Stool Softners????

I still drink and use a lot of powdered & liquid protein, as well as eating my protein. Because of my schedule I find this very practical and convient for me. My problem or concern is that at a year post-op I find that I still have to take stool softners or I have a really hard time in the bathroom. Is anyone else still using stool softners or should I be concerned?

Hi Genie. I have tried colace but it does not do anything for me as a post op. I do take a spoonful of baby food prunes daily to keep things regular. If I don't it will hit crisis stage which is very painful & uncomfortable... and put me in the hospital back in August.

I initially used a stool softener for the first few weeks just to be on the safe side. But, after about the first month, I backed off of those and switched to fiber caplets, like FiberCon only generic. They helped a lot! But, as the months have passed and I am able to eat a wider variety of foods, I have found that simply making sure that I eat enough high fiber foods each day to try to get in 25 grams of fiber minimum (I aim for 35) has been all that is needed. In addition, if you are eating a diet too low in fats, that will definitely slow things down...we need fats for our bowels to work properly. I would probably discuss this with your doctor to see what you should change, if anything. But, barring that, perhaps adding a little more fat and fiber to your diet will help. And don't forget the WATER!!! That helps everything work better! ~Suz

I'm so glad you posted about this...I was coming on here to do the same. I've never taken a stool softener post-op, but just recently as in the last few weeks I've been having a really hard time in the bathroom. Not sure what's causing it, could be a lack of fiber or fats as both are very low in my diet. What do you use and does it work well? I used colace after my last c-section but I don't remember if it really worked or not. I had to take Correctol (laxative) just to have a BM so don't know if a softener is really what I need? Does anybody know if antibiotics or steroid packs have any affect on our bowels? I've been on both lately...and I've been forced to take an anti-inflammatory for my back and its not helping any! I see my surgeon in a couple of weeks, will definitely discuss it with him.

Hey- I'm sure you've already checked this out- but i was told NOT to take the anti-inflammatories for my back-( ruptured disk) without taking another RX that would coat my pouch. FYI... Holly

Try Myralax.. its a powder with NO taste... mix a cap full with 4oz. of milk.. its awesome stuff!!!

Now if I mix Myralax with mix I will definitely go. Mix makes me dump: barf