TMI, maybe? Need help? YES.

Ok everyone...sorry if this is TMI, but I am dying here and need some help. I have been having SERIOUS potty troubles lately. I am all kinds of constipated and can't seem to fix it. I've been a little low on water lately so I know that can contribute to it. I started using Benefiber today so hopefully that will help too. Does anyone know of anything else- a stool softner or laxative or something?!?! I need Thanks! Kathy

I went thru the same thing. I started using the Benefiber powder in my water (two reasons to drink more) and using Colace. It is helping some, but I still strain with the effort.

I have been having problems since friday.....and to top it off food hurts my pouch. EVERYTHING even water! Friday I had an embarrasing "can't make it home to the bathroom" moment and since then I have been constipated, and actaully was jsut going out for Benefiber to try that. Everthing I eat just sits there and hurts. So today I am going back to basics......nothing but liquids and just try to get in protein shakes and water. Then I will need to call my surgeon, but I want to give it one more day and see what happens before I call. I wonder if something I ate Friday when I had the issue has caused me to become irritated? I am back to taking my pepcid twice a day (Dr told me to start that back if I ever had problems with epigastric pain). I am keeping everything I eat down it just hurts so I just take a bite and I am done for hours. I do however think tha****er consumption will help. And for me I think it was all the cheese I have started consuming. If I want nothing else I can get in a string cheese. Don't get me wrong, I am loving that I hate food right now. I have been dropping 2 pounds a day this week (yes I am weighing daily and need to hide my new scale) but I know it is not a healthy situation. Kathy, I hope you feel better. I think our bodies definetly have to get used to our new eating styles. I know for me with no grains or salads or anything but softs am definetly not getting the fiber I used to . Donna

Hang in there Donna, I went through the same thing at just about the same time you are now. It's from all that scar tissue forming, but you'll get through it! I too have had constipation issues, I haven't really wanted to do anything about them. I don't know if it's constipationg so much as not 'having to go' as often because of the little amount of food I have. I probably go 1-2 times a week tops.

I had the same problem and my doctor told me to use Dulcolax suppositories and Benefiber. Kim

Boy are we all alike or what!!!! If I go once every 2 weeks I'm lucky. It's VERY strange since I suffered from IBS for like 16 years. This is totally weird to my body. I've been drinking tons of water, taking the Dulcolax and all that. The other day (and I know this is TMI) I finally went and the potty was just full of blood. I was back there crying and my husband felt so bad. He's been there for 14 of my 16 years of IBS. It sucks. I keep hearing it'll get better and we'll probably just go once a week. I see the doctor on Tuesday so I'll definitely bring this up to him. * Cyndi *

cyndi, i hope by tuesday you mean tomorrow! you may have a bleeding ulcer!!! this is no joke. i had that as a complication and in my situation had to have it surgically repaired. it is very serious! saying all that i hope you don't have a bleeding ulcer. and i am sending happy potty wishes to you all. i started eating flax seed oatmeal, just because of the fiber. it is pretty high in fat, but it's good for you fat. and i like it.

well girls...i don't mean to toot my own horn but i go without a problem everyday within an hour after i wake up....twice! lol

I too, along with everyone else here has had this problem and ended up in the emergency room with an "impaction" bad enough they had to remove it. Its not pleasant cause the Dr did it with her fingers. Luckily it was a woman and not a man with large hands!!! It is embarassing and VERY painful. I have learned that if I don't go one day, the next night I am drinking Smooth Move tea and usually I go that next morning, BUT if I don't, I will take 2 T of Milk of Magnesia (refridgerated for a better taste) and then follow that with 8 oz of water over an hour or so. I couldn't take the colace - gel caps and I can't have those till 3 months out per my dr. I tried the liquid colace - $12 WASTED - there is no way I can swallow that horrible stuff again. I tried over the counter suppositories, I tried warm water enema's, I tried over the counter enema's and other remedies, but have found the above seem to be working for me. Good luck, I hope you don't end up in emergency!!! Anne

Here's a for you Liz. LOL I know it wasn't an ulcer for me. I have these "presents" that my 9 lb wonder baby gave me during her natural birth. I ripped one bad. lol It is a weird thing for me though. I could eat an M&M pre-surgery and the IBS would strike in moments. This going once a week or every other week thing is so weird to me. My husband keeps telling me I should enjoy it. Especially since I'm not really eating anything that would "make" a BM. lol Ah the joys of WLS. And some people think we've taken the easy way out. * Cyndi *