OUCH! what's wrong with my butt?

Well, all kidding aside...I could use some suggestions from you guys. I'm 23 days out and my stools are as hard as rocks! I can't quite describe the pain of passing them. I'm definitely not constipated, it's all moving along as it should and I have a daily event (which, trust me, I'm starting to dread). I'm drinking more than enough (sometimes up to 90 oz per day), I'm over the top on docusate stool softener. I'm thihnking it's just the lack of fibre in the soft diet. I think I'm still a little too early out (surgical anastomosis wise) to start adding in a lot of fibre, even though I think that is what my gut really wants right now. My surgeon is not big on milk of mag, but I may try some tonight just so I can try to pull some water into the bulk of it. I'll also call the surgeon's office tomorrow. Any other ideas? Ken

It's just your system going through the changes. One minute you're passing gas like a champ and the next you're squeezing cheek to the toilet. I had a moment last week where my stomach was killing me and I needed to go. Problem was the stuff making me ill was behind all the rocks backing me up. I may be the only person ever to have constipation and the ****s at once.

Hey man, Sounds like a normal stage to me. You may also go through a "Loose" stage. Smells will change as well as color. MOM was a life saver for me, but I would stick to what ever the Dr Suggest. All in all things will work out in the end.....Pun intended, lol Have a great one, George

Hi Ken, try Metamucil - sugar free and/or mineral oil. That will loosen things up. 3 tb spoons of mineral oil a day should do the trick. Hope this helps, Greg

Ken, That's fairly common. Check with the doc, but many suggest Milk o'Mag To get going again. This is a case where an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. Oatmeal? Lots of fiber there and allowed on most soft stages. Steel cut oats and even add in a tablespoon of Flaxseed meal. Also no-sugar added applesauce, bunches of it! Also, even though you don't want to get too high fat A little extra "Good Fats" in your diet will "lube the tubes" as it were. Teaspoon of olive oil in some cooked green beans? Does wonders. The good news is that the freaky stool problems level out for most. By the end of the first year, no different than a non-op for me. Eat fiber when you can... Best Wishes- Dx

all natural applesauce worked for me (make sure it's "no sugar added"). I still use it. I agree with DxE...EV olive oil works really well. It'll get better. Jay

It got better before I ever figured it out Ken!! I did start mixing Benefiber into my protein shake in the morning and things got better after a few days - but still don't know if it was the Benefiber or just natural changes. Steve

Thanks everybody. I appreciate the tips, hints and tricks!!

Ken, The problem is you have reduced the amount of fat in your diet and you take Calcium everyday so those two things will back you up pretty bad. Get yourself some Colace; it is a stool softener without any laxatives in it. Wal-Mart sells a generic version for 5 bucks for a month supply. I take two pills a day and it solved the problem for me. It was recommended by the doctors at Duke after my WLS. It is something you can take long term without side affects from what I have been told. Regards, Tim

Thanks Tim, I have been trying those and now I'm increasing my dose of them. It seems to be working so I'm gonna keep my fingers crossed. Thanks for the input. Ken