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Chronic Constipation

I am now 10 weeks post RNY and my constipation issues are worse than ever. I've had problems with constipation prior to surgery, now its worse due to the fact that I'm taking in more protein and less water. By the way, I am trying to drink more water, I just can't seem to get enough in- in a day. The constipation makes it difficult to keep food down. Does anyone have suggestions that do not cause abdominal discomfort?

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  • Pedro Valle-Inclan
    Pedro Valle-Inclan

    Yeah actually that is the one thing that is a real drag, even though I'm on puree phase I have to drink milk of magnesia twice a week to go.... hmmmm

  • Sunshine8946
    Sunshine8946

    I am with you @Klaselsyd! In fact I am in the fetal position as we speak because the cramps and shooting pains from the constipation are so bad. This happens once a week when I take ducolax to try and

  • My doctor has me take milk of magnesia too! I also had constipation prior to my rny but its worse now. The milk of magnesia works like a charm!! Highly recommend it!

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Yeah actually that is the one thing that is a real drag, even though I'm on puree phase

I have to drink milk of magnesia twice a week to go.... hmmmm

I am with you @Klaselsyd! In fact I am in the fetal position as we speak because the cramps and shooting pains from the constipation are so bad. This happens once a week when I take ducolax to try and get things moving. My doc just prescribed me a daily medication to take for the time being. We'll see how that goes! Good luck to you!

My doctor has me take milk of magnesia too! I also had constipation prior to my rny but its worse now. The milk of magnesia works like a charm!! Highly recommend it!

I take 2 Probiotics with my yogurt in the morning. Also 2 stool softeners at night , which I also did before surgery because like you its always been an issue BUT now everynight I also take 2 tbsp. milk of magnesia and I go everyday - I love it!!!

I was advised to do this off this site .... and through research on computer also.

See what you need to make you be comfortable - but I so recommend you try these meds and be comfortable again ;)

I am not sure you will need as much BUT I was so miserable ...and I am so happy now

Good Luck!!!

  • Author

I am with you @Klaselsyd! In fact I am in the fetal position as we speak because the cramps and shooting pains from the constipation are so bad. This happens once a week when I take ducolax to try and get things moving. My doc just prescribed me a daily medication to take for the time being. We'll see how that goes! Good luck to you!

Sheesh! I'm so sorry your going through this too! Its ridiculously uncomfortable. Have you tried Miralax. Its rather pricy, but you can buy the Walmart brand. I also use Colace capsules from Target, senna tea called Smooth Move. I'm doing it all! Good luck to you too!
  • Author

I take 2 probiotics with my yogurt in the morning. Also 2 stool softeners at night , which I also did before surgery because like you its always been an issue BUT now everynight I also take 2 tbsp. milk of magnesia and I go everyday - I love it!!!

I was advised to do this off this site .... and through research on computer also.

See what you need to make you be comfortable - but I so recommend you try these meds and be comfortable again ;)

I am not sure you will need as much BUT I was so miserable ...and I am so happy now

Good Luck!!!

Thanks BonnieJo! I'm going to start taking the Colace every night and try to do Miralax daily. I get so bloated and uncomfortable from the constipation that it causes pain. I use to use Magnesium Citrate, but that's carbonated so I can't use it anymore, but it really works too. Thanks so much for the advice!

I've been embarrased to ask for help but since you started the subject, I"m gonna just jump right in! At 3 months out I am taking either Colace (a stool softener) or Senekot (a stimulant, i.e. irritant to the bowels) every night. I alternate so that I don't get dependent on either.

But I would love some other options. Have tried Miralax but since I can only drink an ounce at a time, I couldn't get in enough to do any good. Several of you mentioned Milk of Magnesia - any drawbacks to that? How much do you have to take for it to do its job?

I am 18 months out and still struggle daily. I have been taking 2 stool softeners with laxative in them twice daily.

Recently my gi doc gave me a prescription for Linzess. It sort of helps but it's expensive and many insurance companies won't pay for it. I don't think I will renew that prescription because the stool softeners with laxative work better.

