Constipation....

Has anyone experienced constipation after surgery? When I was discharged the dr. told me if I don't go in a few days to take the Milk of Magnesia. That was Thurs and I still haven't gone. Today makes a week of me not going and I finally went out and bought some and took it this morning. Still nothing! I'm sure I would lose a little more weight if I did go!!!!!

I would get that checked out because you should have at least gone by now. I didn't go for the first 10 days after surgery thinking it was okay because I was onl iquids for 14 days, but that is not the case. You should be going. Call your doc. Marie

Cindy: I have this issue as do many wlsers.. read on for a compilation of things I have used/tried.. CONSTIPATION Constipation can be from so many things including BUT not limited to: ~1) FLUIDS: simply from not getting in enough fluids... So first before you do anything ask yourself? Am I drinking at least 64 oz a day (8 cups)...If not try increasing and see if this helps. Look at this neat hydration calculator! It may open your eyes! It says I need 117.5 oz day (I do get that too still not enough for me!) http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm ~2) EXERCISE: Get moving! I do 30-60 min cardio a day + wts. Yes it helps! Start somewhere! Something is better than nothing! ~3) FIBER: We get constipated because our diet is now volume in general & lower in fiber especially due to lack of tolerance also (less fruits and veggies). So many try increasing fiber by using benefiber (non swelling/no taste) or some like liquifiber at Vitalady: http://tinyurl.com/5edxn I have used Metamucil caps in past but I DO NOT RECOMMEND it is a SWELLING FIBER & may NOT be good for pouchie! ***We do not want to stretch it!!! I swear by Flax Seed ground. I get mine here: http://www24.netrition.com/now_flaxseeds_page.html I started with 1T ground a day (in yogurt, shakes or on my salad it has slightly nutty flavor) now I am up to 1T three times a day. The benefits of flax are so much more than just for fiber!!! Read for more info! http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/flaxnut10.htm (A lower risk for heart disease, Prevention of some forms of cancer, Treatment of immune disorders, Diabetes helps in stabilizing Blood Sugars, Relief from constipation) http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/faq.htm You can also buy it in GNC, health food stores, Wal-Mart has it in vitamin aisle and baking aisle. KEEP refrigerated for longest shelf life and so it doesn't go rancid! It has to be ground (bought that way or ground in Magic Bullet or a small coffee grinder for the benefit ok!) ~4) OTHER NUTRITIONAL/SUPPLIMENT CAUSES: Higher protein (in diet and shakes), Calcium Citrate (form we need to absorb after bypass), Iron supplementation can all add to the constipation scenario postop (things we need!). Different forms of Iron are more constipating than others (Ferrous sulfate for instance AVOID!!! Many feel carbonyl iron like vitalady's tender iron http://tinyurl.com/3ve5x , ferrous gluconate *I get OTC at Wal-Mart just ask pharmacist, ferrous fumarate, polysaccharide iron are less constipating). Another solution Magnesium: HERE IS JULIA Z's recommendation: Magnesium as magnesium citrate or amino acid chelate 400-1000 mg a day. OK to take with calcium but not with iron. Can be taken all at once or throughout the day. Start out with 200 mg and increase dosage every few days until the desired level is reached; decrease dosage slightly if loose stools result. Preferred dosage is 1 part elemental magnesium to 2 parts elemental calcium or 1000 mg magnesium to 2000 mg calcium, but this ratio is not accurate for each person. Increasing the dosage until you get loose stool and than backing off a little seems to work best for most people. IF still NO GO: my surgeon recommended Colace. It is an over-the-counter stool softener. Try it once a day and increase to 2-3x if needed. (It is cheap too, buy the generic brand, docusate sodium)... If this is ineffective, my surgeon said I could use a gentle suppository (such as glycerin, ducolax or the generic form)....only to get things going, they can get habit forming so be careful. It is always best to ask your surgeon or MD about his but this is what I have been told. I use Colace 2x a day, it does help (with my flaxseed) I also have used Milk OF Magnesia a few times week if needed. My Clinical Nutrition/Bariatric MD prescribed Miralax (generic is glycolax) works great also (I used a few times in severe cases w/ some bloating but no taste!, it is a powder mixes in water great!) They say can be used long-term! (BUT I am cheap rather find a non prescription way!) Many swear by Smooth move tea, it is just senna in a tea (you can buy senna tabs OTC also called SENOKOT Tablets: Each tablet contains 8.6 mg sennosides.). Or ingredient in: PERI-COLACE® TABLETS (Purdue Products) docusate sodium and standardized senna concentrate (so is a stool softener and laxative in one!) http://www.tealand.com/SmoothMove.asp BY: Traditional Medicines in Health food, Wal-Mart of many health food aisles of grocery stores! Contents: Active Ingredient: 20mg. Sennosides A & B per cup from senna leaf. Other herbal ingredients: Licorice root, fennel seed, orange peel, cinnamon bark, coriander seed, ginger rhizome, natural orange flavor. Directions for use: Pour 8 oz. of boiling water over one tea bag and steep, covered, for 10-15 minutes. Adults and children over 12 years: Drink 1 cup before bedtime. If necessary, repeat the next day not to exceed 4 cups in 24 hours. A few prunes (3) also have helped me in a pinch...few times a week (watch cal/carbs)...Some gain w/ carbs/sugar or get triggered hunger! It has been ok w/ me as it is seen as medicine and used accordingly! Just my thoughts/ideas! I do Exercise/Water/Colace 2 day/Flaxseed 3T total a day and it generally is ok, only needing MOM 1x week or 3 prunes 1-2x week! J Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

