Hey all, I have a question about one of life's necessary actions - the great bowel movement. :smile: Like the title of the thread, this isn't for the squeamish or shy so if you're not down for discussion about #2, here's your chance to click away from this page. I'm going to be a bit descriptive, but as Dr. Oz says - "Be honest, and don't be afraid to talk about what's going on with your body." :hurray:

What has your experience been with BMs after the band? I was a regular gal before the band, and would poo 3-4 times a day, usually after a meal. From talking with my roommate (nothing is sacred when you live with someone) who is also a bandster, I knew that my poo schedule would indeed be disrupted by the liquid diet and the surgery.

It's day 4 for me, and I've passed some gas since surgery day; in fact the staff wouldn't let me leave the hospital unless I had passed some gas (gotta make sure the bowels are awake from the general anesthesia I guess). But I hadn't felt the need to poo yet. This morning though, I felt the need to go but couldn't QUITE get there. So I relied on my trusty friend, coffee, to inspire my bowels to move. I mixed a bit of black coffee with my delicious vanilla World Wide Pure Protein shake, and lo and behold, about a half hour later - success! It wasn't quite the same as before, a LOT smaller and harder, but I was happy to have any #2 action at all. I'm gearing up to head to the gym for the first time and take a whack at walking on the treadmill. Lord knows for some reason the gym inspires my bowels to move - whether I want it or not. :puke: So hopefully there's more to come!

I know I'm not eating hardly anything, it takes effort just to get my Water and protein in (according to my surgeon's dietician - liquid first, protein second), but man, I miss pooing! How's it going for all of you? :grouphug:

Hey all, I have a question about one of life's necessary actions - the great bowel movement. :smile: Like the title of the thread, this isn't for the squeamish or shy so if you're not down for discussion about #2, here's your chance to click away from this page. I'm going to be a bit descriptive, but as Dr. Oz says - "Be honest, and don't be afraid to talk about what's going on with your body." :hurray:

What has your experience been with BMs after the band? I was a regular gal before the band, and would poo 3-4 times a day, usually after a meal. From talking with my roommate (nothing is sacred when you live with someone) who is also a bandster, I knew that my poo schedule would indeed be disrupted by the liquid diet and the surgery.

It's day 4 for me, and I've passed some gas since surgery day; in fact the staff wouldn't let me leave the hospital unless I had passed some gas (gotta make sure the bowels are awake from the general anesthesia I guess). But I hadn't felt the need to poo yet. This morning though, I felt the need to go but couldn't QUITE get there. So I relied on my trusty friend, coffee, to inspire my bowels to move. I mixed a bit of black coffee with my delicious vanilla World Wide Pure Protein shake, and lo and behold, about a half hour later - success! It wasn't quite the same as before, a LOT smaller and harder, but I was happy to have any #2 action at all. I'm gearing up to head to the gym for the first time and take a whack at walking on the treadmill. Lord knows for some reason the gym inspires my bowels to move - whether I want it or not. :puke: So hopefully there's more to come!

I know I'm not eating hardly anything, it takes effort just to get my Water and protein in (according to my surgeon's dietician - liquid first, protein second), but man, I miss pooing! How's it going for all of you? :grouphug:

I was also wondering the same thing this morning...and then it happened! :wink: It didn't take too much effort and it was pretty ample (sorry!) but very smelly. (sorry again!) I am assuming that the reason I went so frequently in the past is because I was eating way more than my body really needed and all the extra waste was released, if you will. Now that we are eating less and our bodies actually need what are eating, our BM's will be less often. Maybe?

Well, I haven't had much of anything -- a couple of hard marbles once or twice -- and it's been 8 days. I've been taking Miralax for three days now and still nothing. I saw the surgeon today, and he said not to worry, just drink more Water, and if in a couple days, still nothing, then take a regular laxative.

HTH!! :grouphug:

I've had completely the opposite. I've had a lot of diarrhea, sometimes uncontrollable! I actually broke down and took some Kaopectate on Wednesday because we were out and I was having to stop at a bathroom every 20 minutes. I haven't a clue why, but there's my .02$ on #2! :grouphug:

Be prepared to be constiapted when you've had your band awhile. If you do a thread search, there are many threads started about constipation. It's that Protein first thing. It's hard to get the Fiber in that we all need once you have a good fill. A lot of people can't tolerate anything with skins on them, like most fruit and certian veggies once you get good restriction.

Miralax is a wonderful thing!

