How do you keep yourself "regular"... need advice

Hi ho all you RNY'ers....

So I'm 3 weeks out and I am wondering what regimen/advice you have for me to help keep me "regular"... I have not poo'd for about a week and I took the Milk of Magnesia as told by the RN and yes it worked.. however.... I'm curious to know what you folks do to keep things moving along on a more regular basis so I don't feel so stopped up... Constipation really isn't the issue.. just getting things to move along on a regular schedule.. I'd like to be going on my own vs taking something.. which I know will more than likely happen on its own down the road.. but... I'd like to keep things moving now too...

Plus I find MOM gross.. no matter what flavor I've tried!

Thanks a bunch!

And yes every thing came out okay.. ha ha   

Stacy

Well - I'm an old-timer who's had poop trouble since about 6 months post-op.  You're still a "baby" so to speak so I'm not sure my regimen is necessary for you at this point, but I'll tell ya my story - what worked, what didn't etc....

Currently, I take Miralax daily (a miracle!) and also I eat 1/2 cup of Fiber One cereal daily.  The twig kind, I just munch it dry on my way in to work.  I spoke with a gastro Dr. about the Miralax and she said it was safe to take daily and indefinitely...it doesn't enter the bloodstream, it just brings more fluid to the colon.  It works for me and it's just routine now.

In the past I've tried Benefiber, it nearly ruined my life with excess gas.  I practically blew the roof off.  Not for me, although some folks have no problems with it.  I then switched to Citracel which didn't cause gas.  It got a little thick but I mixed it with my protein shakes at the time and got it down.  I've also eaten prunes, (which are good) but they didn't do much for my tough case and also have used stool softeners such as Colace (or the store brand).  That can help too.

For you - I would try to up your fiber as much as possible, try some prunes, or a fiber supplement - not sure what you are eating yet.  Fiber One cereal has 14 gms of fiber in 1/2 cup and really doesn't taste bad and has very little sugar.  That's a big bang for your buck.  Keep up the fluids, that helps as well.  You may not go every day for awhile, since you're not taking in much...but don't let it go too long.  You don't want to end up with a blockage or something drastic like that.

Good luck in the poop dept - no matter how tired I get with having poop issues...it's still better than being fat! 

 

Two stool softners each evening!

These are my cures:

Flaxseed

Prunes

Benefiber (disappears in water)

Thanks for the feedback ladies!

I think I shall try the prune route first.. and then see what benefiber does.. 

Please ask your surgeon first - you're only 3 weeks out.

Benefiber makes water bottle packs (flavors like crystal light might have)....so you get your water and fiber in one gulp....they are really nummy.

thanks! My shopping adventure tomorrow will include prunes and some benefiber.. I appreciate all the feedback.. and yes.. I checked with my WLS office and my NUT and she suggested the same things you guys did! Thanks again!