How soon after surgery do you have a bowel movement?

I'm 5 days out and I still haven't had any bowel movement. Gas and burping yes - but no bowel at all should I be worried?

It was well over a week before I had one. Almost two weeks. Then a week later I was dealing with horrible constipation. Take 2 Colace twice a day and a capful of Miralax once a day EVERYDAY until you go! Trust me, you DO NOT want your stool to get as hard as mine did. Very painful!!!!

This is definitely a common problem for a lot of post-op sleevers. Like labellaskorpio said, you don't want to wait too long, otherwise it can really become a horrible, painful and even bloody experience. I learned that the hard way. Good ol' Milk of Magnesia is what finally did the trick for me.

I had one in the hospital and wanted to announce it from the roof tops! Though since then I've had periods of time where I've gone a whole week without one... which for me is REALLY difficult since I used to be a twice a day girl pre-surgery! Now that I'm able to eat vegetables and chia seeds again, I'm finding that my movements are coming every day or every other day which I guess is "the new normal" for me.

I used suppository for the first few weeks then it got better the more I could eat

Thanks alot ... what about regular ole stool easiers ... like pepto or ex-lax to help me go?

Not had this issue at all. I have movement once or twice a day. It is loose though most of the time. Is any one else having loose stool?

Thanks alot ... what about regular ole stool easiers ... like pepto or ex-lax to help me go?

Most docs will say no to outright laxatives until you've tried the stool softeners and Miralax. At 5 days its not a good idea to take laxatives like ex lax... Too much cramping and you're already in pain.

Okay thanks gonna go pick some of tht Miralax asap .. im too worried abt not releasing some stool.. it just feels crazy bcuz i haven't gone

Okay thanks gonna go pick some of tht Miralax asap .. im too worried abt not releasing some stool.. it just feels crazy bcuz i haven't gone

I took some laxatives at 8 weeks because I was pretty "stopped up" and it was AWFUL!!!!!!!! Horribly painful and I even ended up vomiting. NEVER again

WhoOA-WEE ... I'm going to buy something to get this going ... Its so bad I feel this gas all in my chest and its painful.

How soon after surgery do you have a bowel movement?

I'm 5 days out and I still haven't had any bowel movement. Gas and burping yes - but no bowel at all should I be worried?

30ml milk of magnesium

This is such good information. I am leaving the hospital today and still no bowel movement. Thanks Labelaskorpio.

Mokee...I am 9 days out and have gone twice, both were loose. I am not going to worry about it because everything I've eaten so far has been liquidish( not sure that's a word) lol. I'm glad I am not dealing with the constipation.

Definitely stool softeners and not laxatives. Drink plenty of water and I do believe in the chia seeds, I have a lot of friends that use them. I am going to make it a point to start them by the weekend. Someone posted a good suggestion about soaking them first? Because they can dehydrate you if you are not taking in enough fluids. Good luck to you!