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When does constipation ease up



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I'm in week 4 since my surgery. Never had a problem with Constipation before. It's been an issue for the past two weeks. I've tried many different approaches to no avail. I currently care mor about constipation than losing weight. For those who had a similar experience, did it ease up once you got past purée foods?

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You are not going to like my answer and maybe things are different because you are a sleeve patient and I am a RNY patient but I have been dealing with Constipation issues since my surgery two years ago. Prior to surgery I never experienced it, I always had the other problem.

Anyway, about 10 months ago, my gastroenterologist put me in Linzess and it works fantastic. You might give your surgeon a call and let them know that your constipation is bad.

Also, are you still on pain meds? that can make it even worse.

best of luck to you!

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I also had the back door trots before my RNY. Now it can be the other way too. I hesitate to take anything for either because it goes the opposite way. From back from back door trots to being constipated. But I can tell you something that I learned while working with the elderly. Take dried prunes cover them with Water steep them until they are soft. Eat a few and drink some of the warm juice. YOU WILL GO! It might give you lots of gas too. But it will be so worth it in the long run.

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Constipation is one of the most common side effects of weight loss surgery (well, with the exception of DS - I think many DS'ers have the opposite problem). I think it has more to do with the diet and supplements than the surgery. High Protein, low carb (meaning low fiber), Iron and Calcium supplements all factor in.

I take magnesium capsules and Benefiber every day and take Miralax a couple of times a week whether I need it or not. Some people take Miralax every day. Others find relief with things like Smooth Move Tea. Some take Colace every day. You just have to experiment with different treatments and combos of treatments to see what works for you. But definitely keep on top of it so you won't get really backed up and be miserable!!

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I'm 13 weeks out. Supposedly it should get better once you add vegetables and Fiber back into your diet. I've only just been clear for vegetables, but just a small amount vs Protein. So far I really haven't seen much improvement. It seems I have a teeny tiny BM every five days or so. And that is usually helped with dulcolox. ugh. I almost recjoice afterwards. I can almost guarantee a weight loss the next day. :)

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Magnesium citrate is a supplement available in the Vitamin aisle. Magnesium acts as a natural stool softener, whereas Fiber is a bulking agent in stools. If I take fiber when I am constipated, it's a sure fire way to end up feeling constipated with large BMs that are painful to pass.

The fiber in the Protein drinks on my preop led me to research what I could do for relief, since taking senna laxatives never produced the desired effect. At a regular dosage, they do nothing. Add an extra pill or two and I end up in serious trouble. I work as a truck driver, so finding a bathroom last minute is never a good thing.

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I'm week 10, and I still get it off and on...

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I was about to die from it after surgery til 2 weeks ago I added colace 2 in the morning everyday much better. Miralax doesn't work for me

Sent from my 5054N using the BariatricPal App

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Omg! I'm dealing with Constipation during my NUT visit's. I hope it goes away

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    • LeighaTR

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      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

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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. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • 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

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

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

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
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