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Does everyone's BM schedule change post op?



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I'm pre-op and I have read a lot of threads on here about people having problems with BMs early on after surgery, but does everyone's "schedule" change after surgery, in the long run? Is it just "less" or "less frequent" because you are eating less? Is it uncomfortable if you can't go or are you ok with the change? Just curious, my surgery date is 12/20 & I've always been very regular...

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I had problems for a long time. I was constipated. After I started taking chia seeds regularly the problem went away, but I still went way less than before. I went from 3 times a day to once every 3 days. Now I'm 7 months post op and I'm back to almost once per day, but it's way less volume, and no discomfort anymore unless I go a couple of days without chia seeds. The only other thing that helped me besides chia seeds was Miralax but I would rather have the seeds. I let them gel in my Protein Shakes for about 1/2 hour before drinking. That seems to make them most effective.

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I am 3 months out and have been very regular. The only problem I have is hemorrhoids! yuck!

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Anume81: eek!! It's so close... I keep thinking that tomorrow I'm going to think : "My surgery is NEXT week" how are you holding up?

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I had problems for a long time. I was constipated. After I started taking chia seeds regularly the problem went away' date=' but I still went way less than before. I went from 3 times a day to once every 3 days. Now I'm 7 months post op and I'm back to almost once per day, but it's way less volume, and no discomfort anymore unless I go a couple of days without chia seeds. The only other thing that helped me besides chia seeds was miralax but I would rather have the seeds. I let them gel in my Protein Shakes for about 1/2 hour before drinking. That seems to make them most effective.[/quote']

Thanks so much for the info! How soon after surgery were you able to eat the chia seeds?

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I am 3 months out and have been very regular. The only problem I have is hemorrhoids! yuck!

Did you have the hemorrhoids before the surgery or as a result of something surgery related?

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Nena124: It still has not hit me yet.. I mean I have started to get prepared here and there. This week I am hitting it hard. I actually just too some Milk of Magnesia to get things going. I start my liquid diet on th 13th. I only have to do a week. I go to the bathroom 1 or twice a day. so I am curious to know what I will need post-op to stay regular.

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Thanks so much for the info! How soon after surgery were you able to eat the chia seeds?

I didn't start using them until 3 or 4 months after surgery because I didn't really know about them. My sleeve could have handled them much sooner. But as to the question of when, I would ask your surgeon or better yet your NUT. They are tiny, and when you let them soak and turn to a gel they get extremely soft so they are easy to digest.

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I use to go everyday like 2-4 times a day( I know, holy crap) I have IBS but ever since surgery which was 10/9/12 I'm lucky I go 2x a week! I'm ok with the change it don't bother me but everyone is different! Good luck

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Did you have the hemorrhoids before the surgery or as a result of something surgery related?

I've had them in the past but they have never bothered me like they do now. They are worse. I have an appt tomorrow so I will talk to my nurse about it.

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I'm hoping after surgery I have diarrhea like 2 of my friends, really. Since I started on my bariatric diet I'm only going once or twice a week. Way way less volume than before too. I have never gone more than a day without going. Now I'm hearing I might have the same issue after surgery? Oh no. I'm gonna be asking for a stool softener very soon. Thanks for the info.

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I use to go everyday like 2-4 times a day( I know' date=' holy crap) I have IBS but ever since surgery which was 10/9/12 I'm lucky I go 2x a week! I'm ok with the change it don't bother me but everyone is different! Good luck[/quote']

I don't have IBS, but that's about how often I go now!! Always thought that was normal (2-4 times a day) :)

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
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