What does everyone use for severe constipation ? My Dr is saying prune juice but I'm hearing it doesn't work

I use lactolose, that seems to work for me

Severe constipation is a common problem after surgery. Make sure you are getting enough fluids each day because the lack of fluids can lead to constipation. For me I found that eating an apple each night before bedtime solved the problem. But you have to eat the skin of the apple otherwise it doesn't work. There is an herbal tea called "Smooth Move" that can help. Others say warm prune juice helps. Others say eating prunes does the trick. For some strange reason eating a few sugar free gummie bears does the trick. But be careful with this one because it generates a strong reaction.

Two tablespoons of mineral oil every night before I go to bed honestly saved my life! I had never experienced constipation before I had surgery, and when it hit, it was horrible. I did everything I knew to do for months, and nothing worked, including Colace. My sister told me to try mineral oil because her 9 year old grandson has chronic constipation and was told by is gastroenterologist to take it. I've been taking it for a couple of months now and have not experienced constipation since, and it's super cheap! It's without a doubt the best tip I've gotten since surgery!

Best of luck to you.

Carol

Great topic, I'm 3 weeks post-op bypass and the last 10 days or so have SUFFERED with severe constipation -- a Fleet enema helped SO MUCH yesterday, but that is obviously not an on-going solution. My dietitian suggested Dulcolax stool softener daily, so that is what I will try next (tried Metamucil and all I got was lots of cramps and not much action if you get my drift... ( )

I do think that doctors and dietitians should pay more attention to this issue and offer a real plan to ward it off if possible other than drinking more Water, because we're all trying to do that anyway. I think that they have never spent HOURS in the bathroom, straining to the point of almost hyperventilating and reduced to tears of pain, stress and frustration. Unless you've experienced how bad a problem this can be, I think the problem of severe constipation gets pooh-poohed - not pun intended, because it's NOT funny -

Della street I so agree with you ! I'm only 11 days post op. Thank you everyone ! I know my nut says to take metimucil but I think not until at least 2 months post op. Just want to be regular again.

As I mentioned in another post this really concerns me since I had such a bad time with constipation after hip replacement surgery in December. My worst day in the first two weeks was due to constipation ..nit the major slashing my body had gone through.

I like the mineral oil idea..my grandfather use to take it once a week..and whew..we all had to leave the house. I am just wondering Carolk36 if you had any bad reactions to it.

I've been taking Colace for a week or so, but it doesn't seem to help. Before surgery, I was on metformin and that caused very loose BMs on a daily basis. After surgery, I was taken off of the metformin and my body is now in the other realm. Constipation is killing me

I may try the mineral oil. Thanks for the tip!

The only "bad" reaction to it is once in a while it leaves an oily residue in the toilet...sorry, I know, TMI, and that's really not a big deal. I have skipped a day and taken it every other day before but I find FOR ME, every night works perfects. I go every day, with no problem while taking it. Hope you find what works best for you!

I like the mineral oil idea..my grandfather use to take it once a week..and whew..we all had to leave the house. I am just wondering Carolk36 if you had any bad reactions to it.

I have struggled with this. I am three weeks out today. My Dr. told me to get benefiber and use it daily. I had Mirilax but he said that is too strong for daily use. If we have to go to that we can later; but he wanted me to start with benefiber. So, I have been adding it to everything all day long. It seems to have helped - however it takes a while to get going. In the meantime, I used Milk of Magnesia - the sugar free plain variety and added a squirt of flavored MIO to give it some flavor other than the chalky nastiness. Now, whenever I don't think the benefiber is doing the trick, I add Milk of Magnesia.

Also, I drink an herbal tea call Laxatea. I am sure it is like the SmoothMove that has been mentioned.

Good luck!

Do the sell the tea at grocery stores ?

Do the sell the tea at grocery stores ?

There are two kinds I know of. One is called Dieters Tea and one Detox tea made by Yogi. You can usually find them in larger grocery stores. Dh just had hernia surgery and also suffered from constipation. The teas are his go to thing. But they didn't work this time.

Do the sell the tea at grocery stores ?

Smooth Move tea is available at Krogers (and probably other grocery stores).

My surgeon's office has their patients start Miralax on day 3 post-op. We're allowed to take up to 3 doses a day. It worked so well for me that I only have to take it every other day. I had no constipation problems post-op.

The Laxatea is the Celestial brand and I got it at Kroger. I couldn't find the smooth move.

Last night I tried Prune juice but immediately it hurt my stomach didn't take anymore. Maybe I should try the mirolax or tea.