OK...I was always regular before the surgery but now nothing and way more difficult to move out. It is like little bricks and pretty painful!

I drink 40-70 oz of Water but doesn't seem to help. So I called my Dr last week and they advised to take dulcolax at night before bed. Which I did and have been for the last week! The following morning I would go several times and get it all out.

Today I woke up at 3:30am with horrible pains in my tummy and then the flood gates opened! All day today my tummy is killing me and I have finally stopped going early afternoon but I am still crampy. Even now at 7:30 at night!

So I spoke to my Dr's office and it turns out I have been taking the wrong thing. I was taking a "gentle" laxative when i should have been taking the stool softener! DOH She said just get the water in because I am probably dehydrated at this point, uuuggghhh!

Does anyone have severe constipation and able to eventually correct it? I am scared I screwed something up inside since I am still hurting and of course now can't go anymore and feel like I have to! I guess tonight I just take the softener and hope these cramps go away?

Anyone have any advise?

Banded 08/31

Try prune juice. Go to Walmart and get the large bottle and drink at least 10-12 ounces.... Give it 30 min's and your issue is solved. IT WORKS!!!!

Constipation was the one side effect that in all my research I never found out about until after surgery. My first bout of it I thought I was going to wind up in he ER. I finally took MOM and with extreme difficulty I was able to go. I take a stool softener every day but if I see I haven't gone in a few days I take a small does of MOM to get things moving again.

I never was "regular" even before surgery...every 2-3 days was normal for me. After surgery, I have had a problem and sometimes had no BM for 6-7 days. After much trial and (definitly) error, I have hit upon something that helps me. I drink a glass of prune juice every morning, and in the afternoon I eat some Activia yogurt.

That in addition to FiberOne cereal for breakfast has definitely helped.

The crazy thing is I used to go everyday no problem, I was a regular as can be. This is just unbelievable! I will have to get some MOM and try it in the next few days. The stool softener has done nothing for 3 days and I feel bloated and gassy, like I have to go....and nothing!

tke100 - This is a tried and true method from my sister...she swears by it and it worked for me. Drink an 8 oz glass of Sunsweet Plumsmart Light for Digestive Health (only 60 calories). It's like Drano for humans.

Sure to knock the barnacles of the pipes. My husband gave me a 16 oz glass of it last night when I complained about constipation. About 2 hours later...problem solved.

I know, I know...no "liquid" calories. But man if you are constipated, I'd drink a milkshake if it brought relief! Anyway, I like the idea of using something that more like food and not medicine/drugs. The label says to drink an 8 oz glass 4-5 times a week for a "great digestive health routine". I just know it worked for me. I'm going to keep some onhand from now one.

emjay-I am going to get that today! I would rather try something like that first since I am already taking the softeners.

Today could be the day! LOL

Thanks

I started eating Activia yogurt once and day and that has cured my constipation!

Sally

I take 4 Citracel chewable caramel chews daily and it keeps me fairly regular..

LOL! I can totally relate to this misery. :seeya: I have found that about 4 Triscuits w/ some spinach dip does the trick for me.

High Fiber Cereal, Activia, Prune juice, Plumsmart juice, metamucil, diet tea, mineral oil. I have at least 3 of thesse each day, and I still suffer.

Going to try MOM tomorrow.

Try prune juice. Go to Walmart and get the large bottle and drink at least 10-12 ounces.... Give it 30 min's and your issue is solved. IT WORKS!!!!

Just keep in mind 8 ounces is 42 grams of sugar and almost 200 cals!!!

The crazy thing is I used to go everyday no problem, I was a regular as can be. This is just unbelievable! I will have to get some MOM and try it in the next few days. The stool softener has done nothing for 3 days and I feel bloated and gassy, like I have to go....and nothing!

My surgeon recommended sonoket s. It is a mild laxative with a stool softener and it works well. I take it a couple times a week usually. I also use the muracil as it does not taste like anything, but it does not seem to work as well for me. I used to take Nature's Secret super cleanse tablets every day and they worked very well. I need to go back to using them. I get them at Hi Health. It's been 10 months for me and no relief from the problem without help! I think it's forever. I have started juicing to get in more fiber now that I am close to my goal weight. I'm hoping the added fiber from fresh fruits and veggies made into smoothies will help.

OMG finally a little relief. I took 2 stool softeners, Sat and Sun night plus I ate Wheat Thins Fiber Select. Those things did the trick. A new product a friend told me about and very thankful! They are delicious too, even plain!

Thank you Thank you Thank you for suggesting this WORKS!! Great taste low calories.

She also suggested Lite PlumSmart juice. It's fairly new but good. I sure hope all of this helps b/c I am not used to having dry painful movements once a week.

D

To update my experience, I got Miralax and been taking 2 stool stofteners a day--no relief. I had to get the enema (liquid glycerine) for relief, I thought I was going to die!!! Well this definetely cleaned me out but I couldn't go to work yesterday because of it. I hope I never have to go through this again! Still miserable today.