:paranoid I was struggling with the toilet something that's never happened before. Well it happened and it happened in a seriously painful manner where the paramedics came out and performed an enema.

Now i'm exactly the opposite and can't stop going and have the runs

Anyway, for the naive people like me, post-op make sure you are regular and if not make steps to correct this even if it means contacting your GP.

Constipation @ this level is not recommended dont ignore it!!!!

You must have been in some terrible pain to have the paramedics give you an enema, poor thing. When were you banded?

I had a similar situation 4 days after post op.

Surgery was on a Wed (7/28/04) and Thurs they had me do the swallow test. I no sooner get back to my room, and another nurse comes to get me to "go get my swallow test done".

"but wait, I was just there!"

It appears that the x-ray tech was used to seeing Gastric bypass swallows, not banding and did not take the correct x-rays, and did not look for the right stuff, so off I go ....

Fast foward to that Sat, and I am on the toilet all bent over in pain, whishing I had never gotten this done (the liquid felt like it had turned in to concrete!).

Since then, no problemns and smooth sailing!!

:hungry: Damn I'd like an order of "Mama's pancake Breakfast with the Maine blueberries from Cracker Barrel - only problem is, 3 bites in and I'd be done, 4 bites and I'd be dying!!:faint:

Banded 7th March 2006

Pain unbearable, i had been trying to go but only managing tiny amounts and put it down to only having Fluid in my diet.

Wow that was a bad experience and when you read about constipation it highlights the importance of staying hydrated because if you are dehydrated your body takes the fluid from your pooh to hydrate itself. Ergh, no wonder i was feeling CRAp all the time :sick

Anything else to beware of out there ???

Bless your heart! You must have been really bad off...I am constantly trying to eat the veggies and Water. I've added Benefiber granules every day for extra Fiber (tasteless). Plus, if I am having some trouble going I take a stool softener and wait for awhile.

I am in constant battle with my colon for the first time in my life. Things aren't as "easy" as before.

Good luck. Shawn

The best "CURE" for post-op constipation is WATER!!!

Be VERY, VERY careful about taking any bulking granular laxative. It can cause a REAL mess, a mess that could have been prevented with more Water.

~~~~

1: Obes Surg. 2004 Aug;14(7):1022-4. Related Articles, Links

Bolus obstruction of pouch outlet by a granular bulk laxative after gastric banding.

Herrle F, Peters T, Lang C, von Fluee M, Kern B, Peterli R.

Department of Surgery, St. Claraspital, Basel, Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Constipation is an occasional problem after gastric banding and is often caused by insufficient liquid intake. As a result, the use of laxatives is widespread in such patients. Depending on the laxative, improper use can lead to bolus obstruction above the band, as occurred in this case. Case Report: A 59-year-old female with uncomplicated laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding presented 2 months after surgery with food and liquid intolerance and dysphagia after ingestion of a granular bulking laxative. Despite deflating the band, the bolus could not be washed out. Endoscopic extraction was required, revealing a 4x2 cm bolus of the laxative and a small compression ulcer. DISCUSSION: Patients not complying with nutritional recommendations after gastric banding may have insufficient liquid intake and, consequently, constipation. Under these conditions, the use of a granular bulking laxative entails the risk of esophageal obstruction above the band. CONCLUSION: Nutritional counseling after gastric banding should include the recommendation of liquid intake of at least 1.5 l/day. If constipation occurs, osmotic or paraffin oil laxatives should be used instead of bulking laxatives.

Publication Types:

* Case Reports

PMID: 15329197 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

source: http://tinyurl.com/hwluw