To use Fiber or Not to use fiber.

Hello all, This is a touchy and difficult subject to talk about, but here goes. Before surgery I was "regular" with my BM's. I never had any problems pre-op. From the moment of post-op I have had problems. At first they told me I had a sleep bowel. It took 5 days post-op to even pass gas! Then another day to have a BM. Since then I go every 3-4 days. By the 3rd to 4th day I feel horrible! Crappy, bloated, even sick sometimes. I feel almost compacted. When I do go I sit on the stool for hours! When I approached my surgeon at my month post op meeting, she said it was too soon to take any fiber or stool softner. I am going in 3 weeks to a new surgeon here in my new town and I am going to ask about it. But I wondered if anyone else has problems, or got the ok to take Citricel or Metimusle (sorry about the spellings). I don't want to take anything strong, cause the gas pains I have on the 3rd and 4th day are so painful they make me cry. I have tried fiber cereals and they don't help! I also drink a ton of water and tea, so I know it isn't my water intake. In fact I worry my kidneys are in overdrive sometimes. I felt I had a huge bladder before surgery, now it seems very tiny! LOL! I hope I can get some good advice, or at least something to approach my new doctor with. Thank you! Take Care! Heather Powell

hi heather! i also have the same problem since surgery, as i have talked about plenty of times here! i am going to ask my surgeon as well, at my dec 13th appt. right now, i am taking laxatives almost daily and i still only go 2-3 times a week. they told me i can use colace, but i haven't tried it. laxatives are cheaper for me and i have to cut costs wherever i can. i have also tried metamucil capsules and they did not help at all. i would say at this point, it would be fine to try a stool softener. hope you get some relief soon! hugs~mary jo

Hi Heather, I also had that problem.My doctor put me on peri-colace and that helped alittle but what really helped was when I started taking Omega-3 fish oil capsules twice a day. I havent had a problem since. Good luck I known how uncomfortable it can be. Andrea

I think we all have this problem since the surgery. I am definitly more regular now than during the first few months but nothing like I used to be. Partly because I'm not taking in as much food. I never asked my surgeon about the issue so I didn't hear we shouldn't use a stool softener. I used one from week two until about two months ago and have had no problems. I don't use it regularly anymore but occassionally as needed. Good luck with your new surgeon. Chip

Heather, I would go on the Ohio board and ask Dr. Curry. He pops in all the time to answer questions for us Buckeye's! He practices at Deconess Hospital in Cincy and has quite a following! All I have to do is eat something with any amount of fat and I dump.....so am a bad one to ask. I go about 2-3 times a day! Good luck! Sue 320/154/130 goal

Hi Heather! You stated that you drink a lot of tea... would that happen to be decaff??? I found out the hard way that caffeine can really dehydrate you. Once I stopped the caffeine, I was a whole lot better off. Also, when I'm feeling a little bound up, I eat something with Malitol in it... fixes me right up! Now, I don't know if I'd recommend that for you if you are already having problems with gas... too much Malitol, and I'm in dire pain from gas. Just a little bit gets me moving again, however. I hope this helps! I know how miserable it can be... Thanks, Karen

I've survived logging it! Since about 2 months out, I've added morning coffee back to my day. It seems to jump start my day...if you know what I mean. I drink anywhere from 1/2 cup to 2 cups of 1/2 decaf every morning. It's just enough, and the warm liquid seems to be as important as the caffiene. Actually, I'll drink decaf some afternoons and it can have the same effect. I'm back to daily BM's and seldom have anymore problems. Hope this helps! Kristie

Heather, I am in the same boat as you. It is my chief and only complaint about this surgery. And when I do finally go....it's not as much as it should be....and I know it's backing up. It's miserable. Then, every once in a blue moon, I finally get several FEET out. ( I know, that may be too much information! Sorry...but a real DRAMA in my life ). I drink all day long too. I tried taking fiber wafers...no luck. I tried Milk of Magnesia....that works a little.....I've tried eating popcorn....sometimes that works.....I've tried eating high fat foods...never works. Everytime I talk to the doc, he says: eat more veggies, eat more fiber, increase your water intake....last resort...Milk of Magnesia. I don't know what to do. Now, I think I have a bigger problem. I have a bulge (like half a cantaloupe) under my belly button. I'm hoping this is just me being backed up...I'm afraid it's a hernia. I just don't understand how I could have a hernia that low....they didn't cut me down there. Let me know what your doctor says. I'm gonna give my situation some time and probaby hit the Milk of Magnesia again. Pam

I've had similar problems, here are my answers: Fiber Water Exercise Jo

I swear by Bene-Fiber, I take 2 or 3 servings a day. Has no flavor and disolves without getting thick. I usually put it in my protien shakes. The ingredient is different from that used in metamucil, it's not habit forming like the laxatives. I also drink decaf coffee each am. Good luck........... HW 250 SW 235 CW 182 GW 150