Ok Ladies..my surgery is 7/9. I’ve been on my pre-op diet (800-1000 calories, high protein, low carb, even lower fat) and have noticed how infrequent BM are. I’m sure it’s due to the huge uptick in the amount of protein I’m eating. I don’t feel bloated but am concerned about going into surgery with out having had a BM in 3 days. Can I take something for this? Should I take something for this? I have been drinking 64 ozs of liquids too.

Many advice would be appreciated?

Liquid protein is very constipating, you might need something - call and ask if they want you to take something specific.

?AGREED?

My doctor recommended milk of magnesia for any constipation. It's over the counter. And expect similar after surgery. I used to poop every morning, now it's like every other day.

Check if it's okay with your doctor, but some [nasty-tasting] Magnesium Citrate would ~ clean you out and get some of the built-up stool out of your intestines. If so, use it (the afternoon before the day of your surgery, so you'll be finished with that by bedtime (and won't be pooping on the way to surgery, nor on the OR table). :-)

Note: MgCitrate can remove a lot of water from your gut; so again, see if they are okay with your using that. They wouldn't want to deplete your potassium or have you get ~ dehydrated pre-op. (It also would make your intestines flatter and less at risk of operative injury.)

Less dramatic a stool might come with Perdiem (or at WalMart, the Equate brand BM aid/yellow bottle). But with that, it's a granular pill, and little particulate matter might remain. MOM is another alternate, but it's ~ milky/chalky.

See what your doctor wants you to do. Just some possible thoughts here.

Edited July 8, 20197 yr by Dr-Patient
typo

it's all the protein and not taking in much - if any - fiber. As the above poster said, it'll be the same for awhile after surgery, too, if you're still on a liquid diet then (most of us are). I don't remember doing anything about it pre-surgery, but they told us to take stool softeners and something like Benefiber post-surgery to get things going. Just check with your clinic.

And I followed Fluffy Chix example before mine, cleaned that rascally colon out, good that I did because even now it's double Miralax daily and there days I must have gotten below par hydration because I had to resort to Ducolax. And for me one tablet doesn't rush things along fast, still no results until next day. Tried 2, now that was a different story, thought I got elected to the Poo-?- Hall of Fame! Every movement was a Double Flusher! Should have weighed myself to see how much my weight decreased.

I have had constipation from the start. Definitely ask your Doctor what he/she would prefer you to take. Mine said to use a stool softener and if I go 2 days without BM to use a mild laxative. If I miss a second day I take the softener and mild laxative. I am one month out and I have about 4 BMs a week. About 2 are... difficult. I was told in time, after I start eating more regular, that may resolve.

Best of luck.

I am on Colace. First week I was taking 2 a day.....now i'm down to needing only 1 a day.

The safest way is meralax in Powerade it's safe to even use the whole container just drink it with electrolytes

Sent from my moto g(7) power using BariatricPal mobile app

5 hours ago, ashleeNieto said:

The safest way is meralax in Powerade it's safe to even use the whole container just drink it with electrolytes

Sent from my moto g(7) power using BariatricPal mobile app

I also take a capful of Miralax every day. I just dump it in my protein shake. It'll usually do the trick - but I still get backed up once or twice a month. When I get to that point, I just take milk of magnesia for a night or two to get rid of it.