TMI but I knew I could ask you........

Ok I posted a question about laxatives now I need to post a question about BM's. I am not sure my problem is actually constipation. So I am calling on all of your knowledge. My stools when I have them are actually soft, formed, and pale in color. The problem is it only happens once every week to ten days. And I get to feeling really miserable in the mean time. I am nauseous, bloated, crampy and very full feeling. I have taken Senna one night and Milk of Magnesia two nights. That is three nights in a row and nothing but a very small "chunky" fart. But it is soft. I am not sure what to think, and I couldn't find much info online either. Constipation is hard BM, but not much out there about my problem. I have a doctor's appointment on the second so I am planning to ask him too, but was hoping maybe someone here would have some thoughts. Sorry if this was too graphic, but I am just concerned about what is going on with my insides. Thanks everyone.

Well, in my understanding, constipation is "lack of going" or "reluctance in going" rather than just "hard BM."  The "hard BM" is a side-effect, really, as the longer the material is in your intestine the more water is leached out of it.  But if it's something that started out as mainly liquid in the first place, it might end up as still soft.

What are you eating (consistency-wise)?  If it's mainly liquids and very soft foods, this might be what's going on.  If your intake is mostly soft and liquidy, what's going to come out is going to be that way too. If you're not getting much fiber (i.e., you're not eating fruits and veggies or grains), then there may just not be enough to stimulate your digestive tract to move things along.

I take about a tablespoon of Benefiber every morning in my protein shake to help with that.  I'm also finding that now that I am incorporating some veggies and fresh fruits into my diet, the whole issue is improving.  When it "backs up" a bit, I take Peri-Colace (the generic, actually) at night and that takes care of it.

All in all, I'd suggest talking with your doc, but a large part of the answer depends on what's going IN. 

Make sense?

Karen

I was gonna ask the same thing Karen did...what's your intake?  There just might not be enough stuff going in to come out every day.  Hope you find an answer!

Pam

I am newlie a LOSER!!!!  wooot/  but I took a per-colace and it worked fine
overnight.

I hate it when "that wasn't a fart!!!"

If you find you still need Peri-Colace or Senna S, they have both been taken off the market.  You can find DocQLax online with the same ingredients.

poop and BM's are some of our favorite topics here! lol

Pale stool can also be a sign of something going on with your gall bladder if I remember correctly. It can also be a result of what you are eating. I know that you have been having trouble with food - it might just be a result of that. THink back to pre-op, you probably went everyday because of the volume of food you ate in a day - you probably don't eat that much is 4-5 days now!

*hugs* hang in there and ask the Dr on the 2nd. The colace will help too - Karen mention that constipation doesn't mean hard stool - just a lack of going (which can result in hard stool)

Hope that this gets better!

Liz

Try adding Benefiber to your liquids for some fiber.

Try Miralax to get regularity.

Try getting some regular fiber. I don't have much advice for you otherwise.

I was on a stool softener for a long time, until I started daily fiber pills, now I never go more than a day. Sounds good, but I used to go EVERY DAY at 7 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM. Ah, the glory days.

It's good you'll be tlaking to your doctort about it. That's the important part.

And like Liz said, we all love talking about poop here.

I had pale poop for several months post-op, but luckily none of the other issues you are having. Your fresh out of surgery, I wouldn't worry too much. Your inards were just rearranged and will sort out in time.

In the meantime I'd take the suggestions of others above.