CONSTIPATION -- HOW DO YOU SPELL RELIEF?!

Hi everyone, I am having great difficulty in this area. Prior to surgery I used flax (ground) that I bought from Trader Joes. I would put it in my yogurt, cottage cheese etc and it did the trick. Also mineral oil helped. I am drinking plenty of fluids but I have not really begun to introduce fruits to my diet or much veggies. Tomorrow I will be 9 weeks out. Do you think I could eat salads now? I do eat spinach & broccolli but not much as I get too full when I eat the protein first. I wasn't sure how much fiber I could use withiout causing pain in my pouch or intestines.:s So far I have not had any trouble with nausseau or vomiting (thanks to God). Suggestions please??!! Terre

Hi Terre, I was having problems in this area too. it's alot of trial and error. I have used prune juice ( like half a cup ) and it helps. Colace helps, drinking enough fluids and exercising helps me too. I'm trying to remember when I started on salads. I know I never had a problem with them and eat one just about everyday for lunch. I add ham and cheese to oomph up the protein content. I also add ground flax and sunflower seeds to it. I eat ground flax everyday and it helps me SO MUCH. I eat it on cottage cheese and in my salad and sometimes on peanut butter toast. I eat fruit like apples and melons sometimes too. Back in June I had a terrible problem and a scare. They think it was a partial blockage that managed to work it's way free. let me tell you I was SCARED. The only thing we can attribute it to was me adding in Benefiber too much too quickly. That stuff can sneak up on you because you really can't taste it at all. it's easy to over do it. I never used it again. Try upping your fiber by small amounts, Colace morning and night. ( double check with Brett to make sure this is ok for you, he told me it was ok for me but you know how that goes lol ) record how much you're drinking to make sure you're getting enough. It's easy to think we are getting more than we actually are. At times when things have gotten really difficult I have used a glycerin suppository and that helped alot. I used the childrens version from Acme. I am wary of chemical laxatives l ( even milk of magnesia ) and prefer to get things moving naturally if I can. Above all , discuss it with the doc's office so they are aware of any potential problem you may have. It's a fairly common post-op complaint but it's better to be safe. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon! Linda

Thanks so much Linda! Your suggestions have given me hope! I have Benefiber but wasn't sure about it and I think I will stay clear of it too. Take care!

Terre, I still struggle with this. I take colace morning and night. I also take a chewable fiber pill everyday. I have been eating an apple (sometimes 2) every day. It seems that I have water or Crystal Light in my hand at all times. With all of that, I am 'passing' . I love salads and they don't talk back too much. So that helps too. Ken

Hey Terre, Good luck...you've gotten good suggestions. But as far as the fruit Julie gave me permission to do fruit now.....without the skins. So I would say it's a go since your a little further out. Try it