Pre-Op Diet and Constipation

[DaisyAndSunshine 301]

So it's day 7 of my Pre-Op diet and Constipation is an issue.

I am on Optifast liquid diet 4x a day. Have broth, Decaf coffee (cup a day) and ofc Water.

I also include Fiber in my drink, but it doesn't seem to help. Now they do recommend using RestoraLax. I took it 3 days back but hasn't helped much.

Any suggestions? Should I be taking RestoraLax everyday?

[lizonaplane 1,605]

27 minutes ago, DaisyAndSunshine said:

So it's day 7 of my Pre-Op diet and constipation is an issue.

I am on Optifast liquid diet 4x a day. Have broth, Decaf coffee (cup a day) and ofc Water.

I also include Fiber in my drink, but it doesn't seem to help. Now they do recommend using RestoraLax. I took it 3 days back but hasn't helped much.

Any suggestions? Should I be taking RestoraLax everyday?

If restoralax is the same thing as Miralax (polyethylene glycol) then you do have to take it for a while to have it work. It's very safe; they give it to kids with cancer. You kind of have to play with the dose to get it right - sometimes after a few days you'll get diarrhea and then you have to maybe go to every other day. Also, exercise helps a LOT to get things moving.

[catwoman7 10,922]

at six years post-surgery, I still take a capful of Miralax (the US version of Restoralax) every morning.

a lot of us deal with chronic Constipation. It's a combination of the high Protein diet + Calcium + Iron supplements. So it's very likely you'll be managing this AFTER your surgery, too...

[Elidh 238]

Daily Miralax for me, too!

[DaisyAndSunshine 301]

3 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

at six years post-surgery, I still take a capful of Miralax (the US version of Restoralax) every morning.

a lot of us deal with chronic constipation. It's a combination of the high Protein diet + Calcium + Iron supplements. So it's very likely you'll be managing this AFTER your surgery, too...

I remember reading how taking Miralax or RestoraLax can make your bowel dependent on it. Is the doctor concerned with you taking it daily? Or is it their recommendation?

Are you aware how long would I have to take post surgery to get them the bowel back to normal?

So for now I guess, I should take 1 cup every day till surgery for my bowel to function.

[Tomo 1,148]

I had to do a 10 day pre-op diet, and my surgeon had me start miralax once a morning on the first day all the way up to my surgery date.

[lizonaplane 1,605]

7 hours ago, DaisyAndSunshine said:

I remember reading how taking Miralax or RestoraLax can make your bowel dependent on it. Is the doctor concerned with you taking it daily? Or is it their recommendation?

Are you aware how long would I have to take post surgery to get them the bowel back to normal?

So for now I guess, I should take 1 cup every day till surgery for my bowel to function.

Miralax doesn't work like other laxatives, so it doesn't really have the problem of making your bowels dependent on it, from what I understand. The only real issue is that you do have to be drinking enough water/liquids, because it works with the Water in your body.

I would start by taking a capful everyday (17 grams) but if you start to have loose stools, cut back to either every other day or half the amount every day. That's how it's usually taken for cancer patients (pain meds cause constipation).

[catwoman7 10,922]

7 hours ago, DaisyAndSunshine said:

I remember reading how taking Miralax or RestoraLax can make your bowel dependent on it. Is the doctor concerned with you taking it daily? Or is it their recommendation?

Are you aware how long would I have to take post surgery to get them the bowel back to normal?

So for now I guess, I should take 1 cup every day till surgery for my bowel to function.

check with your doctor, of course, but mine said it doesn't cause dependence and is fine to take every day.

[njlimmer 338]

Smooth Move Tea is amazing. If I need to, I drink it after dinner and by the morning, things are moving smoooooothly.

[learn2cook 501]

I eat a 5oz yogurt every day with Probiotics in it, Fage. They make lactose free versions too, 12g Protein. Aerobic exercise helps too. In the old days it was called “the daily constitutional” meaning it keeps you regular.