Lapbanders over 6 months Post-op--- CONSTIPATION

[kgloverii 0]

Okay guys, I am SO TIRED and annoyed and need your help. I know many have suffered constipation... and I thought with the new way I am eating, mostly organic, non-processed foods, a TON of Fiber, my 'problem' would resolve itself... but it is NOT and I need help. I have a docs appt, but I really want to kick around other ideas with the experts here cause I am really miserable...

I have been dealing with chronic Constipation since my band surgery in October of 07. I've had to do the stool softeners, the laxatives like Dulcolax, to get it going, and can never keep that momentum. I will only result to the stool softener/dulcolax stuff once a week cause I REALLY don't want to create a dependency... but it seems to be the only thing that helps... Here's what I have tried.

3 prunes/day

Fiber One bars

Steel Cut Oats

coffee

Fiber Con - 2 each day

Apple juice

Prune Juice

Lots of fiber from veggies and fruits

Yogurt

Drinking LOTS

I STILL cannot get a regular BM. I take adderall, which is a stimulant, which dries me out. I will stop taking it and STILL cannot go. I don't know what else to do.

I REALLY don't want to be one of those people who end up HAVING to use laxatives just to go. I don't want to be one of those people. But I really can't figure out what else I can try... Anybody have any other suggestions?

I DO NOT take a Calcium supplement and am NOT a huge cheese eater... so it isn't that... My diet is varied, but VERY fibrous. I get AT LEAST 25-30 grams/day... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:cursing:

[Lisa51683 0]

perhaps your problem is not completely diet related. You may have some kind of underlying medical condition that you need to get to the bottom of. this is something that you def need to talk to a doc about. when you finally DO go from a laxative is your stool hard? because if it is soft/liquid, you may have some type of blockage. Sometimes if we have Constipation for a long time the stool hardens, we take laxatives, and the bowel behind the blockage turns into liquid and passes BY the blockage and comes out, but the main blockage remains causing your problem to never resolve.

[shy_one 0]

I had that problem earlier and my doctor put me on Miralax. You can get it over the counter at your pharmacy. It's a powder that you put in any drink. It works by putting Water into your stool, so if your stools are hard, then this will work. Good luck.

[kgloverii 0]

Thanks for the replies. I saw my doc today and she said to continue on with the fiber, but to do the Miralax too. So I've got a plan, and now I won't be full of... you know! :embaressed_smile:

[connie marie 0]

Hi I am 4 months out of lap band and constantly battle with Constipation, but I was not regular before the surgery either. I thought it would get better since I am eating a better balanced diet and drinking plenty of Water. No ....yesterday I had a terrible uncomfortable day.....I ended up drinking prune juice and it loosened it up enough so that I could go. What a relief -untill next time. Is there anything I should take on a regular basis to help my stools stay soft ??? Miralax ??? Please help.

[kgloverii 0]

My doc said that Miralax is totally safe and can be used daily. She also said for me to continue doing the fiber thing so I eat lots of veggies, and Fiber One bars... Try the Miralax... it is GREAT!

[aubrie 6]

I'm 8 months out and have this problem a lot. It seems to come in two week cycles. Over the course of 2 weeks, a hard plug developes. It gets bad until I painfully pass the hard plug. Then I'm fine and do well, but the cycle starts all over again. Every once in a while I have had to resort to Milk of Magnesia. (About 4 times). It sucks. I didn't have this problem before banding either. I have found a few things that seem to help and I didn't want to take stool softeners or laxatives either. A few sections of grapefruit a day seem to help. this was a recommendation from my doctor. I'm to peel the pithy skin off each section though. It does help a bit. Prune juice before bed time helps a little. I eat tons of veggies and high fiber foods, even more now, so it can't be lack of fiber.

[Calif_Princess 0]

I am really miserable... I have been dealing with chronic Constipation since my band surgery in October of 07. I get AT LEAST 25-30 grams/day... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have had chronic constipation since birth. Finally, two years ago it led to a blockage, 4 months of only clear liquid, 50 pounds of weight loss and ending up in the hospital.

I was finally told by a good dr. to take 4 TABLESPOONS of Psyllium Husks in juice every single day. Finally, after 38 years of misery and ending up in the hospital for 4 days I had an answer and I no longer have any problems. I get 60 to 65 grams of fiber a day just from the Psyllium Husks. So the recommended 30 to 35 grams of fiber a day is way off. I also drink between 2 to 3 litters of Water a day.

I can't believe that something as simple as 4 TABLESPOONS of Psyllium Husks could cure my life long problem, but it did! Hope this helps!!:frown:

[Laurinda 1]

Miralax is a wonderful tool!

[Calif_Princess 0]

I am really miserable... I have been dealing with chronic Constipation since my band surgery in October of 07. I get AT LEAST 25-30 grams/day... HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:thumbup:

I have had chronic constipation since birth. Finally, two years ago it led to a blockage, 4 months of only clear liquid, 50 pounds of weight loss and ending up in the hospital.

I was finally told by a good dr. to take 4 TABLESPOONS of Psyllium Husks in juice every single day. Finally, after 38 years of misery and ending up in the hospital for 4 days I had an answer and I no longer have any problems. I get 60 to 65 grams of fiber a day just from the Psyllium Husks. So the recommended 30 to 35 grams of fiber a day is way off. I also drink between 2 to 3 litters of Water a day.

I can't believe that something as simple as 4 TABLESPOONS of Psyllium Husks could cure my life long problem, but it did! Hope this helps!!