Constipation post op

[sleeveinthecity 18]

Hi all! Has anyone experienced lazy bowels and Constipation post op and if yes what do you take for it?

[Arabesque 6,470]

You will never be as focussed in your bowel habits as you are after bariatric surgery - lol!! I’ve never talked about or read about bowel movements & Constipation as I do now. 😂😂😂

Constipation is common while you’re losing. Small food intake, fewer carbs & fibre all contribute. I added Benefibre to my diet every day (avoid fibre supplements that swell in your tummy though). Ensure you’re meeting your fluid goals. Add a little fruit to your diet when you can. It all helps. If I reached three days without any activity, I’d take a stool softener to get movement happening again. Some need stronger meds. I tried not to go longer than that as it can become quite painful to empty the bowels after that.

I still have odd bouts of constipation but no where near as common as while losing. I get on it by day 2 now.

Good luck.

[sleeveinthecity 18]

Haha so true!!
Thanks so much. I had a terrible episode this morning and was in agony! I’ll get some benefiber and more fruit! 🙂

[ShoppGirl 3,354]

I agree with arabesque. I remember asking a similar question to you and being embarrassed to even type it. Now I talk about my bowel habits as comfortably as talking about the weather. Lol.

I added benefiber (the generic powder at Walmart) and also with dr permission I cut that down a little and instead added two servings of vegetables each day when I was on soft foods.

Now I go every other day and if I don’t I take milk of magnesia and that works in like 30 minutes for me (have only needed that one time). As I can get more Fiber by diet alone I will cut back the supplemental fiber even further.

[catwoman7 10,856]

chronic Constipation is a common problem among WLS patients, even years later. Many of us take a capful of Miralax every day to keep on top of it. Other common measures include magnesium tablets, stool softeners, Benefiber, Smooth Move Tea, or eating a few prunes every day. Whatever works!

[WishMeSmaller 1,270]

Everyone has something that works best for them, so you might have to try a few things to find the right thing for you. Fiber supplements are awesome (natural, no drugs) if they work for you. Unfortunately, extra fiber tends to back me up more. I tried everything early on. Now I drink a cup of Smooth Move tea every night before bed. Lots of folks swear by Miralax. Find your thing, and “go” with it. 😂😊💕

[mswillis5 127]

My wife and I had surgery together and found that these stool softeners worked well. My wife also has been enjoying a Smooth Move tea every night and she says that has helped her as well.

Link to the stool softeners: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077YDGFZH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[sleeveinthecity 18]

Thanks so much for the responses!