I'm two weeks out I have just been drinking protein shake n Gatorade/ protein water. But since I can't get enough liquids I'm dehydrated... this has led me to be constipated or idk if it's lack of fiber or cuz I stopped my metformin but it's been a week & I want to know if I can strain ??? I've started chewable fiber & took two stool softeners today ! Still it seems STUCK just like my life. I feel like once I'm relieved I'm only gonna drink fiber over protein

My doctor suggested that I take a mild stool softener daily to help with my regularly but I often forget. I am one week post op VGS and honestly just pooped for the first time today and it felt so satisfying [emoji23][emoji23] tmi I know lol. If you are concerned you should definitely call your surgeons office and ask if there is anything you should be worried about. Hopefully the stool softener helps.

My doctor suggested that I take a mild stool softener daily to help with my regularly but I often forget. I am one week post op VGS and honestly just pooped for the first time today and it felt so satisfying [emoji23][emoji23] tmi I know lol. If you are concerned you should definitely call your surgeons office and ask if there is anything you should be worried about. Hopefully the stool softener helps.

Thanks for your response I had two stool softeners today n got nothing. I tried sitz bath prune juice (which literally burnt my esophagus) ... only thing left is suppository tomorrow.
I wanna know if it's okay to strain cuz of incisions on your abs I don't want a hernia!

It's definitely not a good idea to be forcing at this point. You don't want to put any excess stress on your healing stomach. At this point our stomachs are still very fragile. Take it easy and try what you can then call the doctors office if they fail.

39 minutes ago, Amy1234 said:

Thanks for your response I had two stool softeners today n got nothing. I tried sitz bath prune juice (which literally burnt my esophagus) ... only thing left is suppository tomorrow.
I wanna know if it's okay to strain cuz of incisions on your abs I don't want a hernia!

Fleet enemas are good for getting things moving immediately. Miralax or milk of magnesia are good to add daily until you are on a regular diet.

Do NOT add fiber until you are able to meet/exceed fluid goals every day. Fiber can block you up if there isn't enough water to flush it through.

If/when you are allowed to have a spinach smoothie each day, those help me.

Straining productively isn't going to hurt you. If you strain and nothing happens, then don't keep at it. (For example, the enema will create the need to strain, but things are moving.. so it's ok.)

The first couple weeks postop we all need to be pretty agressive with this. At first, the intestines can take 3 days to wake up from anaesthesia. Then we don't have enough water on board, and add pain meds and protein shakes, and it's a veritable firestorm.

I used enemas every other day from 5 days postop until 21 days postop. Didn't hurt a thing (no long term dependency or anything), and kept things moving. My GI doc was impressed by my proactivity.

I am 10 months out. My surgeon said to take stool softeners EVERY day (I take two Colace), AND take Miralax as often as needed--even daily. For extra boost when really constipated, he said take Milk of Magnesia. I've had to do all those. The first week after surgery, I had a serious plug and (I know this sounds gross but many other people have done this too) I had to use a plastic glove and actually use my finger to unplug it. TOO much strain can cause hemorrhoids or fissures. After I was allowed to eat regular food, I began eating Fiber one cereal or oatmeal daily. That helps too. I have never had another plug like that one.

Add resistant starch (even a teaspoon of potato starch in your water), drink one of those magnesium drinks (a powder st the health food store called Calm something) or take a magnesium capsule at night if you can take pills. And get some glycerine suppositories. You will poop about 15-20 mins after inserting one.

I second the miralax! I take two doses a day. I also do benefiber but I get at least 64 oz of water in a day.

It may seem like a lot to some people but that is what it takes for me. If things still aren't working, you can bug your dr to ask what else you can do.

Ducolax is gentle for me and many others as well.

If you are really desperate and can tolerate it, drinking an empsom salt solution is a surefire way o get things moving. However it is not pleasant!!!! (It feels like roto rooter has gone through my system. And my system is upset for a few days after.) You should check with your Dr before doing this. I can imagine that most doctors wouldn't want a patient to do this for at least a few months after surgery.

I take a 250mg magnesium supplement every day. It keeps me regular without going overboard, but be warned - if you take too much it will give you diarrhea.

Miralax daily. It was practically orgasmic when it happened?

I also use smooth move tea.. got it at the grocery store. BUT, it's a stimulant laxative (like ex-lax), so it's not good to use daily for weeks or months. The body can become dependent on these types of meds. Miralax and milk of magnesia work differently, so the body doesn't become dependent.

The best thing for long term is finding a selection of foods that you can eat daily and that will keep you regular. Everyone is different, so it's just a matter of experimenting until you figure it out.

It CAN BE an ongoing issue. There for a while, I was as regular as clockwork. Perfect stool. Lately I've had to go back and use supplements until I can figure out if I changed something, or what... (I'm over 5 months out).

I would love diarrhea any day ... I have hemorrhoids so it's like trying to pass broken glass. Sorry for tmi but I'm regretting the surgery I wanna cry ... consti is my worst nightmare

I'm so mad the doc didn't tell me to have stool softeners daily . I'll get the magnesium

Try miralax