Is it pretty standard to have "bathroom" issues post surgery?

I keep on hand laxatives, stool softeners, fiber, magnesium, enemas, and suppositories. That is pretty much my normal 13 years after RNY.

Thanks, White Dove!

Initially, constipation is a common issue owing to a combination of the after effects of some of the narcotic pain killers (the first few days, maybe) and the high protein, minimal everything else diet that we typically have, along with common early struggles on hydration. Longer term, it is primarily a dietary issue, with some influence from the particular procedure that one has - the malabsorbing procedures like the RNY and DS having a bigger influence on it than the purely restrictive procedures like the VSG. Some in the RNY and DS world go by the manta "never trust a fart...." as they tend to "move" the other way, particularly if they are in the "whole fat everything" camp and overcompensate for their malabsorption.

Long term, many still like to do some form of low carb diets, as that is still the "big thing" in the diet business today, and tend to be low in fiber, skimping on the fruits, veg, legumes and whole grains that help keep things moving through. I haven't used any stool softeners, Miralax or fiber supplements in years as I don't skimp on those things.

As with much in life, it is a matter of finding the right balance. This whole WLS process upsets out original balance (which is sorta the whole point...) and we all have to figure out how to reestablish that balance for ourselves depending upon the procedure we had and our dietary needs and preferences.

Thank you! This is highly informative!

Due to the amount of protein we eat post-surgery, I suffered from constipation for the first couple of years, often really bad. I did the Miralax thing others recommended, but hated having to use a laxative every day.

Fast forward to my 3 year checkup at my surgeon's office, and I had a discussion with the nutritionist. (This was a new office, my surgeon had moved to a different hospital in a new city, and I continued to go to him rather than the weight loss clinic he was in before, so this was a new nutritionist.) I discussed my constipation issues with her, and her one-word reply was "probiotics." We discussed it, and she said if I added a probiotic to my daily supplements, it would help.

She was right! I immediately started taking a 20-billion active cultures probiotic once a day, and my constipation issues have improved 98%! I occasionally have an issue, but usually only when I eat an unusually large amount of protein for a couple of days. I haven't used a laxative in 2 years.

OOH! Good to know! I will add this to my list of questions for post-op supplements

I'll also mention that I switched to the Ketogenic way of eating about 4.5 months after surgery. Since I eat a higher fat diet than is usually recommended after surgery, it also helps with keeping the constipation at bay. I don't recommend Keto immediately after surgery, but once you are eating at what will be your new "normal" amounts, that would be when to start if you are so inclined. I have been Keto for 3.25 years now, and never felt better!

I used Miralax for quite some time. I still try to take it once or twice a week, though I'm probably okay without it. Those first few months are rough, but your bathroom life becomes normal after awhile. Mine is so much better than it used to be, I spend about 1/10th of the time in there overall compared to the pre-surgery days.

Thank you! Hopefully the issues experienced are mild!

Quite mild, and a "few months" may have been inaccurate. Maybe weeks would have been a better way to put it, mostly constipation issues for me.