I normally eat on the go rather than pack a lunch so I rarely get a chance to add in a scoop of benefiber to my meal. So on that note, I have only had two bowl movements since surgery. One two weeks after because I took some Milk of Magnesia and one late last week on my own. I don't feel constipated, but I would like to see my body release a bit more often.

Is this normal? Will it improve when I move to the soft food stage?

My doctor explained that the digestive tract is one big long tube. When you fill it up it empties. Pre-op we had to have it empty. Now the amount of food we are putting in takes a lot longer to fill it up, so it will need to be emptied less often. But be careful, I don't mean to be indelicate, but as others have posted here, never trust a fart!

You have to get used to a new normal for you. When you eat less, there is less to come out too.

there are also fiber gummies- they taste pretty good,so its like eating candy

I had the same concern. However, you are eating a tremendously smaller amount of food....you can figure the rest out. Also, eating high Protein leads to this. I use milk of mag. I need to do the fiber.

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OMG- that is a good, "Never trust a fart". Still laughing at that one as I type this. So very true!!!

Only thing to add is if you encounter a new food that you thought would be fine as you are introducing things back into your diet, find a bathroom soon if your stomach starts to gurgle and feel slight cramps. That's your tummy saying, "I don't feel good and I'm gonna get it outta here soon!!!" A few months after surgery I became lactose intolerant and it took less than 10 minutes for the first "incident". Not a good situation... I now know the signs and don't mess around, no pun intended.

My doctor explained that the digestive tract is one big long tube. When you fill it up it empties. Pre-op we had to have it empty. Now the amount of food we are putting in takes a lot longer to fill it up, so it will need to be emptied less often. But be careful, I don't mean to be indelicate, but as others have posted here, never trust a fart!

Totally normal. I didn't poop for two weeks after surgery and then it was... well.... not what I was used to. Then I had issues that required me to use a stool softener for a while. You just gotta roll with it.

Yes, there is much less total volume going into your digestive tract so you're gonna poop less.

Although (TMI) I know that the day after I had a BM I'm going to see a loss on the scale

Yep, totally "normal"...but you will prolly find a need for a stool softner, at least I did...but i was getting to the point of taking in plenty-o-reading material cuz i was going to be in the "office" for some time!!!!

Doc finally put me on Mirolax...that stuff is great..I add a scoop to my Protein drink in the morning and its smooooooooth sailing from there!!

surgery date: 12 oct 2011

Yep it's awful. Never thought other than after babies (post partum poops) i would feel like I was trying to pass a baseball. I really need to try the softener...ouch !