Hi there Cindy, How are you? I am 3 years post-op and deal with constipation all the time. Go to the grocery store or Vitamin Shoppe and buy some "SMOOTHE MOVE" tea. That is the only thing that works girl. They now have it in Chocolate flavor also. Let the bag sit and seep. I let it stay for 1 hour add some Equal and drink it. It works overnight and does not give you loose stools. Good Luck. I know anyone who I has used it has raved about it . Have a great day!!! Lorraine

I am SO glad to see this post. I was getting ready to post on the topic myself. I use 2 colace at night and started taking Bebefiber and I am still not going on a regular basis. My hubby has Senna at home so I think I will add that to my routine. I love prunes.. maybe I will try them! I thought the addition of salad into my diet would have helped (in the past it had me in the potty all the time!) but Noooooo.. that did not even help. Thanks again for the post and thanks to everyone for the advice! I am looking forward to finding relief! Hugs... Lori

Well I took the Milk of Magnesia yesterday morning and it didn't wor****il last night -- I went again this morning but I think that was due to the coffee. It was a loose bowel but at least I went...... Maybe I'll be OK from here on in? who knows!!!! If I see I don't go again for a couple of days I'll try some of the suggestions that everyone recommended. Thanks everyone!

Constipation can be an issue for post-ops - ESPECIALLY if you are taking high doses of iron. In addition to getting in more water and fiber, if possible, you can also try "Colace" brand products. One has a laxative and a stool softener and the other is just a stool softener for whichever issue you have. Milk of Magnesium is good too, I hear but sometimes you need a softener more than a laxative.

Thanks for the info... haven't gone since Monday so I better take the Milk of Magnesia.... Where in the Bronx do you live? I grew up in the Bronx -- first in Parkchester, then Pelham Pkwy, Eastchester Road (Waring Ave) and last but not least, Crosby Ave.....

Hey there! Another Bronx girl! Me? South Bronx Vyse Avenue, Edenwald Avenue, Jerome Avenue at 198th Street, Gun Hill Road, Tremont, Noble Avenue, etc. YOU NAME IT! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I was on Lydig Avenue last night picking up some stuff from the surgical suppy store for my post-op plastic surgery. Email me with questions if you have any. Take care!

wow, you've been all over! I used to hang out on Lydig and Cruger when I was a kid and my in-laws still live off of Burke Ave.... LOLLLLLLLLLLLLL Where did you have your surgery? You're having plastic surgery now? Does the insurance pick that up?