Why do so many people have constipation after surgery? Is it only those people that wasnt on a clear liquid diet the week before? Should I do a bowel cleanse a couple days before surgery to prevent this from happening? Im on 1 week clear liquid diet (with protein drink made with almond milk or lactaid) and my surgery is 2/28.

because you can no longer eat a balanced diet. there isnt anything you can do aside from knowing its an issue and maybe starting colace regularly until you can eat a balanced diet....MONTHS out.

I did 2 weeks pre op liquid diet and still had constipation so I don't think that has anything to do with it. The constipation I believe has to do more with the anesthesia or possibly the pain meds as both are known to effect digestive systems. Further along post op constipation comes mostly from decreased fiber intake which is common in a high protein diet. Good Luck.

So how do you manage the constipation then? If it is invevitable, how do people cope? I did watch Dr. Alvarez on YouTube on his segment about constipation... he said of course you are not pooping b/c you are not eating initially... there's nothing solid to pass through! However, he said it should become normal or regular again once you introduce solids. Is it like a newborn baby then? Soft BMs until they start solids? I'm not sleeved yet, but being constipated would upset me a lot so trying to think ahead about what to do to prevent it.

I have been told by the np, constipation is from pain meds. I was also told to take colace ( you can buy that otc) to prevent constipation

So how do you manage the constipation then? If it is invevitable, how do people cope? I did watch Dr. Alvarez on YouTube on his segment about constipation... he said of course you are not pooping b/c you are not eating initially... there's nothing solid to pass through! However, he said it should become normal or regular again once you introduce solids. Is it like a newborn baby then? Soft BMs until they start solids? I'm not sleeved yet, but being constipated would upset me a lot so trying to think ahead about what to do to prevent it.

The best way to deal with it is to take some sort of fiber supplement or try to eat foods high in fiber. If you don't do the low carb diet post op it would be easier but everyone has to make there own decisions on what works for them based on what their dr tells them.

Basically when you are on liquids it is like a baby...liquid in, liquid out. The constipation from pain meds varies (they don't cause me that issue and I was on them for quite some time). For me, I was on liquids or IV TPN for a couple of months and I lived that liquid in saying for all of that time. Then you start on solids but you're not able to get in enough fiber (not a balanced diet) and a lot of Protein which causes the opposite effect. I take a daily colace tablet at night before bed and am not bothered by either problem, but until I can eat a better diet it's part of my daily routine. Some people take miralax daily, or fiber pills, but early out you can't take the fiber pills and for me miralax works FAR TOO WELL if you get what I mean LOL

My doc recommends the stool softener approach (colace or other store brand) because it's easier on your body, but your doctor might have another idea. I'd suggest chatting with them about it, but also stocking up on the colace

And Colace is cheap. You can get like 160 capsules of the Walmart brand for less than $2.00