I'm 3 weeks out and am always constipated.

I will go 3-4 days without having a BM. But I constantly have the feeling that I need to go (rocks in my butt..LOL).

Is it okay to take a laxative or something to help with this?

maybe try benefiber?

My doctor told me I could take whatever I took before I was banded. I specifically asked about Colace and he said it was fine.

I was banded Dec. 19, and took the Colace for the first time yesterday. I got the liquid gels and had no problem with them.

Ask your surgeon what he wants you to take...that's your safest bet!

I'm 8 weeks out and still have to take something. I hope it doesn't go on forever.

I am almost 6 months out and still only BM once a week.

I suffered from this big time immediately after my surgery... My surgeon suggested eating 4-5 dried apricots each morning and it works wonders for me. I had tried Miralax, Benefiber and Milk of Magnesia though none of them worked for me until he told me about the apricots. I prefer the natural approach anyway (apricots) vs. any type of laxative as they don't give you diarrhea or cramping. I get mine at Walmart or HEB. Best of luck!

I would ask your surgeon or nutritionist what they recommend. I use Benefiber, works for me. I can add it to my food or drinks and it doesn't have any taste.

The nutritionist also suggested the psyllium they have at Trader Joe's. She said it was relatively inexpensive and worked. I haven't tried it yet.

You are not alone in this one! I was banded on August 13, 2008 and have - in the last month - finally worked things out so I'm more normal and "regular".

I take Metimucil (Psyyllium Husk 3.4 g per teaspoon) Smooth Texture sugar free twice a day - morning and night. I also take one Colace (Docusate - generic - @$6.00 for 500 of them at Costco) every night. Doctor says these are both fine and a good solution.

I still don't have a bm every day (I'm at about every other day - but that is within the "normal" range) but at least life is easier and moves more freely! As always - check with your doctor to make sure he or she is cool with this. I know for me, the sheer VOLUME of food I was cramming in my pie-hole in my old life was vastly different to what I eat now - so things are bound (pardon the pun) to be smaller and more compact.

Oh - and drink loads and loads of water!

Warning! I tried dried apricots and had a terrible sliming episode. I was at work and ended up in my car for a while. It was the worst by far and I was sore for a couple of days after. Please make sure you are super careful chewing these if you have been adjusted.

It depends on how much fiber you eat

colon cleansers work best for me