I had my surgery 5/30. Had bm a few days after, loose, but I'd rather have it that way, as I tend to be constipated. Everything was good all week but today I'm... constipated. I got very nervous because I'm not supposed to strain. I'm supposed to take stool softener but I can't have pills that can't be crushed for a whole month. All the stool softeners at the drugstore were liquigels. I talked to the pharmacist and they had a liquid I could take that they keep behind the counter that doesn't require a script. Best yet it was $1.75 for thirty days worth. I'm hoping it'll do the trick. But is it NASTY! :-p. I'm going to try it in applesauce next time.

Anyone have any tips to avoid it after I'm healed? I don't want to take something every time...

You can add extra Water, just don't use too little water...also, stir often, it does settle sorry didn't think to tell you that tid bit before . I can usually get away with 1 or 2 colace every day or two...my dad lives by citracel....course, dads weird so......if things get really plugged I use miralax (dissolved in hot tea, totally dissolves and can't taste it) HOWEVER that is not Baker approved, just something I've done for years and works for me so I can't recommend it good luck!!!

FYI for the first 8-10 weeks post op, a few hours before I pooped I'd get queasy sick and think I was going to throw up...plumbing and wiring are REALLY weird post op!!!!

HW 312, pre-op (RNY) 255, current weight 212

I take a dose of Milk of Mag about once a week to keep my BMs normal.

After the first week I was so constipated it literally felt like I was being ripped open. I took the milk o mag and about an hour later it was all good.

I have regular movements....it's just they are so PAINFUL. I really didn't expect to go into this much detail about my poo until I was much older. I'm hoping by working in more fiber and continuing with the softeners....that maybe it will become something I don't DREAD quite so much. Right now I'm like...I have to go... and I sadly walk to the bathroom. It's horrifying.

I have regular movements....it's just they are so PAINFUL. I really didn't expect to go into this much detail about my poo until I was much older. <img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> I'm hoping by working in more fiber and continuing with the softeners....that maybe it will become something I don't DREAD quite so much. Right now I'm like...I have to go...<img src='http://www.bariatricpal.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> and I sadly walk to the bathroom. It's horrifying.

I have this feeling too. I go in the bathroom and I'm like please just let me need to pee. It hurts and like you I'm regular. I started taking a stool softener a few days ago but it looks like I may need to take more than 1 a day.

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I know all doctors have different rules for us follow. I was told 'no pills or tablets' for 30 days. But I was told to take a stool softener daily, which ONLY comes in liquigels. I couldn't even find it in a crushable tablet form. Hence the vile foul liquid. Which is now making me sick. Last night I was trying to mask the foul taste so I mixed it with a little applesauce, which didn't help at all! Shortly afterward I started getting cold sweats, severe gas, light-headedness, and nausea. I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom but didn't. I sat there battling the gas and nausea for about 20 minutes, before the feeling began to slowly pass. I felt okay about an hour later. Doesn't that sound like 'dumping'? Could two teaspoons of liquid medicine and a tablespoon of applesauce make me 'dump'?

So many of you are allowed to take pills immediately post-op. Does anybody have any problems relating to the pills? I'm calling my doctor's office tomorrow about this issue. I really just want to take the liquigels, which worked great for me pre-op. :-(

My doctor told me milk of magnesia, I took mint flavor 2 spoons if doesnt work in 4 hours take 2 spoons more.

I'll ask about the milk of magnesia tomorrow morning. :-) The whole idea of any bowel trouble freaks me out...

See, and this seems like a lot of trouble for you. Different doctors different rules. I took a full pain pill 2 days after surgery. I was sent home taking pills. No crushing or dissolving. I did dissolve some of the pain pills just because they worked quicker.

See' date=' and this seems like a lot of trouble for you. Different doctors different rules. I took a full pain pill 2 days after surgery. I was sent home taking pills. No crushing or dissolving. I did dissolve some of the pain pills just because they worked quicker.[/quote']

This one thing is becoming a lot of trouble for me, as you say. I will ask my team tomorrow, what the reasoning is behind this rule.

When I joined here I saw that there were differences in programs and I understand that. It's not about right or wrong, it's just different (although a doctor may have reasons for why he has certain orders) and we all need to trust our own teams. I chose my doctor so I feel I need to try my best to follow his instructions. So I will talk to them tomorrow.

Everything I read here gives me insight. I helps me understand different aspects of the process. And input from others here definitely makes me think. In the end, though I ask for input, I am a rule-follower and will follow up with my team. :-)

exactly as it should be.

Ended up going to see the NP today for a stubborn itchy rash that's been plaguing me. Since I was there I discussed my other issues with her. I can take Miralax for now. After 30 days I'm to take 2-4 stool softener liquigels daily, forever. She gave me some protein tips, too. She says I'm doing great and incisions look great. Now if only this damn rash would clear up...

Oh yeah. When I told her I tried the stool softener liquid from the drugstore she told me to dump it out. She said it works, but it's the worst-tasting stuff EVER. :-) :-)

I had my surgery 5/30. Had bm a few days after' date=' loose, but I'd rather have it that way, as I tend to be constipated. Everything was good all week but today I'm... constipated. I got very nervous because I'm not supposed to strain. I'm supposed to take stool softener but I can't have pills that can't be crushed for a whole month. All the stool softeners at the drugstore were liquigels. I talked to the pharmacist and they had a liquid I could take that they keep behind the counter that doesn't require a script. Best yet it was 1.75 for thirty days worth. I'm hoping it'll do the trick. But is it NASTY! :-p. I'm going to try it in applesauce next time.

Anyone have any tips to avoid it after I'm healed? I don't want to take something every time...[/quote']

I take a generic laxative every three days or so. You know the "gentle, overnight relief" kind. Works wonders for me. I take vicodin daily so that really constipates.

I take a generic laxative every three days or so. You know the "gentle, overnight relief" kind. Works wonders for me. I take vicodin daily so that really constipates.

Thanks Dorian. I had an appointment with my nutritionist today and was discussing this with her too. Between the iron, high protein focus w/less fiber, and hypothyroidism I will always be battling constipation. I'm sure I'll be using anything that offers relief in the future.