I am almost 5 weeks post-op, soft soild food stage and right now am suffering with constipation really bad! This is new for me but over the last week it has gotten worse. I have been taking MiraLax for the last 3 or 4 days and no relief. Any suggestions??

...and does this eventually stop?

Try Colace.

Try milk of magnesia; it worked of me.

You maybe should check with your surgeon? I just say this because mine said "If you are constipated check with me, don't just self treat it" but then they are all different.

You probably need something like benefiber or one of those things (just fyi we need about 28g of Fiber a day. A dose of benefiber has I think 3 g so you can see you'd need a LOT of benefiber) and colace. If you aren't putting enough solids in, nothing solid is coming out.

ALSO you need adequate hydration or you'll just make the problem worse. Do you get at least 64 oz Water daily?

Check with your doc to see what is recommended for you. Good luck!

Thanks Restless Monkey. After I posted the message I thought the same thing and called. I was seriously one step away from the emergency room! They told me what to do and I finally got relief. (TMI to share on here) lol :biggrin:

I still have trouble getting in 64oz of liquid but I get at least 50 oz a day of Water and crystal lite. I am on soft soilds so I eat cottage cheese and yogurt and dairy products usually help me ward off constipation but not this time.

Do I have to worry about this being a problem all the time or does it even out?

Thanks for your post.

50 oz of water/crystal light probably isn't enough, honestly. (especially for those of us who are larger). That's only about 75-78% of what you should be getting...too low! Your body needs it! Especially as you lose! You have stuff your kidneys need to flush! :biggrin: besides the intestines needing their portion!

And...did your doc say it was ok to substitute crystal light for Water? (mine won't allow it, some do)

It evens out if you do what you need to...hydrate, fiber, etc. If you don't, you'll have the problem again (as would a person without the band who doesn't get enough fiber and water in his/her diet!)

SO get 64 ounces of liquid. If you are too tight to consume it, get an unfill. If you just forget, figure out a way to get it down. And check with your surgeon about seeing whether crystal light is an ok substitute or not.

Your internal structure is a little different, your diet is very different, so you just need to make a few adjustments and all will be "smooth" again! :thumbup:

My Dr. is ok with Crystal Lite, and any non-caffinated liquid counting towards my 64 oz. I usually have more Water because the sweetness gets to me. I will push my self to drink more, but I have to do it as early as possible or I am up during the night for the bathroom. I generally get enough Protein, mostly in food and but if not I have a Protein shake.

I have a DRs. appt. Monday so I will ask about the Benefiber, that may be what I need.

Thanks again,

Call your Dr. as soon as possible. Take if from experience. I waited too long and had to go to the emergency room for help. I was about six weeks out when I had problems. Good luck.

I am 5 months post-op, I drink at least 100 oz. liquid a day, everyday, still have constipation problems, take milk of mag. once a week to cleanse, it is not a laxative and is non-addictive, it is magnesium, can be used everyday if have too., also mira lax is a stool softener used mostly to keep things going as a preventative, can also be taken indefinitely!

psyllium husk powder-get the flavored one- omg- doesnt give you the runs. a little gassy until your body adjusts, but works great. you mix with Water and drink 2 glasses per day. you can find it on www.the vitaminshoppe.com or just search on the web.

I am almost 5 weeks post-op, soft soild food stage and right now am suffering with constipation really bad! This is new for me but over the last week it has gotten worse. I have been taking MiraLax for the last 3 or 4 days and no relief. Any suggestions??

...and does this eventually stop?

psyllium husk powder-get the flavored one- omg- doesnt give you the runs. a little gassy until your body adjusts, but works great. you mix with water and drink 2 glasses per day. you can find it on www.the vitaminshoppe.com or just search on the web.

Thanks Fixn2!- I have been taking Mira-Lax and Colace. My Dr suggested these too. So far so good after the first incident! Whew..that one was tough!! I thought we were going to have to send little people with pick axs in there to help me out ! lol

Wow Lipstix....that's a new one! I never heard of it. I have a Vitamin Shoppe close by where I live, I will look into that one.

Thanks

You should not use psyllium husk w/lap band, same reason to not use any of the fiber powders it will stretch out your new stomach, same as any carbonated drinks! Why would we want to mess up what we paid so much for and have put our bodies through hell for! Talk to someone who has done this, it could mean another surgery or no weight loss!

Psyllium is the ingredient for almost all fiber powders, it comes in capsules, drinks, lots of forms, or you can buy it whole and process it yourself!

You should not use psyllium husk w/lap band, same reason to not use any of the fiber powders it will stretch out your new stomach, same as any carbonated drinks! Why would we want to mess up what we paid so much for and have put our bodies through hell for! Talk to someone who has done this, it could mean another surgery or no weight loss!

I don't know who told you this info (about "fiber powders will stretch out your new stomach") but I believe it is blatantly wrong. You might want to confirm with your doc.

What stretches your pouch is overeating.

Fiber is better for your digestive system than taking weekly milk of mag doses. Most healthy females need about 25-28g of fiber a day, men a little more, no one "needs" milk of magnesia.

It's safest to ask your doc what to do for constipation, and do it.

carbonation doesn't generally stretch the stomach either...it just causes gas which is really painful for most of us, especially in the first months post op.