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Hi everyone. I'm new here and 7 weeks pre-op, but on a standard post-op diet. I can't eat many raw vegetables because my stomach doesnt digest well. Without any grains for roughage, I'm stuck. I take magnesium in powder /drink form several times a week and have started taking Fiber gummies (but worry about the sugar). Admittedly, I maybe don't do enough cardio, but do other exercise. What do you guys do to stay regular? I think I've gained about 3 Ibs in impacted gunk, when my weight should be dropping. TIA.

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I eat a couple of prunes daily

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I have a cup of dandelion root tea and it gets things moving. Also good for liver and kidneys.

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My Constipation issue is bad. I use benefiber 2-3 x day, prunes at night and sunsweet light prune juice, 1/2 cup every night. If it does not get moving I take Miralax. I don't want to live on laxatives, all of the above were recommended by my surgeon. Smooth Move tea, I hear is great, but have not tried it. I really like to try and stay with the natural stuff first if at all possible. Good luck

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Miralax mixed in to a drink every day and a stool softener once or twice a week if needed. Long term use of magnesium can cause problems. Senna which is in tea and laxatives is really bad for you and can cause severe dehydration. Fiber doesn't do much for me.

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I'm six months out and this has been an ongoing issue. If I stay low carb ( which really helps my weight loss for now) I will have this issue. I saw my gastroenterologist about it and he said miralax is what they prefer I use and it was safe on a regular basis. I don't use it daily but it really does help when needed.

I've tried prunes, benefiber, Probiotics, and fiber gummies and none of these have worked for me long term. It's a difficult issue but as someone once posted, not a deal breaker. I just cope as best I can and enjoy losing the weight.

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Did you see a gastroenterologist before surgery? Mine prescribed amitiza. Kept things moving but i am more regular now. If fiber is not enough then you need more Water or it could backfire. Good luck.

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All the suggestions above may help. For me, if I don't get all my Water in, Constipation is guaranteed. Before surgery, I was very regular and never had any constipation issues. I've realized if I miss my daily Water goal, I'm in trouble.

I used prunes, Dulcolax stool soften and water to fix the situation.

Best wishes to you!

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Ugh! I've tried all these things, except the tea, including the heavy hitters from the gastroenterologists, like Amitiza. Prunes work like a charm, but I'm allergic. As for Water, I drink 70-100 ounces a day bc I'm still pre-op. I think there must be some magic combo of things that will work. I was hoping there was just some protocol that was uniformly prescribed, but I guess not. Thanks for all your responses though.

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I am almost 12 weeks out from surgery and suffer with Constipation issues....I have been taking copacetic once a day but I am adding Miralax this week and hoping for the best! I always get plenty of fluids and have started adding veggies back in! Good luck!

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I was on fiber (metimucil) for a while, but haven't had to take any additional fiber in about the past 90 days or so. I still take a probiotic to help regulate my digestive trace and that is honestly probably what is keeping me from needing the fiber.

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Milk of magnesia works like a charm

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Suggested by others on this site. Smooth Move tea! You can get it at any Whole Foods. One cup at night before bed and you are good to "go" by the next day. I am 6 weeks post op and drink about 2-3 cups a week to keep it moving!

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      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

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        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

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