one of those poop questions.....

Okay I know all you Maysters are nearing the 11th month now(can you believe it?). I know we all experienced a little constipation in the beginning which was a normal side effect from the surgery. What about now, do you still get constipated every now and then? At first, in my situation it was awful. I did everything you can think of to get the plumbing going and believe me Ive found alot of tricks of the trade. I find now that even still with a somewhat normal way of eating I still get constipated a little here and there. I usually get in all the recommended daily fiber or darn near to it everyday. Some weeks Ill go like clockwork and others I wonder what clogged up the joint. For instance last week was great but now I havent been since Thursday( sorry TMI) and am considering breaking out MOM which I think is the most disgusting junk out there. I havent had to take it in a very long time. I already take the stool softener daily and have made coffee a part of my morning ritual due to its laxitive effects, not to mention I take fiber choice tablets every single day, so Im thinking WTF? Before surgery I never even thought about "going". I went everyday with no problems and now its like please god let me go today? So anyway was just wondering hows everyone else's plumbing going? Problems? What do you do to keep the lines open? Candy

Hey, Candy! Always nice to have the occassionally poop question posted. Remember, everybody poops! I do what you do... I take a couple of Fiber Choice tablets daily, take stool softener (percolace or a knock-off of the same thing) and coffee therapy (Maxwell House take me away). That seems to work. I usually go every day but actually have missed a day or two lately. I know that some folks take ground flax seeds every day for this purpose. I haven't gotten that into the day. If I hadn't gone since Thursday... I'm sure I'd be hitting the MOM big time. Or the Smooth Move herbal tea. Wish I had a magic cure. Kathy

* where do ya get your Smooth Move tea???? Been trying to find it. Looked at Food Lion, Giant, and Trader Joe's (in Alexandria) still no luck. Got a terrible lock down issue w/ IBS and even Zelnorm* seems powerless to get 'er done. Mary

I think I got it at Whole Foods. Kathy

I had problems up until about 5-6 months out, a couple of really horrible episodes, a few minor ones. I do everything you're doing except I take 4 Benefiber chewables every day, 2 in the morning and 2 at night with my calcium. I don't do stool softeners, though. Might be a good topic for your Nut or surgeon.