Hi Everyone,

My name is Debra and I live in Australia. I have just turned 47 and had my VSG on the 20th April. I feel mostly great and I am 5 days into the puree stage of my diet regime. Prior to that I was fluid only and have been consuming 2 doses of benefibre in prune juice since I came outta hospital. Well, I have just now had my first motion in 8 days and it was sheer agony. I don't want to start on laxatives that will weaken my bowel and make it lazy, but nor do I want to experience this until I am on solid food and eating fruit and veg again. It is very uncomfortable after day 2, ( i am used to going every day) and excrutiatingly painful. I actually had to self administer an enema tonight!!! Lucky I am a nurse!!! So, I drink as much fluid as my body will allow, still have 2 doses of benefibre and prune juice each day and still have this problem. I still have 9 days of puree left, 2 wks of soft and then onto full diet. HELP!!! Any hints for me???

I really had a problem with that too as I had to take supplemental iron. The iron, the protein, no fiber, and the rebound from anesthesia nearly did me in. I took 1-2 doses of benefiber daily, and at 3 days no bm, I added a stool softener and upped it to 3-4 doses of benefiber. It was around 4 months post surgery that I could stop using benefiber. Recently, at 5 1/2 months, I got constipated again. I too say no way to laxatives if at all possible, but benefiber, miralax and stool softeners are worth every penny.

I was taking psyllium seed husk style fiber when my Doc said take benefiber, its easier on your stomach. Well after about 2 weeks of slow going, I figured out that the benefiber does not work as well as the psyllium husk style for me... I started back on the old stuff and things are moving along again a little better.

i am taking the psyllium husk also...i mix it into my shakes

if I feel extremely constipated i take milk of magnesia its pretty mild

Here's the daily routine that works for me: 15 grams of fiber supplement (I used 2 fiber chews twice a day = 10 and then fiber drinks or in my shakes for the rest) and 2 generics of colace each morning and 2 each evening. It's easy and it works. I've seen others who take a stool softener and then miralax every day.

Just make it a part of your routine, instead of waiting until you "need" it.

To get rid of the immediate problem, try milk of magnesia. Then put yourself on some kind of routine.

Once I'm on maintenance and upping carbs, I expect to be able to ditch the colace and just have the fiber.