Miralax and regular colace without stool softeners don't help me at all. I get plenty of Fiber and drink well over 60 0z. Of Water everyday. If I have a day where I am under 60 oz. I don't go for a couple days.

It really is one of the drags about WLS but I would rather deal with this than weigh 146lbs more than I do today.

  • Author

I am 18 months out and still struggle daily. I have been taking 2 stool softeners with laxative in them twice daily.

Recently my gi doc gave me a prescription for Linzess. It sort of helps but it's expensive and many insurance companies won't pay for it. I don't think I will renew that prescription because the stool softeners with laxative work better.

Miralax and regular colace without stool softeners don't help me at all. I get plenty of Fiber and drink well over 60 0z. Of Water everyday. If I have a day where I am under 60 oz. I don't go for a couple days.

It really is one of the drags about WLS but I would rather deal with this than weigh 146lbs more than I do today.

Thanks for chiming in! I was prescribed Linzess too. It is way too expensive and doesn't work for me at all. Wow! You get 60oz of water in a day at only 3 months post WLS? That's great! I'm working my way up to that but I anticipate that I will still have to manage my constipation daily. ????

I am 18 months out and still struggle daily. I have been taking 2 stool softeners with laxative in them twice daily.

Recently my gi doc gave me a prescription for Linzess. It sort of helps but it's expensive and many insurance companies won't pay for it. I don't think I will renew that prescription because the stool softeners with laxative work better.

Miralax and regular colace without stool softeners don't help me at all. I get plenty of fiber and drink well over 60 0z. Of water everyday. If I have a day where I am under 60 oz. I don't go for a couple days.

It really is one of the drags about WLS but I would rather deal with this than weigh 146lbs more than I do today.

Thanks for chiming in! I was prescribed Linzess too. It is so expensive and doesn't work for me at all. Wow! You get 60oz of water in a day at only 3 months post WLS? That's great! I'm working my way up to that but I anticipate that I will still have to manage my constipation daily. ????
  • Author

I am 18 months out and still struggle daily. I have been taking 2 stool softeners with laxative in them twice daily.

Recently my gi doc gave me a prescription for Linzess. It sort of helps but it's expensive and many insurance companies won't pay for it. I don't think I will renew that prescription because the stool softeners with laxative work better.

Miralax and regular colace without stool softeners don't help me at all. I get plenty of fiber and drink well over 60 0z. Of Water everyday. If I have a day where I am under 60 oz. I don't go for a couple days.

It really is one of the drags about WLS but I would rather deal with this than weigh 146lbs more than I do today.

Thanks for chiming in! I was prescribed Linzess too. It is way too expensive and doesn't work for me at all. Wow! You get 60oz of water in a day at only 3 months post WLS? That's great! I'm working my way up to that but I anticipate that I will still have to manage my constipation daily. ????

I am 18 months out and still struggle daily. I have been taking 2 stool softeners with laxative in them twice daily.

Recently my gi doc gave me a prescription for Linzess. It sort of helps but it's expensive and many insurance companies won't pay for it. I don't think I will renew that prescription because the stool softeners with laxative work better.

Miralax and regular colace without stool softeners don't help me at all. I get plenty of fiber and drink well over 60 0z. Of water everyday. If I have a day where I am under 60 oz. I don't go for a couple days.

It really is one of the drags about WLS but I would rather deal with this than weigh 146lbs more than I do today.

Thanks for chiming in! I was prescribed Linzess too. It is so expensive and doesn't work for me at all. Wow! You get 60oz of water in a day at only 18 months post WLS? That's great! I'm working my way up to that but I anticipate that I will still have to manage my constipation daily. ????

I suffered chronic constipation that was painful. I mix miralax in my morning V8 Fusion energy juice every morning. I dont like coffee so this is my morning drink. Surgeon is perfectly fine with it. Just beware some days you'll have looser than normal stool. But I'd rather be "going" than not.

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