Constipated...

I'm 5weeks post-op RNY and this is the 2nd weekend in a row that I have been constipated.

Last weekend, the doctor's instructions busted me past the "blockade" but have not done anything this time.

Remedies Attempted:
1. Increased my walking
2. Increased fluid intake...was already ~40-50oz, not counting shakes...upped that to ~64oz, not counting shakes.
3. Started taking stool softeners on Friday
4. Been taking Milk of Magnesia since Friday
5. Took 6oz. of magnesium citrate yesterday (Sunday) afternoon
6. Started some Miralax today.

Any advice would be great.

I am a slow mover anyway.  (Since VSG surgery)  I only have to "off load" about every other day or so.  With that being said, if I don't find things moving by the end of the second day, I take a dose of Miralax before bed and it usually clears up the issue when I wake up the next morning.  I also have started taking a fiber supplement (gummy they have at Walmart) and that seems to be doing well.  I haven't had Miralax in 3 weeks now.

Obviously you haven't found the right combo for you, but you will.  I know some guys on here state that they have to take miralax every day.  You might be one of them.

Best of luck. 

I am a miralax daily plus 3 Colace stool softeners daily. I've recently cut the colace, but I've been doing this "regularly" for months. pardon the pun, I couldn't resist. You will have to find the combination that works for you. Milk of magnesia wasn't predictable enough for me, and the colace alone didn't do it either.

The only thing I can say is to use generics of both miralax and colace (the one without the added laxative). They are far cheaper especially on an everyday basis.

 early out and when I do UBER high protein this can be an issue for me.

Moving  believe it or not running is a natural laxative!  I once ran 13.5 miles becuase I had to drop a deuce! I was only going to run 10 but the closest toilet was 1.5 miles furter down the trail.

I find keeping good sources of fiber in my diet also helps.  Being much further out my diet is a bit different but I eat oatmeal almost daily and have had no issues since starting this.

I used miralax to get things moving again then the doc recommended I take stool softners.  The Iron really plugs me up so I am taking three stool softners in the morning and three just before my Iron in the evening.  Things have been moving along just fine sense.

Before cutting back on iron, you may want to try carbonyl iron -- Vitalady sells it -- it is much less like.y to cause constipation and is aborbed easily by RNYers.

You may want to cut back on the iron pill to every other day...Check with your doctor.  That one can cause a problem with constipation...

Sorry your having this issue. Check the advice from others, and if still an issue adress w/ your doc as you don't want it to be a long term problem.

Yours in WLS,
Bill

Thanks for the advice....and the encouraging pic from Don.