Disgusting subject but once I hit puberty constipation and I became intimate friends. The docs never had an explanation, just that it appeared my colon was too efficient and soaked up too much Water and made me, um, stuck. I've tried a few things, most have no effect or make me cramp really badly, have to go unexpectedly urgently and I was always afraid of getting hooked on OTC meds and making things worse.

Someone, can't remember who but god bless you whoever you are, suggested chia seeds as a way to keep from getting hungry. I started taking them, 2 teaspoons in a SF chocolate pudding at lunch and 2 teaspoons in a yogurt after dinner. And things have been moving better than they have since I was a kid. I do get a bit more gassy but the movements are firm yet soft enough to not hurt and I am regular like clock work. I am still taking 1/2 cap of Mirilax a day till I finish it , it has never really worked well for me and I hope when I stop it the chia seeds will still do their stuff.

The chia seeds a hygroscopic, meaning they adsorb a lot of water and swell up a lot. They are a little harder to digest so they tend to pass all the way or most of the way through the gut and a lot come out in the stools. This is what the Mirilax is supposed to do too but never really has for me. It's cheaper than Mirilax and seems to work better for me.

Give it a try. Get 'em at any health food stores or many well stocked grocery stores.

Won't they turn into tiny little furry animals in my stomach?

Thanks for the information. I am suffering myself pretty bad. The Phillips pills I have tried taking I literally have to break apart (they actually break into shards which are rough) and I worry about it. I can't swallow it whole, it's just too big.

I tried the Milk of Magnesia and poured it into the cup and took a nice size sip and ended up shaking and sweating over it. I use Amitiza (prescription like Colace) daily. I take Metamucil (to no avail) just a tired and bloated tummy over this, and of course the Suppositories.

Unfortunately, daily use of suppositories can weaken the muscles, and I have already had a bowel resection.

Prune juice is out of the question the carb count is higher than my daily carb usage, so until something wild happens and my esophagus into stomach opening decides to get a little larger so I can take the larger pills, I'm not sure what else to do.

I will look around for these and will wait until I'm a little further out. I'm still introducing new foods and haven't tried nuts or anything as I am only 8 weeks out on Monday and spent 5 weeks on full liquids.

The do swell up dramatically. I put them in yogurt and they caused a bit of cramping for me. Someone suggested to soak them for 20 minutes or so in water and then add the expanded seeds to your food. That way, you don't have to worry about them expanding in your gut. I just don't know if they still have the same GI benefits from them or not when consumed that way.

Disgusting subject but once I hit puberty constipation and I became intimate friends. The docs never had an explanation, just that it appeared my colon was too efficient and soaked up too much Water and made me, um, stuck. I've tried a few things, most have no effect or make me cramp really badly, have to go unexpectedly urgently and I was always afraid of getting hooked on OTC meds and making things worse.

Someone, can't remember who but god bless you whoever you are, suggested chia seeds as a way to keep from getting hungry. I started taking them, 2 teaspoons in a SF chocolate pudding at lunch and 2 teaspoons in a yogurt after dinner. And things have been moving better than they have since I was a kid. I do get a bit more gassy but the movements are firm yet soft enough to not hurt and I am regular like clock work. I am still taking 1/2 cap of Mirilax a day till I finish it , it has never really worked well for me and I hope when I stop it the chia seeds will still do their stuff.

The chia seeds a hygroscopic, meaning they adsorb a lot of water and swell up a lot. They are a little harder to digest so they tend to pass all the way or most of the way through the gut and a lot come out in the stools. This is what the Mirilax is supposed to do too but never really has for me. It's cheaper than Mirilax and seems to work better for me.

Give it a try. Get 'em at any health food stores or many well stocked grocery stores.

thanks so much, I will try them. Sheree

I am still in the Pre-op phase but I used the Chia seed and flaxseed (even before I considered surgery) to help me stay full. I mixed them in veggie shakes, salads , yogurt, and sometimes I just add them to my water bottle. I use 1 tbsp twice a day.

Won't they turn into tiny little furry animals in my stomach?

LMAO!!!! Oh, that was funny.....heh heh....still wiping my eyes over here.

Seriously, tho, Root...I am SO GRATEFUL you shared this! I have also always had the same problem, which of course has been compounded since the surgery. Thank you so much for this - I am going to buy some at lunch today!

@soon2bemini..I bought them at Walmart

Is Chia seed oil extract what you guys are talkibg about?

Is Chia seed oil extract what you guys are talkibg about?

They are referring to the whole seed.

They are referring to the whole seed, black and brown in color and pretty heavy for their size. Any health food store and maybe even a well stocked grocery store will have them.

Is the pill form just as good or not?

Thanks everyone for your input.

How soon after surgery can you start the chia seeds?

Are chia seeds the same thing you put on a chia pet? I've never heard of them lol

Are chia seeds the same thing you put on a chia pet? I've never heard of them lol

Yup, same stuff.

Yes, as OTR points out they are precisly the same stuff as the Chia pets use.

I don't know about the pill form but seems that they SHOULD work the same, although you would probably have to at least take 3 or 4 to equal 2 teaspoons worth.

How soon post-op to start? Not sure, my guess would be a few weeks, they are pretty benign but they are extremely filling so go easy and wait till you can eat soft foods. They seem to produce a softer more natural stool then any other laxative / stool softener I've used. They just make things a whole lot easier without much gas and bloating.