What can I take to help my bowels move? I haven't had a bowel movement in almost a week? I already know about benefiber and miralax, but those don't seem to work and I'm hoping that someone may have an at home remedy that works for them?

Some people use a tea called Smooth Move that is supposed to work. I haven't tried it yet myself.

I have used milk of magnesium and that has worked for me.

milk of magnesium and stay close to the toilet! it works!

i feel for you! I had extreme constipation and had 1 BM in 3 weeks! I didnt hurt though - What finally did it was increasing my Water intake, MoM and smooth move tea. MoM will hit you suddenly so try and take the night before you will be able to be close to the bathroom the next day. Good luck!

Some of the recommendations from past links on this website made the following recommendations for constipation:

Apples with the skin

Smooth Move Herbal Tea

Prune juice (warmed)

Prunes (4 in the morning and 4 at night)

Magnesium citrate

Insoluble fibers (Garden of Life Raw Fiber or Renew Life Triple Fiber).

Haribo sugar free Gummy Bears

Aerobic Magnesium 07

Low Fat Bran Muffin (recipe). 80 calories each

1 cup flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon cinnamon

2 cups bran Cereal

1 ¼ cups milk

1 egg

½ tablespoon applesauce

optional: banana, berries, mini chocolate chips

Bake 400° F for 22 minutes

But if you haven't had a bowel movement in about a week, you may have to go with a more extreme method because you are bound up. These are Glycerin Suppositories. You have to insert these in your rectum. They are pretty fast acting. But you might need to do this a couple times in order to free yourself up.

@@James Marusek I know this post was about "poo" ...

But dang that recipe for the muffins sounds sooooooooooo good!

thank you for sharing !!

and @leag78 I hope you're feeling better!

If it's bothersome to you, then please call your MD's office. Don't wait until you end up with serious problems. I'm not saying that you do have anything serious. I'm just suggesting that you call and let them guide you .

I know I always have a RX for Ducolax/Colace for just such times since my sleeve surgery.

Feel better.

This is not a problem for me at 11 mos post surgery, but for the first five months, i learned that the 4 prunes in the am and 4 prunes in the pm did it for me, and when it was not as effective I did take a bit of metamucil.

Thanks for the tips everyone. The milk of magnesia actually worked. I just don't want to have to depend on that to have a BM.[emoji17]

Leag78 im a lil over two weeks post op. My doctor sent me home with a stool softener Rx...says take twice a day but that not happening...i just started it back up today cause i feel pressure and i know thats what its from... It may be ummm there already just to hard especially if all you having is protein right now...