Eating with a DS: A Day in the Life (pics!)
Hi Mich,
This is one of those things that greatly varies by person. Unfortunately, there's really no way of predicting what your post-op experience will be. I think a lot of surgeons like to tell their patients to expect the 3 times a day, so that they are prepared just in case.
When I was first out of surgery, I only went once every 2-3 days. I was very constipated and it was actually a problem for me. I have since added fat and fiber, and that (along with eating more) seems to have evened me to 1 per day.
I do know there are DSers who have 3 BMs a day, so it's not outside the range of possibility that it could happen. Anecdotally speaking, the average from what I've seen on the boards seems to be about twice a day (both in the morning, often). There was a study done on post-DS patients that found we had an average of about 1.67 BMs per day. www.dsfacts.com/Bowel-Habits-Post-Op.html
Some DSers on the higher end of the curve with this issue have had success decreasing their number of trips to the bathroom by tweaking their diets and taking probiotics.
Hope that helps!
This is one of those things that greatly varies by person. Unfortunately, there's really no way of predicting what your post-op experience will be. I think a lot of surgeons like to tell their patients to expect the 3 times a day, so that they are prepared just in case.
When I was first out of surgery, I only went once every 2-3 days. I was very constipated and it was actually a problem for me. I have since added fat and fiber, and that (along with eating more) seems to have evened me to 1 per day.
I do know there are DSers who have 3 BMs a day, so it's not outside the range of possibility that it could happen. Anecdotally speaking, the average from what I've seen on the boards seems to be about twice a day (both in the morning, often). There was a study done on post-DS patients that found we had an average of about 1.67 BMs per day. www.dsfacts.com/Bowel-Habits-Post-Op.html
Some DSers on the higher end of the curve with this issue have had success decreasing their number of trips to the bathroom by tweaking their diets and taking probiotics.
Hope that helps!
On June 21, 2010 at 11:03 AM Pacific Time, Sethmac wrote:
Hi again, My surgeon told me I would have approx. 3 BM's a day did you have it to when you were first out of surgery and does it slow down to 1? or ?? Just curious cause I don't want to spend a half of my life on the lou....if I don't have too...Mich (pronounced Mike)
But yes, immediately post-op you'll go more frequently, especially until you graduate to a 'normal' diet.