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've had the "gotta-go's" since 5:00 this morning, my mom (a nurse) said it's most likely the anethstesia coming out, and the fact I may have over done it on the water yesterday. I must say, I am scared and Very very gassy for safty sakes (usually gut instinct) I've been running to the bathroom whenever the urge to "pass wind" comes along, usually spending 5 minutes praying to every higher power known to man. I keep reccomending this stuff and it's really good.. like really... For the ladies (i'm sure they have a dude version) GNC just came out with a protein/fiber shake called be-buff... It tastes like nestle quik. So there's my suggestion, and my gassy stomach just growled with agreement, so if you'll excuse me...

Oh dear... It's my turn to visit the poo thread.

My surgery was Tuesday, and I had two minor "events" -- yesterday morning and this morning. I was hoping that this would be the beginning of normal-ish life again, but I'm worried about something (as usual.)

I'm having some soreness in my lower-left tummy, in front of my hip bone, more or less. I'm not sure if that's just muscle soreness from the surgery or if that's a sign of bowel obstruction. Is that completely ridiculous, or is it possible to have a serious problem like that if I've "gone" twice so far?

Sorry/thanks,

Christy

Oh dear... It's my turn to visit the poo thread.

My surgery was Tuesday, and I had two minor "events" -- yesterday morning and this morning. I was hoping that this would be the beginning of normal-ish life again, but I'm worried about something (as usual.)

I'm having some soreness in my lower-left tummy, in front of my hip bone, more or less. I'm not sure if that's just muscle soreness from the surgery or if that's a sign of bowel obstruction. Is that completely ridiculous, or is it possible to have a serious problem like that if I've "gone" twice so far?

Sorry/thanks,

Christy

I had that too, and then got my period out of nowhere for the 2nd time this month. It could also be gas. Your going to find that farting feels like your organs are being rearranged, and Burping is even worse!!!! My doc told me if I don't go at least once a day for 2 days in a row, 2 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia (and that shit is NASTY- Sorry I couldn't abreviate it, had to use the full word). I had to take it thursday night, and it worked. No runs, but a good one. so just keep an eye on your area, b/c Like I said, I got my period, and I saw on a few other boards that other people have too within a few days of their surgery, my doc said it's b/c of abdomin trauma and diet changes.

Christy, your surgery is not that far behind you. I still had pain on and off, I can't really remember what kind, but I took a little pain meds and it went away. I think as long as you are going every couple of days (if not every day) you will be fine. My friend (who was my operating nurse) told me "we screwed around with your insides and they don't like it". So I just chalked it up to that. Maybe I was wimpy, but the pain meds really did the trick. I figured no one was offerring any medals to those who don't use it. Trust me, I tried to earn one with natural childbirth!

Ann & John~ How are you guys? I ate a little salad today but was nervous the whole time! I chewed like a champ!

Christy, your surgery is not that far behind you. I still had pain on and off, I can't really remember what kind, but I took a little pain meds and it went away. I think as long as you are going every couple of days (if not every day) you will be fine. My friend (who was my operating nurse) told me "we screwed around with your insides and they don't like it". So I just chalked it up to that. Maybe I was wimpy, but the pain meds really did the trick. I figured no one was offerring any medals to those who don't use it. Trust me, I tried to earn one with natural childbirth!

Ann & John~ How are you guys? I ate a little salad today but was nervous the whole time! I chewed like a champ!

Hi Shelly,

All is good. Eating everything but salad, Pasta & steak. Went out the other night to a Greek Rest. Had Lamb on the shank with a greek red sauce. The meat was very tender. Never used a knife, just a fork to pcik the meat apart. Sticking to 4-5 oz of Protein and 1-2 oz of veg. Will not weigh myself until next Friday as I was getting crazy with the scale and was getting fustrated.

Back to work full time, walking as often as I can. Hard to get in Fiber so I've been taking benefiber. Too much protein makes the b/m difficult........

Ok I believe its my turn to post. I had surgery last tuesday and have had one tiny marble( on day5) since then its been nothing but gas. I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't go soon...My belly is huge and tight and I just really need to go. My Dr. said to add prune juice to my diet and I have been doing that for 3 days now to no avail. I tried a glycerine(sp?) suppository and that was wonderful getting the gas out but thats all. Any suggestions? Im considering the milk of magnesia today if I'm not productive. Pushing has really hurt my port area incisions.. I hate this feeling I feel like a balloon waiting to burst.

Thanks

K

Ok I believe its my turn to post. I had surgery last tuesday and have had one tiny marble( on day5) since then its been nothing but gas. I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't go soon...My belly is huge and tight and I just really need to go. My Dr. said to add prune juice to my diet and I have been doing that for 3 days now to no avail. I tried a glycerine(sp?) suppository and that was wonderful getting the gas out but thats all. Any suggestions? Im considering the milk of magnesia today if I'm not productive. Pushing has really hurt my port area incisions.. I hate this feeling I feel like a balloon waiting to burst.

