I need to talk about constipation post op

[Gottajustdoit 220]

wjgo--thank you. How soon after surgery were you able to have gummies? I will give those a try too when I confirm with my doctor when I can have Fiber supplements. I'm still at a point where I can't introduce fresh veggies (real fibrous foods). *sigh*

[Gottajustdoit 220]

4 hours ago, GettinSkinnywithit said:

I use benefiber with every Protein Shake I mix up in the morning and switch up with some mirrolax if things need a little extra kick. I bought some of the glycerin because it got bad in the beginning but never used them, and I could have named some of my bm's... All that Protein will block you up like a cornered racoon.

Hmmmmm....so you think it's the Protein that's causing the Rock of Gibralter in my colon? I assumed it was the Vitamins and small amounts of food. That's the first I heard of protein doing this. My doc has advised against Benefiber, at least at this early stage. I wish there had been more pre-op "training" about how bad the Constipation can be. My doctor told me to use Colace (but not swallow the gel pills)....so, I drained them, but no luck in the evacuation department on Colace.

[Sheribear68 3,201]

On 03/18/2019 at 09:44, Gottajustdoit said:

Thanks for the warning! The reviews on Amazon say the oral solution "works like a charm" but I think you need to drink a whole bottle. I will get some Miralex powder today. The only thing that has had any effect so far (and it's minimal) is the Doculux tablets (so tiny I take them whole). They do make me feel horrible though in terms of cramping, nausea. I honestly find the Constipation the worse part of the post-surgery process... Can you taste the Miralax? I had some issues with constipation during the Clear Liquids pre-op diet but I added Benefiber to my Water and it worked great. I started Benefiber again (did NOT work) and besides, some posters say that Fiber is NOT ALLOWED at this stage. Yes, finding the balance is very hard.

I put the miralax in plain Water and can’t taste it. The only thing I notice is maybe the water tastes like smart water.... a little alkaline and mineral-y tasting.
IMO, not at all unpleasant.
It can also be put in any kind of juice, but for some reason it doesn’t dissolve very well in milk.

[GettinSkinnywithit 180]

On 03/18/2019 at 16:31, Gottajustdoit said:

Hmmmmm....so you think it's the Protein that's causing the Rock of Gibralter in my colon? I assumed it was the Vitamins and small amounts of food. That's the first I heard of Protein doing this. My doc has advised against Benefiber, at least at this early stage. I wish there had been more pre-op "training" about how bad the Constipation can be. My doctor told me to use Colace (but not swallow the gel pills)....so, I drained them, but no luck in the evacuation department on Colace.

Protein is definitely a big part of it.

[Bari_KS 499]

Large doses of both Protein and calcium citrate lead to Constipation.

[froufrou 678]

Iron can also make you constipated.

[CurvyMom 386]

Try Smooth Move tea also.

[maggieserrate 0]

Has anyone used Linzess a prescription med? I am 4 years out never had issues until now.

[Gottajustdoit 220]

2 hours ago, CurvyMom said:

Try Smooth Move tea also.

This worked before surgery but I've been drinking it for days and, well....nothing. 😞

[Sweettoothless 100]

On 3/18/2019 at 8:38 AM, Gottajustdoit said:

"Soft serve" ha ha! Thanks for this information. I actually bought some but haven't used them yet. Is there any negative to using them as often as you do? I'm started taking the maximum allotted Doculax tablets but the cramping and some nausea as a result are not fun either. I know laxatives are not the best solution long-term. I just cannot swallow that awful viscous Phillips Milk of Magnesia. Makes me gag. Would much rather go the suppository route than vomit the Phillips. I appreciate you responding!

I don't think it has any long term side effects. Since it is only a poo melter it doesn't cause any cramping and it doesn't stimulate your bowels. I like that I don't have to use it every day so it isn't like my body forgot how to poo or anything like that. Also, a squatty potty is helpful too and pretty cheap at around $20 and you can Amazon it so you don't get embarrassed.

[Sweettoothless 100]

1 minute ago, Sweettoothless said:

I don't think it has any long term side effects. Since it is only a poo melter it doesn't cause any cramping and it doesn't stimulate your bowels. I like that I don't have to use it every day so it isn't like my body forgot how to poo or anything like that. Also, a squatty potty is helpful too and pretty cheap at around $20 and you can Amazon it so you don't get embarrassed.

Also this is totally tmi but if you get really really backed up you can use a glycerin suppository and it will melt some of that big giant hard poo that is stuck. Then you can use another one and it will melt off some more. Eventually the cannonball sized hard poo will get melted down to golf ball size. I had the worst experience pooing the week after because I was poorly prepared and poorly researched and too embarassed to ask anyone.

[FluffyH00 4]

I am almost 3 weeks post op and did not have any issues with Constipation. My husband also had his surgery done almost 10 months ago and had some of the same issues with constipation that you speak of. He tried several things at first. He definitely did the baby prunes and miralax for a while. Now that he is a bit further out from surgery, he tends to make sure that he gets a good amount of fiber with the foods that he eats on a daily basis. Hopefully you will find some relief soon!

[CurvyMom 386]

I don't have a lot of issues, but if the Smooth Move tea doesn't work...the one thing that I noticed for me was as soon as I could and veggies back in, I was fine. My NUT said do not add fiber if you are already backed up because it can make it worse. I used miralax every night until my issues resolved themselves and not I am doing okay.....most days LOL

[mhuerta43 1]

Ginger tea first thing in morning gets thing moving.

[NeedsTheBeach 56]

My doctor said Milk of Magnesia every night until things got back to normal. Took only a few days for that to happen.