TMI, but concerned about bowel movements

[ShoppGirl 5,076]

I am in purée/ soft food stage (sorta in between) and I noticed a little Constipation the other day and dr office said to take Fiber so I did all day yesterday but then I didn’t go at all. After surgery they said if you didn’t go for two days it was the start of a big deal is this the same now? Should I just take the milk of magnesia after two days like right afterwards. Is getting enough fiber going to be a lifelong challenge?

[MiraMar 4]

I also had really intense Constipation for the first month after the sleeve. I took Benefiber and stool softeners and drank 90 oz of Water a day, but I still had long bouts of painful constipation (5 days or more).

At my one month check-in with the nutritionist, she told me it was fine to use Milk of Magnesia every other day prophylactically until I started getting more plant fiber in my diet. She also told me to add chia seeds to my Greek yogurt. This worked for that second month and, now 2.5 months out, I am able to eat more veggies and not taking the Milk of Magnesia anymore and am totally regular lol.

TL;DR In my experience, getting enough fiber gets easier every week. Talk to your surgeon or nutritionist about Milk of Magnesia. My nutritionist didn't want people relying on it indefinitely, but was fine with me using it very regularly for a month until I started getting more fiber.

[Elidh 241]

This was a big problem for me right after surgery as well. Now, my routine is benefiber one day, Miralax the next day, benefiber the next, etc. etc. it seems to have done the trick, but I can’t let up....

[Kris77 1,540]

I am pretty far out from surgery and still have bouts w Constipation (7/2018 sleeved)
When it happens I start putting a scoop of miralax in my coffee in the morning and if it doesn’t work the first day it does by the second day. Works for me.

[catwoman7 11,285]

just so you know, chronic Constipation is a common problem even years after surgery. Some people get over it once they start adding fiber to their diet, but some of us don't. It's not really due to the surgery, it's due to the high Protein diet and also, some of the supplements (mainly Iron and calcium). All of those are known to back people up. I know a lot of people (myself included) who take a capful of Miralax every morning to keep on top of it. Others take stool softeners, drink Smooth Move tea, take magnesium tablets, or eat a few prunes every day. Whatever it takes..

[ShoppGirl 5,076]

Okay so I just found something that may help me and others in the purée stage with getting fiber. Oikos yogurt has 3g per serving. I don’t love Greek yogurt but I checked mine and it has none (my husband had the Greek stuff and he pointed it out) so I added a packet of Splenda and it’s isn’t super horrible that way. Tastes better than milk of magnesia. I read that we should try to get 5G per 1000 calories so I am gonna try to get one of those in a day and hopefully that will help.

[Arabesque 7,621]

I’ve never talked about, read about or worried about my bowel motions as much as I have since surgery. Lol!! Yes, yoghurt can help. I also added benefibre to my diet every day.

I took a coloxyl tablet if I got to two or three days of no BMs. I didn’t want it to get past that third day: so much harder to get things moving again & not pleasant.

I was very happy when I became more regular again once in maintenance. I was eating more in general & eating more carbs (whole & multigrain only). Do I still get constipated? Yep. Today is two days without action. I’ll take a coloxyl tablet tonight. Sometimes I know why I’m constipated: didn’t have enough Water, didn’t have all my fruit & vegetables. Sometimes I have no idea. ( I have no idea why this time.)

[ShoppGirl 5,076]

8 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

just so you know, chronic constipation is a common problem even years after surgery. Some people get over it once they start adding Fiber to their diet, but some of us don't. It's not really due to the surgery, it's due to the high Protein diet and also, some of the supplements (mainly Iron and calcium). All of those are known to back people up. I know a lot of people (myself included) who take a capful of Miralax every morning to keep on top of it. Others take stool softeners, drink Smooth Move tea, take magnesium tablets, or eat a few prunes every day. Whatever it takes..

GREAT...i am Not looking foreword to this being a chronic thing. This is the first time I have ever dealt with this and it is NO fun!! Thank god for the help of you people cause idk who I would ask otherwise. Not exactly a comfortable conversation.

[Tim C 336]

14 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

I am in purée/ soft food stage (sorta in between) and I noticed a little constipation the other day and dr office said to take Fiber so I did all day yesterday but then I didn’t go at all. After surgery they said if you didn’t go for two days it was the start of a big deal is this the same now? Should I just take the milk of magnesia after two days like right afterwards. Is getting enough fiber going to be a lifelong challenge?

Add Miralax to your morning drink or shake, I also take stool softeners and have been reasonably regular

[Neensyb 111]

I am in purée/ soft food stage (sorta in between) and I noticed a little constipation the other day and dr office said to take Fiber so I did all day yesterday but then I didn’t go at all. After surgery they said if you didn’t go for two days it was the start of a big deal is this the same now? Should I just take the milk of magnesia after two days like right afterwards. Is getting enough Fiber going to be a lifelong challenge?

Gosh I remember month one and two.... no consistency in bowel movements at all!! I had TERRIBLE Constipation the first month, only going once a week at most, crying and sweating on the loo... christ it was awful. I was advised to take coloxyl every other day which cleared me out (Thank god I work from home!) and to eat weetbix in the morning, increase Water and add some fruit. I did the first two and it made a difference, but I have to say that exercise was the major contributor to regulating toilet habits. Just walking or swimming.... and I had an immediate improvement.

[Neensyb 111]

Oh and I don't take any coloxyl any more.

[ShoppGirl 5,076]

Update for those who may be following with similar issues. The fiber seems to be helping quite a bit (3 servings/ day). Along with drinking coffee when I do skip a days movement. I am assuming I can lower the amount of fiber and possibly eliminate eventually as I am able to consume more fiber rich foods.