Constipation OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Without a doubt the worst experience I've ever had was the two hours I spent yesterday in a mall bathroom! I've never felt this type of pain and discomfort. Excuse the expression but packed like a rock I could not move the bowels. The pain and pressure was unbarable, finally I called my wife from the said mall "throne" and begged her to come and get me. When I got home I finally did the deed but there was apparantly some newly formed hemmaroids as I passed a bit of blood as well. Appologies for such a graphic description! I called the doc and he insisted that I am not taking in sufficien****er. Rest assured I will pay closer attention to the required 64 oz of daily water consumption! If thats not enough the damn scale still has not budged from the 252 mark of two weeks ago. I am taking in less that 500-600 cal a day and nothing? Also go to the gym everyday for 1 - 2 hours? I am really on the edge!!!!!!!! Kenny

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! 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. MD prescribed Miralax (generic is glycolax) works great also (I used a few times in sever 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!"

Kenny, I know what you are talking about, I had taken a laxative as I was not moving my bowels. I was at work when it started working, and I almost passed out in the ladies room. The laxative was forcing it out, but it was hard as a rock. I swore I tore my self a new one. Since then I take a stool softner (the generic one****ep them at my bedside and take two before I go to sleep. They work after breakfast. I just go like the normal. I also had hit a wall in loosing I was not eating hardly anything. I was skipping breakfast and eating very light the other meals. I found once I started eating breakfast again, and rounding out my meals a little adding a little vegetables with my protein, I started loosing again. Good luck to you, just hang in there, things will start MOVING for you again. Mary L

Kenny, I know exactly what you are going through...been there, done that as they say... I take two docusate sodium each day (Dulcolax is brand name, drug stores have generics). A big glass of warm water in the am with one and the same before bed usually works. I have Glycolax from the doctor but that doesn't always work for me. Benefiber mixed with yogurt or water or whatever seems to work better. Don't worry about the weight loss it will happen. Exercise builds muscle and you are doing everything right as far as that is concerned. Just take it one day at a time and don't weigh yourself except maybe once every week. Take care, and keep posting. LindaM

Kenny, Hi there and sorry to hear of your problems with constipation. If I were you....I would go to the Vitamin Shoppe or any food store and buy some "SMOOTHE MOVE" TEA. I have had this problem for years but since my WLS it has been worse. I drink this tea before I go to bed . It has to seep for about 15 minutes and then sweeten with Equal and enjoy. It tastes pretty good. I drink it about 3 times a week and my problems are now over. It is not like a laxative that has you running to the toilet. I would make a double cup with 2 bags the first time and try to have it often. It is natural and will not harm that new "POUCH" you have. Good Luck and Let me know if it worked. I know it will so take care and have a great day. Lorraine

Kenny, Yeah it is something that most of us have to deal with after surgery. What I do to help: All my water Glycolax every other night mixed in my cystal light Benefiber chewables, 1 - 2x a day Good luck and you have to find what works for your body... Debra P

Kenny, U took the words right out of my mouth!!! I had a similar experience 2 days ago and it came down to me diggin the rock-like bowels out with my finger ("yuck").....I'm an advid water drinker....but I realized that I still need the stool softner, Ducasate Sodium that I used when I came home from the hospital. Maybe you should add these to your diet, 3 times a day until you regulate. Ask your doctor about them. They can be purchased at any drug store over-the-counter. I felt like I was going to die! Thank God I have small fingers....Oh the joy of wls... Good luck! PEACE, Tanya