SO CONSTIPATED!!!!

I've heard that they can turn a person into a pooping machine and that can be dangerous. I'm thankful I don't have never had that problem and I never do. I guess it might be ok to use them once in awhile, but I would ask the doctor first. I only had a problem right after my surgery and he was even hesitant to let me take milk of magnesia. He told be to take half a dose. Fortunately, that did the trick and I never had a problem again. Joanne

thank you, joanne. i have been drinking it evry night for about a month. i have an appt with my primary on the 24th and plan to discuss this and other alternatives. on the main board, they have suggested a rx called miralax. but i also saw some things mentioned in this post, so i will ask about those too. thanks for the info! hugsssss

Smooth Move tea http://www.tealand.com/SmoothMove.asp Contents: Active Ingredient: 20mg. Sennosides A & B per cup from senna leaf. Other herbal ingredients: Licorice root, fennel seed, orange peel, cinnamon bark, coriander seed, ginger rhizome, natural orange flavor. is nothing more than a tea with senna in it...you can also buy the senna tabs.. (Senakot=Each tablet contains 8.6 mg of sennosides , Senakot-S=Each tablet contains 8.6 mg of sennosides and 50 mg of docusate sodium or SenakotXtra=Each tablet contains 17.2 mg of sennosides. ) http://www.senokot.com/html/main/index.asp of course there is generic senna as well! It is a STIMULATING laxative so one train of thought is can become habit forming to the bowel..but actually recent research in medicl community says risks of constipation are far worse than long term laxative use....Here is that reference.... Common Myths About Constipation Dispelled CME News Author: Laurie Barclay, MD CME Author: Désirée Lie, MD, MSEd http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/496828_print (below is an except only, to read article just register it is free...) Myths about laxative use It is unlikely that the use of stimulant laxatives at normal doses are harmful to the colon. Although chronic constipation appears to be associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer, there are no data to support that stimulant laxatives use is an independent risk factor. Tolerance to stimulant laxatives is uncommon and is restricted to the most severe users of laxatives for whom other laxatives are ineffective. Laxatives do not cross the blood-brain barrier, and there is no pharmacologic basis for addiction. However, laxatives are more likely to be misused by psychiatric patients. Laxatives have not been shown to contribute to true weight loss. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45 before Surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

thanks, jamie! i will talk to dr about other options when i go on the 24th. hugsssssss

Hi, I feel for you, I am too, and I keep complaining to my surgeon. I tried her suggestions and am still constipated. I am probably going to ask her to prescribe something. She told me to drink more and take a fiber pill of my choice, like metamucil. I picked Citrucel. Well I also add Milk of Magnesia to that, and that STILL doesn't work. Kristine

i take metamucil twice a day. morning and night. sugar free orange flavor at dollar general for $2.00. i was bleeding and tore myself from the hard stool and from pushing . dr cole will tell you to do the same just like me. Anita

One word of CAUTION with fibers, many in the WLS communiy feel the swelling fibers (ie. metamucil) can be HARMFUL to our pouches! We do not want to stretch them!!!! Benefiber is gritless tasteless and does not SWELL may be a better option for wlsers.... Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45 before Surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"