Okay, I'll leave your May thread now! :grouphug:

I was a twice a dayer morning and before bed. Sometimes an occasional surprise. I've gone twice since surgery (9 days ago) I asked my doc at my followup and he said not to worry, a lot less is going in so a lot less will come out. Made since to me. I will hate being constipated though. I usually sit down do my business and I'm done. It usually doesn't take me any longer to poo than it does to pee.

My Doc told my husband after surgery that I should have some Milk of magnesia (sp?) Wow does that work! IF you are nervous, drink 3 TBS of that, but make sure you are home for the day! No cramping and you will be amazed!:scared2:

Just an update, because I know you were all waiting with bated breath... :eek:

I've had a BM every day for the past few days. It seemed like once I got ye ole bowels moving, they wanted to get back to regularity. Not sure if that will continue, but boy I sure hope so!

My Pals.......

I'm glad you brought this thread up...... I thought I wasn't constipated until last Saturday when I actually thought I was really stuck and almost went to the E/R. I even caled my Doc to say why haven't I gone since Sunday?? It's been five days. I was told not to worry and if it continues a few more days to try a stool softener. I waited one day too long. WHen I finally went on Saturday, I damaged my lower intestine and butt really, really bad.:redface: I should of listened to my gut.......This will never happen again.....:crying:

Oh man, John. I am sorry and I can relate.

I should have taken my own advice, by the time I was done today, I swear I am swollen shut. It hurts to pass gass. Sorry if this is too much info... but where else can you share this? (Although I considered sending out birth announcements for the rock of Gilbraltar today).

I just looked at your ticker and you are already half way to your weight loss goal! That is amazing! I need to update mine, but I will have to do it after I get the boys to bed. Kids are calling...

Oh man, John. I am sorry and I can relate.

I should have taken my own advice, by the time I was done today, I swear I am swollen shut. It hurts to pass gass. Sorry if this is too much info... but where else can you share this? (Although I considered sending out birth announcements for the rock of Gilbraltar today).

I just looked at your ticker and you are already half way to your weight loss goal! That is amazing! I need to update mine, but I will have to do it after I get the boys to bed. Kids are calling...

You made me laugh.....Birth announcements for the Rock of Gilbraltar.... Too, Too Funny..........

I can't believe it either that I'm down 55 lbs in total. 30 since I started to pre-op diet which I just came off today.

CrazyLady, you made me laugh too about the birth announcements!!! :cursing:

I'm still haven't "given birth" so to speak. I broke out the Milk of Magnesia last night, and still nothing. I'm going to try more MoM tonight.

Hey Banditos!

I'm happy to report that my bowels are back on the regularity track. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't poo every day. It's weird, but true.

In talking with my roomie/fellow bandster, I think my daily movement has to do with Fiber (of course). She HATES veggie juice, and I adore it. Plus my dietician says to drink V8 or other veggie/tomato juice especially for women to get the potassium you need. Keep in mind that my surgeon allows a full liquid diet for the two weeks after surgery. :cursing: So glad I don't have to do just clear liquid.

In any case, I think the fiber in the V8 is really helping my BMs be less like the Rock of Gibraltar (although I had a similar experience for the first one), and more like soft-serve ice cream (bet you're hungry for that now). :cursing: I also saw some lil packets of Benefiber advertised on TV, that you can mix into Water, I wonder if that will benefit us. I plan on asking @ my follow-up appt.

Poop on, my friends!

Kellster,

If your surgeon okays the benefiber, I strongly recommend it!

I've been using those little packets (since my gallbladder problems seem to have my bowels immobilized) and they work well, and you totally can't taste them!

It says to do 3 a day, but I'm getting by with just 1. Then again, I've never been a daily poo'er and have a tendency to go tooooo far in the opposite direction if I start messing with my LACK of a routine, so you might do better with 2 or 3 than I would. :cursing:

Hooray for fiber!!

My surgeon said V8 is a no-no, so I haven't had any. Yesterday was the first day I pooped since surgery, so it took 3 days! The poop was wierd too- kinda chalky and a mustard green. I too used to poop 1-2X/day, but I don't miss it...wiping the butt is such a pain. (TMI, yet?)

I had a lot of diarrhea and called the nutritiionist because I think that it is the protein shakes. I am diabetic and use the low sugar. He told me to change to the regular, not low sugar ,because the sugar alcohol causes some people to have diarrhea. I did this and no more problem. Thank god. The sugar content is not that much greater and my blood sugars, so far are stable.