constipation

1. call your surgeon first to clear anything over the counter. Mine was really p1$$ed when I didnt call and tried to self medicate with over the counter stuff. He/She knows your medical history.

2. On that note :)...i followed a lot of posts here. I started adding miralax to my morning protein shake and that helped, coupled with Benefiber. I took 2 senecots at night before i went to bed, but only when the pain was really bad and I was still having issues moving stuff along.

Don't wait too long to call though.

I found a couple things help.....colase helps to soften things up, and senekot or ducolax helps move things along.

i was afraid to add a fiber supplement because i already has huge poos, but they just wudnt come out.

drinking more water helped too.

Products like Milk of Magnesia will help for the occasional time when you haven't gone for a couple of days.

For many of us post ops who suffer from more cronic constipation issues those products and any of the bulk fibre products like Metamucil and Benefibre are not the answer. Most bulk fibre products require you to drink more volume then a lot of us are able to do.

What does work is products made of Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) so Restorolax, LaxaDay, Miralax or store brand. Restorolax draws water into the bowel. No stimulant. Safe to use everyday and long term. 
My GI doc said use twice per day for a week. Then add a dose if you need or cut back if you are going too often. Most of the time one dose per day works for me.

Linda

I tried a couple of different products before settling on Miralax - and after talking with my WLS Clinic. I take Miralax first thing every morning, mixing it with Crystal Light.