CONSTIPATION Constipation can be from so many things including BUT not limited to: ~1) FLUIDS: simply from not getting in enough fluids... So first before you do anything ask yourself? Am I drinking at least 64 oz a day (8 cups)...If not try increasing and see if this helps. Look at this neat hydration calculator! It may open your eyes! It says I need 117.5 oz day (I do get that too still not enough for me!) http://nutrition.about.com/library/blwatercalculator.htm ~2) EXERCISE: Get moving! I do 30-60 min cardio a day + wts. Yes it helps! Start somewhere! Something is better than nothing! ~3) FIBER: We get constipated because our diet is now volume in general & lower in fiber especially due to lack of tolerance also (less fruits and veggies). So many try increasing fiber by using benefiber (non swelling/no taste) or some like liquifiber at Vitalady: http://tinyurl.com/5edxn I have used Metamucil caps in past but I do not recommend it is a swelling fiber may NOT be good for pouchie! I swear by Flax Seed ground. I get mine here: http://www24.netrition.com/now_flaxseeds_page.html I started with 1T ground a day (in yogurt, shakes or on my salad it has slightly nutty flavor) now I am up to 1T three times a day. The benefits of flax are so much more than just for fiber!!! Read for more info! http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/flaxnut10.htm (A lower risk for heart disease, Prevention of some forms of cancer, Treatment of immune disorders, Diabetes helps in stabilizing Blood Sugars, Relief from constipation) http://www.flaxcouncil.ca/faq.htm You can also buy it in GNC, health food stores, Wal-Mart has it in vitamin aisle and baking aisle. KEEP refrigerated for longest shelf life and so it doesn't go rancid! It has to be ground (bought that way or ground in Magic Bullet or a small coffee grinder for the benefit ok!) ~4) OTHER NUTRITIONAL/SUPPLIMENT CAUSES: Higher protein (in diet and shakes), Calcium Citrate (form we need to absorb after bypass), Iron supplementation can all add to the constipation scenario postop (things we need!). Different forms of Iron are more constipating than others (Ferrous sulfate for instance AVOID!!! Many feel carbonyl iron like vitalady's tender iron http://tinyurl.com/3ve5x , ferrous gluconate *I get OTC at Wal-Mart just ask pharmacist, ferrous fumarate, polysaccharide iron are less constipating). Another solution Magnesium: HERE IS JULIA Z's recommendation: Magnesium as magnesium citrate or amino acid chelate 400-1000 mg a day. OK to take with calcium but not with iron. Can be taken all at once or throughout the day. Start out with 200 mg and increase dosage every few days until the desired level is reached; decrease dosage slightly if loose stools result. Preferred dosage is 1 part elemental magnesium to 2 parts elemental calcium or 1000 mg magnesium to 2000 mg calcium, but this ratio is not accurate for each person. Increasing the dosage until you get loose stool and than backing off a little seems to work best for most people. IF still NO GO: my surgeon recommended Colace. It is an over-the- counter stool softener. Try it once a day and increase to 2-3x if needed. (It is cheap too, buy the generic brand, docusate sodium)... If this is ineffective, my surgeon said I could use a gentle suppository (such as glycerin, ducolax or the generic form)....only to get things going, they can get habit forming so be careful. It is always best to ask your surgeon or MD about his but this is what I have been told. I use Colace 2x a day, it does help (with my flaxseed) I also have used Milk OF Magnesia a few times week if needed. MD prescribed Miralax (generic is glycolax) works great also (I used a few times in sever cases w/ some bloating but no taste!, it is a powder mixes in water great!) They say can be used long-term! (BUT I am cheap rather find a non prescription way!) Many swear by Smooth move tea, it is just senna in a tea (you can buy senna tabs OTC also called SENOKOT Tablets: Each tablet contains 8.6 mg sennosides.). Or ingredient in: PERI-COLACE® TABLETS (Purdue Products) docusate sodium and standardized senna concentrate (so is a stool softener and laxative in one!) http://www.tealand.com/SmoothMove.asp BY: Traditional Medicines in Health food, Wal-Mart of many health food aisles of grocery stores! Contents: Active Ingredient: 20mg. Sennosides A & B per cup from senna leaf. Other herbal ingredients: Licorice root, fennel seed, orange peel, cinnamon bark, coriander seed, ginger rhizome, natural orange flavor. Directions for use: Pour 8 oz. of boiling water over one tea bag and steep, covered, for 10-15 minutes. Adults and children over 12 years: Drink 1 cup before bedtime. If necessary, repeat the next day not to exceed 4 cups in 24 hours. A few prunes (3) also have helped me in a pinch...few times a week (watch cal/carbs)...Some gain w/ carbs/sugar or get triggered hunger! It has been ok w/ me as it is seen as medicine and used accordingly! Just my thoughts/ideas! I do Exercise/Water/Colace 2 day/Flaxseed 3T total a day and it generally is ok, only needing MOM 1x week or 3 prunes 1-2x week! Take Care, Jamie Lap RNY 10/9/02 Dr. Singh 320/163 5'9'' (lost 45# before surgery) Plastics 6/9/04 & 11/11/2005 Dr. King "Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections!"