Lets talk poop and constipation...

We all do it and have to do it... "Going" every day does not mean you are not constipated. ...I deal with that. I always had issues, but a few years post op RNY I developed IBS-C...

Now I just deal with it.

I see a lot of people dealing with this issue... So... I have been dealing with it for a while now...here is my "to go- maintenance protocol."

• daily I need to i use Miralax, plus I take magnesium, and vitamin C (lots of C)
• I eat rather low carb diet.low fiber, moderate to high fat. But eat some veggies and nuts..
• I drink coffee, and I try to make sure I have 12 hrs in every 24 hours that I don't eat solid foods "to flash my guts" I Drink a lot of liquids ...

But... Every couple of weeks I noticed that I don't feel like I have a complete elimination...my gas is getting worse... Plus my belly- guts look - feel more distended... And I start getting more cramps after eating...bad enough for me to take my meds. (hyasoamine). Or/And I start burping more... As if my gas can only go up and not down.

From my past experiences - that indicates things are not moving as good as they need to. And unless I do something - I may be dealing with real pain and disomfort.

So.... When I notice these "signals" I take actions... I may slightly increase my Miralax for a few days and try to decrease some fiber, do more exercises - moving more, increase my breathing exercises... Add a few probiotics... I may do that for a 2-3 days to make sure my guts are working good again...

How do I know my guts work well again: For me that means that the food transition time should be 24-36 hours..longer that that means things are not moving.

For anyone that deals with constipation, now or in the past - don't allow it to become obstruction ... Don't ignore your body signals that something is not right...

In extreme situation... I may even stop eating solid foods for a day or 2. And only do clear drinks to make sure my gut can get clean..

Even with the IBS-C doing what I am doing allows me to live rather low pain to pain free life.. . and no stinky gas (unless I eat food with SA). No more going to ER and being told "you are full of it"...

No more straining, hemoroids, etc etc...

This may be extreme for some... But it took me 2 days to get ready for my colonoscopy last time. Normal prep does not work for me. I had to do it for 2 days. So if you dealing with constipation...look for signs that will tell you you may be getting "full of it" ...And take action..

I admire you for putting in all the hard work you do Hala, figuring out your diet, supplements, medical issues. I think I would be overwhemed by it.

After the first few months, I haven't had any issues in the poop department. I don't use Miralax or anything like it, and take no fiber supplements. I eat a high protein, high fat, veggie free diet. And somehow, I'm regular as clockwork, and zero constipation.

The only time I've had issues is when I've had something with sugar alcohols in it. I avoid those like the plague. And I can always tell when I had too many carbs the day before. Poop is always different the day after too many carbs.

Anyone that has problems would be wise to learn from Hala's experience.

I have motility issues too. I think many of us have motility issues caused by the surgery (just my theory). I can tell when my intestines are slowing down. When I feel it, I will do a day or two of liquids only. It always works for me and I am astounded at how much moves through me without eating a solid thing. Proof that, occasionally, I'm full of ****

yeap. I agree with you. Motility issues post op RNY. I think having out stomach cut, cutting of the vagus nerve, plus no pyloric valve - it may creates a situation when the body does not know it needs to stimulate the gutto keep moving food down.

Add a few abdominal surgeries + lack of GB..and constipation is a real deal.

Some people may suggest adding fiber may help.. but in my case - it is the opposite, the more fiber I get- the worse my constipation is,. Low gut motility is the cause...

I have such an issue with this. Oh how I long for the days when I didn't even think about these things.

Before I started doing anything about it. I would go days and days without going (almost a week). My stomach would hurt so bad. I would finally give in and take a laxative. I finally thought I need to do something daily to relieve this and not let it go for so long that I have to resort to laxatives. So after trying a bunch of different things. I finally have settled on a regimen of a stool softener and a probiotic daily. The fiber supplements did nothing for me...they did not break through this wall of poop...LOL!!!

Now the only problem I have is just trying to get the right dose of stool softener. I really think I vary. Sometimes 1 seems to be enough and sometimes two is fine. But other times I am running to the bathroom because my stomach is doing that familiar gurgling and cramping. I just wish I knew my body better and could tell when I needed 1 pill and when I needed 2...so I don't run to the bathroom or end up constipated again.

Actually I have recently decided to do a colon cleanse over Thanksgiving weekend. I decided to do it then because I will have 4 days off from work and I will have easy access to a toilet and I can camp out there if need be. I just want to do a cleanse to get it all out and not feel so blocked up. I also want to do a liver cleanse. Have any of you done this for the Hell of not for a medical procedure?

I have done a few of those in the past. Both. But hen I always had issues with my BM..I think I had IBS-C even before RNY.. and WLS made it worse...

IMO - you have to be very carefull when you do one... either one...

I had IBS-C for years before RNY. It was bad for a long time, I had to be really careful of what I ate. If I ate too greasy I would be in severe pain, it was awful.About 2 years ago I started juicing and that helped with the constipation so so much. It really did wonders.

I'm only 7 months out from RNY and have had only a few issues with constipation so far since the surgery. But I worry about what I'll do if it gets bad because I don't think juicing is an option now - too many carbs. I'll have to try your protocol when it comes to that!

Mine gets worse when I travel even if I use my Miralax. Stress makes it sooo bad.. like things will just top moving...

I learned the hard way - 1/2 bottle of wine... helps with the pain in very acute state of IBS-C stress induced.. Even my BF knows that now and as much as we hate it - I drink 2 glasses of wine and that helps better than any pills... I do not recommend that to anyone..but - knowing that it works for me is a major thing.

i.e. A tree fell on my car - damaging it...within 30 min of that (reaction time) I got severe gut cramps - to the point I had a hard time breathing. I knew could take narco for the pain - or Hyoscyamine (for cramps) - but I also knew that with either one of these pills - once they stop working - the pain would return (because the food would be still in my guts) - but that wine - would help to digest the food and would help move it along...ideal - not really - but it works... do I get dunk on 2 glasses of wine (or 2 shots) - you bet.... and I do sleep it off..

Travel doesn't affect me so much but boy does stress! It just binds me up like crazy. I can't deal with certain things very well. I prefer not to take pain pills if I can help it because all that's going to do is cause constipation basically from the pain pills in the end. Super annoying! I've never tried Miralax but have it on hand just in case.

Good post on how to stay on top of this. I had one episode and that was enough - it can get worse and I have seen some posts on OH from people who have recurring tears in the colon, etc. Even my non-WLS friends deal with this issue and have a system like yours.

Way to stay healthy!!