Constipation after Band to Bypass?

[DanaBradshaw 2]

Hi there,

I was banded for 6 years, had the band removed on April 5 and will be Bypassed on July 19. During the 6 years I was banded I suffered from terrible Constipation and two months prior to the band removal I had a bowel obstruction requiring me to go to hospital in an ambulance which was very scary. Since the band was removed, my issues have become much better, although I still have some trouble at times despite my fibre and Water intake being extremely high....well over 90 grams of fibre per day in the form of Bran for Breakfast and bran muffins that I eat at afternoon tea time, along with three servings of Benefibre a day. I have a three litre water bottle on my desk at work and make sure I finish it every day, so would drink more than 3 litres as I drink with my dinner of an evening also. My concern is that I may go back to having constipation after Bypass and won't have the option to simply have the Bypass reversed should my bowel become as bad as it ended up whilst I was banded....this was one of the main reasons for removal. Anyone else had trouble with constipation while banded, been bypassed and had bowel problems after Bypass? Really frightened and don't ever want to have the obstruction experience again....I have type 2 diabetes and have been advised by the surgeon that there is around an 87 percent chance that I will no longer have diabetes after Bypass (this is my main motivation for having the surgery), a percentage that I think is quite worth the surgery...just frightened that my bowel will go into closure mode again :-)

[James Marusek 5,244]

I had Type II diabetes and was taking 2 prescription medicines prior to RNY gastric bypass surgery. When I left the hospital 2 days after surgery, I was off all my blood sugar medicines and haven't taken any since. I am 4 years post-op and once per month check my blood sugar levels to verify they are still normal. It was that quick. Some diabetes patients do not experience this effect, but many do. Some see a reduction in the amount of medicine they are taking for the condition. From what I can see, it somewhat depends on how long you have been suffering with this condition and if you progressed to insulin to treat the condition.

Generally right after surgery, the volume of food is so minimal that you will not experience Constipation at the beginning. At least that is my experience. You may not have a bowel movement in the first week but that is due to a lack of solid food. As time goes on and you transition to solids, constipation can appear. Sometimes I became so compacted that I had to use a glycerin suppository and place it up my rear end for relief. This worked effectively but I did not want to do this for ever. For me, I found a simple solution. I ate an apple a day just before bedtime and the next morning would generally result in a bowel movement. But there is a trick to this. I had to eat the skin in addition to the pulp. So apple sauce would not work. These are the recommendations from several individuals on this site for dealing with constipation after surgery.

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 (be careful with this one because it can cause the runs)

Aerobic Magnesium 07

Ground Flax Seeds (but don’t try to grind it yourself). Use 2 tablespoons per glass of Water every night before going to bed.

Bowel Clear (herbal blend)

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 minute

[DanaBradshaw 2]

Thanks James. I have been on insulin for many years with the diabetes but reduced my dose tovery minimal after banding...went off insulin completely for a few months however started to gain weight and insulin requirements are creeping up again...fingers crossed I can come off it again after bypass!