I can go weeks without a BM. I actually have to take a laxative to go. I don't want to depend on laxatives to have a BM. I have increased my water intake. Is there anything else I can try?

Try added benefiber to your daily routine. It will help. I've had problems too. I mix some benefiber with my morning shake and it has helped.

Miralax daily in one of your shakes.

You have to get serious about this as it can stretch your rectum (particularly if you over 40). Try any/all of the following:

- stool softeners without laxatives (eg: coloxyl... and you might need quite a bit)

- small enemas to get things "started" (eg: Microlax or if you r in US I've heard others mention Fleet Enema). You may need several if you have a hard stool blocking your rectum, and the longer it sits there the harder it gets

- If you have a rectocele already, "splinting" the wall between your vagina and rectum with fingers inserted in v can reduce the size of the rectocele and help you pass a BM). Some people find their perineum bulges as the rectocele forces down but not out, so pressure there can help

- Fibre is good as a preventive (though Benefibre doesn't seem to work for many), but once you get constipated fibre can actually make things worse, so use it with caution.

- Lots of Water is good and essential!

- A Lactulose solution (Lac-dol or Dulcolax) with water can be great - technically it's a sort of laxative but less dependency forming than laxative tablets - I have a bowel surgeon who advised me this as I have l/t problems since a major cancer op 7 years ago.

TMI I know (sorry) but GPs are often clueless about all this stuff and many people make themselves worse because they just don't know how to deal with this v common problem - we don't talk about it enough.

I hope something here helps. Good luck.

Edited October 13, 201312 yr by Sydney Susan

I'm 2 months out and have had a terrible time with constipation. I know use Mirakax and a stool softner daily and don't have any further problems.

I put a capful of miralax in my chamomile tea every night and I go poopie every day. Good luck!

I find eating a serving of high fiber cereal helps keep me regular. I stir All Bran into my Greek yogurt. I also use fiber gummies as well.

Oh wow! You guys are so helpful. I know miralax doesn't have a taste but I was afraid to add it my water...silly I know. Thanks for giving me the idea to add the miralax to my shake. My friend who also had the surgery told me about the fiber gummies. I will give that a try too. I had problems with going regularly after I had my twins. I defiantly going to apply some of these suggestions. Thank you so much!

This might sound a little silly, but baby food prunes are helpful for some people. They are pureed and easy to eat at any stage for a sleeved person.

I have been eating Activia Greek yogurt for a week now and it really helps. I have also found that eating slow cooked collard greens for one meal gets me going pretty quickly.

Edited October 14, 201312 yr by Fixerupper

I can go weeks without a BM. I actually have to take a laxative to go. I don't want to depend on laxatives to have a BM. I have increased my Water intake. Is there anything else I can try?

I went like clockwork before my surgery in July. Now, I drink smooth move herbal tea two- three times a week and it works wonders! I had the same problem and someone on here told me about the tea. Good luck!