Thanks

K

2 tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia. It's absolutley disgusting, but you'll feel better in a few hours. Drink PLENTY OF Water WITH IT, that will make it work quicker. If you had to flush your bowel the day before surgery, it's basically a less painful version of that, get the Cramp-free version... It doesn't matter what flavor (I bought the peppermint, it was more like pepper-ass) But, relief will come.

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!

I agree with Oregondaisy. It is a daily problem for me now and I am trying to figure out how to keep myself regular. I have read here that Miralax helps but for me it just seems to have me go the bare minimum everyday. Last week I switched it one day with a stool softener and I went well but since then I was taking a stool softener everyday and I took 2 one day and nothing.

So back to the Miralax I go and I am going to take the suggestion I read here of the V8 juice since the liquid fiber goes right through me and swells in my intestines making the poo to big to come out.

Well I have added a little fiber to my diet, but not much. I'm still not going potty (3 times since surgery). I live in a small town with no walmart and haven't been in a while. Been meaning to get me some benifiber. I do have a family dollar but they don't sell anything but laxatives. I have never had to use them before, but I have heard that alot of people use them to lose weight, so I said what the hey. Well I took one last night before bed, and woke up about six-thirty cramping. I was sweating and cramping and cramping and sweating, farting, sweating and more cramping. I thought I was going to pass out. Then finally I did the deed. First in solid form then came the hershy squirts. Way TMI!!!

I don't think I'll be taking laxatives ever again!!! Gentle my #**.

On a possitive note, I lost 1.8lbs LOL

It's funny that I clicked on this thread since I just came back from running to the bathroom. I was curious about the whole BM issue as well. Since starting liquids, I have had diarrhea, one day last week I had normal BMs and now it is diarrhea again:blink:. I am just going with the flow (sorry, bad pun) and waiting it all out. Whenever I leave the house, I have to map put all of the places I could stop to potty if the need arose before I reached my destination. Hopefully things will get more regular for us all soon.

Shelley & Gonnagetbanned, Milk of Magnesia finally did the trick for me. I took everything under the sun before I broke down and tried good ol' MoM. It's true, it's slimy, but swallow it quickly, drink some Water afterward, and go to bed. I had to take it two days in a row before it worked, but then again, I have IBS w/constipation as a regular problem, so that didn't surprise me that it didn't work the first time around. Now I add Miralax sometimes and Benefiber sometimes to my drinks.

I must ask others this TMI question, though: Has the quantity/amount of BM you are passing gone way down? B/C mine has... a LOT. I guess that's normal since we're eating much less, right? But it never went down significantly when I was on other diets.

Shelley & Gonnagetbanned, Milk of Magnesia finally did the trick for me. I took everything under the sun before I broke down and tried good ol' MoM. It's true, it's slimy, but swallow it quickly, drink some Water afterward, and go to bed. I had to take it two days in a row before it worked, but then again, I have IBS w/constipation as a regular problem, so that didn't surprise me that it didn't work the first time around. Now I add Miralax sometimes and Benefiber sometimes to my drinks.

I must ask others this TMI question, though: Has the quantity/amount of BM you are passing gone way down? B/C mine has... a LOT. I guess that's normal since we're eating much less, right? But it never went down

MoM didn't help me at all. I then took ducalux stool softener ( 2 small pills)......24 hours later..."good to go"

...lol..lol...:thumbup:

I find myself taking miralax and benefiber daily as the Protein that we must take is making me constipated on a daily basis......TMI - sorry....:party:

Ann - As to your TMI question.....I agree ....quantity is way down.........We are eating alot less then we realize.....It's all good though. If the by-product of this surgery is me taking benefiber or miralax daily, then so be it. I will do it again.....no question about it.

OK - I'm joining in and adding the scoop on my poop! I was at Catherine's today looking for stretch pants that would fit me through a few sizes down :welldone2:. I hadn't passed any more than a few rabbit droppings in the last couple days. I just started solid foods yesterday. So, I feel an uncomfortable urge, and thank God they had a private restroom. First came a round of diarrhea, followed by 15 minutes of extreme pushing, culminating in the birth of a giant redwood tree trunk! I didn't think it was possible to have diarrhea and constipation in the same sitting! And I certainly didn't think it was physically possible to get that giant, horrendous mass out of my rear end! :frown: (I can't wait to weigh myself when I get home - I should be down a lot!) I thought the 'Rock of Gilbralter' story was funny until I was contemplating it while planning my own birth announcement! How is it that I have been constipated throughout the 4 weeks of liquid diet, and when I start solids I have my first bout with diarhhea? I used to be a regular, 1x daily girl, but now I think I need some of that 'Benefiber' you're all talking about. Oh Happy Days!!!! :thumbup:

So, Mamadot, you're helping deplete the endangered Redwoods, huh? LOL!!! You poor thing! And to be in a store when it happened. But what relief you must have felt! :confused:

Hey kids, I'm back and had to update the poo status (aren't you glad???).

I'm on mushy/soft food now and I'm happy to report that I am back on my at least 1/day poo schedule. I really think that the low-sodium V8 that I drink daily helps me feel more full, and helps me move that bowel. I ran out a couple days ago and it's been a bit harder than normal.

And I agree - total volume is way down. I keep waiting for more but nope! No bowl-fillers for me now.