Let's talk about poop!

[A Fairly Odd Panda]

Oh yeah, I'm going there. Gonna open up this embarrassing can of worms because, let's face it, everyone poops. Prior to the surgery, I had a BM everyday, sometimes twice. They were quite healthy and solid.

I am 6 weeks post-op, and sometimes I do not have BM for 3-4 days. On average, it's every 2-3 days, and they are small, usually very compact, and difficult to pass. I have had bleeding due to the hardness of my stool. Once a week (on the weekends) I take a dose of milk of magnesia in order to get things moving again. My surgeon said this was okay. I was told to avoid drinking fiber sups because it can actually make it worse.

So, is anyone else also having difficulty with constipation, slow moving bowels, or even the opposite? What do you do to help keep things moving and stay regular?

I sincerely appreciate any feedback on this subject!

[Sammih]

I'm anxiously awaiting my surgery date. All tests are done and I am cleared medically.
Are you taking pain meds? That can cause constipation? Maybe try to increase your water?

[GigiUSA]

I'm right there with you Panda. I am trying to get my liquids in each day and I am sure that this has a lot to do with this issue? I am a few months out and hoping as I drink more I will no longer have the rabbit turds that feel like they have razors! LOL

[HannahG]

When I was about 3 months post-op, I went to a birthday party and had a little bit (literally) of junk food (a couple Doritoes). I kid you not, it bound me up for over A WEEK! It was so bad. I was bloated, uncomfortable... I felt like I had to "go", but nothing came out. I finally took a stool softener/laxative, and was able to poop and felt so much better. I learned my lesson!

I also knew that I wasn't getting enough liquids in, and I was eating almost only protein (before the chips), so my diet wasn't balanced at all. I laid off the chips, drank even more, and added more veggies to my meals. For the most part, I've been fine since then. Every now and then I'll skip a day, but it's not often at all that I don't poop.


Hannah

[Sarcastic_Bard]

Increasing fluids and increasing my movement has seriously helped me a lot. I get to pop a squat (yeah, I wrote it!) everyday since I started hydrating more and walking or running everyday. In the first few months, there were times I needed to take milk of magnesia three times a week.

[turtleRose]

have any of you tried Miralax? My surgeon suggested it for me. I am already using it during my preop - I have IBS and the protein shakes bind me up pretty bad. But Miralax works like a charm.

Good Look

[Sammih]

Question - what about beans post surgery? I love beans. I'm sure they would help with constipation, right?

[Tamera2]

I've had severe problems with constipation, had this issue before but not has bad. I've tried so many things, finally found something that works better than any medication for constipation. I'm taking stool softners, I added two prunes and made sure I got my water in and I exercised. Yesterday I went with ease and I swear I went enough to loose pounds, lol I do eat some veggies and fruit, I've tried miralax, suppositories for constipation, enemas, nothing worked as good has two prunes, water and exercise. Hope you find what works for you. P.S I've heard warming prune juice than adding miralax works like a bomb.

[turtleRose]

LOL A miralax prune poop bomb LOL sorry i couldn't help myself

[Ann2]

Early on post-op -- Jehosephat! Pooping was indeed a challenge. The first few weeks I had diarrhea from the protein drinks. But then the predictable constipation set in.

I started using a stool softener early on, and that REALLY helped. I did try Miralax, but I personally didn't see much of a result from it. A couple of times I even used a suppository. Short version: Just keep trying stuff until you find which combination of things works for you. As you can tell, this is a very common problem post-op.

When you can add roughage (veggies, fruits, whole grains) to your diets you'll experience some relief. Protip: It has taken me 3 years post-op to get to the point where I actually can now eat 8 V/Fs a day. I am loving it! Truly loving it. Plan to post soon about the benefits of this shift in my daily menus. I also eat some whole grains, add an occasional 1/4 cup of PURE WHEAT BRAN to a berries/yogurt treat, work HARD to get in all my water, and still take a stool softener daily. And I poop like a champ.

That's all to say that your constipation problems won't last forever if you eat lots of fiber.

Hope everything comes out OK.

[joyfulinhope]

I was concerned about this being an issue for me cause I've always been slow to go. I use 2 tsp benefiber in my morning protein shake (tasteless protein powder, berries, 1/2 banana) and I haven't had a problem yet. Good luck!

Exercise might also have something to do with it. I walk 2 miles a day as fast as I can and lift weights 3x a week. I hydrate with lemon juice mixed in water.

I'm probably the most regular I've ever been.

[Cadoodle]

You and I had our surgeries on the same day, buddy! AND for my six weeks behind me I can say I have had the very same problems as you have mentioned. This has been such a predictable occurance that I have begun taking a stool softners daily, probiotics, and calcium/magnesium liquid supplement and the last "event" was only after taking a laxitive! I need to do more research on the subject because despite the fact that I drink plenty of fluids I have a problem. My NUT said to take a multivitamin that is iron free because pre op just the iron from 3 protein shakes was causing me constipation.

[Tamera2]

LOL A miralax prune poop bomb LOL sorry i couldn't help myself

So funny you said that. Were my daughter works that's what they call them too.😂

[A Fairly Odd Panda]

HAH! All these replies have been awesome and informative, and thank you for putting yourself out there on this subject. Looks like this is pretty common for many sleevers, and I'm not some sort of alien. I do still have trouble getting in all the water they want AND eating that protein. I also have bad reflux now, and I take Tums regularly, so perhaps that is also slowing things down?

Either way, I appreciate this feedback!

[Ann2]

Panda, are you taking a proton pump inhibitor antacid Rx? If not, that'll help your reflux a lot.

Also see this post I just made on another thread about PPIs.

https://www.gastricsleeve.com/forum/...l=1#post581619