BM?

 Hello folks....I'll be 2 weeks post op on Thursday. The problem I'm having is trying to take a dump. I can sit on the toilet for a long time and when something does happen it just about rips my insides out. It's almost as bad as kidney stones. Does anyone have any suggestions?....I take 2 Colace twice a day and that barely helps. When I do go it's about every 2 day's. Dave

Have you tried Flaxseed? I've heard it works great to loosen things a bit.

Remember that you have much less going in, so you'll have much less coming out!!!!!!  My surgeon told me that it is perfectly normal to only have a BM 2-3 times per week early on - so, remember that you won't be having as many BM's as you did pre-op. Otherwise, I'm not sure what will help - I've been lucky in that the Colace has worked fine for me.   Best of luck. Chuck

Are you sure your getting all the water in you should be, that can have an adverse effect if your not. and as stated, you will not go as often as you used to only about 2-3 times a week. Call your Dr. , the colace may not be working for you, all bodies are different, you may need a different medication. My Dr. ended up proscribing  Milk of Magnesia, and that worked for me. .

 Thanks guy's....

Hey Dave, get yourself some mineral oil.  Take a 2 tablespoons 1-2 times a day.  You can mix it with something or just drink it.  It's sort fo tasteless.  Anyway, that lubes the process and makes things a lot easier. What you don't want to do is what I did - puncture a stool softener gel.. That is the worst tasting stuff I have ever seen.  Worse than brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower all at the same time for me. Mineral oil works better than fiber.   For me I was going ever 3 days so the delay is normal. Hope this helps. Greg

Water, gottta get your water to keep the pump going.  If you are like me, there is a lot of old , er um,  carbon and gum in there thats gotta get flushed out.  I een blew a kidney for a week, they thought they were gonna have to open me up and put ina drain cause stuff was backing into the old pouch I was so bloated.  So,...if yuo are gettting your fluids and still nothing, if you feel bloated and nothing is passing, be sure to let the doctor/your surgeon know before it gets really bad. Later I learned about oatmeal.  Throw in a spoonfull or two of wheat germ if you want the high octane version.  Nature's answer to colon Drano. Good luck man and don't be afraid to call the surgeon and ask questions. Better safe than sorry. Joe 

Dave, All of the suggestions abou****er are great.  I called this the brick effect, because that is exactly what it feels like when the s**t finally hits.   Protein makes things harder so you need to work eventually at increasing fiber (someone said flaxseed  but make sure it is flaxseed meal).  Check with your doctor and nutritionist for other solutions. Good luck. Rob

Dave, All the advice the others guys have given you is sound.  Use them all.  I did. As you get farther down the road, and you are able to eat a wider variety of foods, the “poop problem” gets easier to deal with.  Add fresh fruits and green vegetables, almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, etc. to you diet when you can.  Drink water until you are peeing clear and get some walking in every day.  It all helps.  Good luck.

OUCH !! I had one of brick episodes last week. I had just got up and weighed my self and had to go to the toilet. I was in there thirty minutes, thought my insides was going to come out. It was hard as a brick and felt as big as one to. When it was finally over I weighed my self again and I lost a pound. Like every one else has said drink plenty of water. If your body isn't getting enough it will take every bit of moisture from what ever source it can get it. I now am very aware of liquid intake. Minimum of sixty oz. a day for me.  pan head