constipation post surgery

[bugirl928 1]

Hi, I am 2 days post op and haven't had a bowel movement nor do I feel the need. I've read others have diarrhea. Is it ok that I'm not going?

[Carmy 0]

oh thats just the beginning - as soon as you can start to take your chewable vitamins start taking chewable Fiber too - i take the Gummy ones. i had the same problem bad - but it eventually goes away

[VSGandMe2011 (DisneyMomma) 20]

I had some horrible Constipation at 2 weeks post-op. I would strongly suggest that you start adding some benefiber to your Water everyday.....it will really help!

[Rootman 1,101]

I personally have found that Mirilax works best for me - half a cap every morning in Water. It's odd how some get diarrhea and others constipated, just goes to show how different everyone is.

[myrori 55]

I am 4 months post op and I still struggle with Constipation. I also use Miralax daily.

[Used2b575lbs 29]

The first couple weeks for me where the other way but once I added food I had horrible problems I was doing milk of magnesia 3 times a week, I still do it about once a week as i'm sure i'm not getting enough fiber in as I focus on Protein.

This is what my doctor recommended and it has worked for me. I would check with your office or nutritionist to see what they recommend. Also if you go with a laxative i'd start with a smaller dose in the beginning and if it don't work up it.

I know someone who took it and spent the whole next day running back and forth, you don't want to go from one extreme to the other.

[SinDLou 4]

OMG - this has been a huge challenge for me too. I've been using fiber (mixed in water) sugar free, no taste. Seems to work ok, but my diet minus fruits and veggetables has not worked to clean out my system. Ongoing issue for me.

[vsgjenn 0]

I didn't go for 5 days! I had to take dulcolax and then a few hours later I spent 45 minutes just going and going

Now I add benefiber to my drinks and take a dulcolax if it goes for more than a day.

[meggiep 57]

One thing that occurred to me is that it seems (from what I have read) that many sleeved folks have a barium swallow leak test post surgery. Is that true?

If so that sets you up for Constipation right out of the gate. I know this because I just did my upper GI and I went from a day of completely purging my whole colon for a colonoscopy to the opposite problem immediately. Barium is bad that way. It's too bad you would have that when you already face getting your new stomach to behave and be regular!

[meggiep 57]

p.s. If it helps, I saw a Dr. Oz this week that discussed this and he said he only worries if you have fewer than three bowel movements a week.

I appreciate hearing what people do for this as I would love to avoid it! I have managed to avoid this even though I have been on opioid therapy longterm for pain and I hate to think I would have that problem for the first time if there is a way to avoid it!

[swizzly 901]

One thing that occurred to me is that it seems (from what I have read) that many sleeved folks have a barium swallow leak test post surgery. Is that true?

If so that sets you up for Constipation right out of the gate. I know this because I just did my upper GI and I went from a day of completely purging my whole colon for a colonoscopy to the opposite problem immediately. Barium is bad that way. It's too bad you would have that when you already face getting your new stomach to behave and be regular!

For my pre-op barium swallow, I did have to take that thick chalky liquid that plugs you up. Nasty stuff! But post-op, they used a different Fluid altogether which the nurse told me does not cause constipation (and is incidentally much easier for a poor post-op tummy to swallow!). I have heard others had the better post-op swallow as well, but I don't know if everywhere does it.

Also, re constipation, one word: Miralax.

[warrior68 16]

Count your blessings having constipation! I have had terrible diarrhea since having the surgery, I mean like afraid to leave the house for to long kind of diarrhea! I would kill to have a solid poop!

[TexasTeacher 7]

I still struggle with this, but cannot manage any of the fiber supplements they recommend. My surgeon suggested Ex Lax, which has helped a bit, but I do have to be careful when I use it!

[snowfie9 6]

Well keep in mind that 2 days post op you're probably not actually EATING anything (on clear fluids). Any fluids are going to be absorbed into the body thorugh the intestines leaving very little left. If there's no solids, there's not much to come out the other end.

You can usually tell when you're colon is "full and not moving" as opposed to just nothing coming out.

So I wouldn't worry unless you feel like you have something that needs to move.

[lewisfamilytexas 0]

I had my surgery april 19, and the first couple days i didn't go, and then i went regular for 2 days, and now a week later i'm in hellllll...it's horrible, the pain is godawful, I scream when i try to go, i've had this big giant ball stuck up there for a few days now and every day just gets more painful, its to where just going pee it will try to come out but just cause severe pain, and we call the doc and they say its regular, just take miralax and duralax, or however you spell, i've done both, plus enema, plus this glyserine thingy, but it hasn't gotten rid of the plug, i was able to go around the plug this morning, but unfortionatley the painful plug is still there, and i'm hating it, this is way more pain then the surgery itself, I don't know what to do, its just so miserable, i just want it to come out of me already....