax to my clear Protein drinks and crystal light.

Should I be worried? Do I need to call dr tomorrow? This is definitely not normal, and I was on Atkins for pre op, so wondering if it's cause combination of surgery and now clear liquids....

What has everyone else's experience been?

I think i went about 5 days post op the surgery and meds alone do cause some digestive movement problems. You are only consuming liquids so u wont get much movement either till u start on more substantial food. Walking and water seem to clear the problems for most , but u may very well need to phone the docs and ask before it goes on any longer

It took me a couple of weeks to get on track. Also try an over night stool softener. It will work itself out. Sounds like you are doing the right things.

I have always had BM problems and was super concerned it after surgery. I had a BM the day before surgery and the day after. Then I went almost a week without one. A friend told me to do a tablespoon of milk of magnesia and I would be ok. Well hot damn was she right. About an hour after taking the MOM you could have eaten out of my colon. It was clean as a whistle. Seriously about an hour after take the stuff it cleared out everything. I also weighed something like 2 lbs lighter the next day.

But on the serious note. Milk of magnesia is a very gentle laxative that takes care of business without a lot of stress or aggression . It's supposedly natural and gentle.

Very normal and not fun. I went thru this as well. I now add benefiber to my tea and protein shakes to help. It took me about a week to get "normal".

This is normal. The pain meds make you constipated...I think it was about 4 or 5 days for me so I called the doctor and she told me to take miralax or milk of magnesia. I chose the milk of mag cuz its sooo much cheaper and I'm really glad I did cuz just 2 doses and I was able to go ...actually I went from not going to diareah for about 2 days lol but hey at least it came out and kinda cleaned me out...WAYY better than trying to **** out a huge turd!! And trust me I've been there many times- it hurts SO bad. I have been on the toilet screaming before ready to go to the hospital...finally I got a glove and a plastic spoon and you figure out the rest. LMAO so disgusting! So take something ASAP. More than likely that is what they are gonna tell you if you call the docs.

I have the same problem. I was banden on 1/25/12 and up until last week I felt so bloated. The doctor says it was due to the pain meds and the fact that I hadn't really eaten much up to that point as far as solid food. I started Milk of magnesia and a daily stool softer, now I am much better. If that doesn't work, take an enema and atleast it will give you instant relief if it's really backed up like mine was. Also,be careful taking Fiber supliments if you are not getting enough water intake per day. Suppliments like metamucil will harden like cement in your system if not washed down with enough water.

Thank you all so much! Think I will go pick up some milk of magnesia today.... Hopefully it will help me out.... I'd like to get backin track before returning to work next Monday!! Thanks for all the input!

Hey all...

Don't know where else to turn for this question, may have to call dr soon...

I had surgery on 2/24. My last BM was on 2/23. I have not had one since... Going on 5 days now. I am on clear liquids for post op... But have been mixing in some benefiber and miralax to my clear Protein drinks and crystal light.

Should I be worried? Do I need to call dr tomorrow? This is definitely not normal, and I was on Atkins for pre op, so wondering if it's cause combination of surgery and now clear liquids....

What has everyone else's experience been?

I just made a post about taking benefiber, I think it made me bloated, I have headache , I'm on my 3rd - 16oz bottle of Water, I never drink that much, I think I will probably stick to the applesause I was eating..

did you get it figured out? do tell

I had the same problem for almost 2 weeks. I was told that the pain meds can cause it, so if you can do without them. Do so, plus if you take some fiber suppliments without enough daily water intake it can basically dry like cement in your system and make it worse. Try using Milk of Magnesia to see if it helps, if not you may have to buy an over the counter enama or a daily stool softner to help get you moving again. May sound extreme, but I was amazed how badly I felt being backed up that long. Once you start eating normal foods it will help get you back to normal as well. Hope this helps.

I have always struggled with this issue. I started using Wellesse "Digestion 3 in 1". It has soluble fiber, aloe and probiotics. Works wonders. It took about 3weeks to start working but no more problems for me. It is 1 oz every day. It costs about $9 for a months supply. Well worth it for me!

I was banded on 2/21 and I also had this problem. It took a couple doses of MOM and I was fine with no further issues. I also had a hernia repair and was afraid to "push" so I think that made my problem worse too, but after a couple doses of MOM I was fine. Good luck!

Milk of Mag can be your best friend.

My question would be, do you feel plugged up? Our diets change so much, then you add the pain meds--which block you up.

But me, I can go for days and days without going. (ok that is a weird sentence) But until I feel uncomfortable, I am not concerned. I think 7 days is my max before I start to feel bloated, feel like I need to go, but can't.

I was recently diagnosed with IBS. Not at all related to my band.