Regularly irregular and getting irritiable!

OK I hate talking about poop but here we go.........
After every surgery we all get a little "bunged up".....laxatives, stool softeners, teas, etc things start moving again.
BUT
This time I'm noticing I'm not as "regular" as I normally am.  Is it just because I've had 4 procedures in 6 months and my system is out of whack? 
I have not been taking softeners on a regular basis, maybe I need to....how long did you take them after things started moving post-op? 
Is it safe to take them every few days?  I don't want to become dependent on them but I'm pretty unhappy today with my belly feeling uncomfortable!

How long did it take for things to become "regular" or "normal" for you?
Thanks

Unfortunately, I know exactly  how you feel.  I am 5 weeks out from my LBL and I am still taking "Fiber Choice" chewables 2 tablets twice a day.  Between all of the pain meds, extra iron my surgeon told me to take, and most important (for my regularity) not exercising like I did before surgery. I needed a stick of dynamite to get myself regular again!    Now that I'm  increasing  my exercise routine, I've weaned off of Colace (2 tab/3X/day), back to my pre-op iron dose, and only taking the Fiber Choice 2X instead of 3X.  I was also drinking "Smooth Move" tea.  It has senna leaves in the tea bag, so that was in lieu of an over the counter laxative.  I bought it in the coffee/tea area of my local supermarket.  The company who makes it is called Traditional Medicinials.   

Sounds like I can safely take more stuff to help.
I take 1 scoop of Metamucil daily.....the container says to take 3 so maybe I should up that.
I have only taken 2 doses of laxative since I had surgery and when they work I feel fantastic afterward so I think I'm going to take another today. and then I guess I'll take softeners daily for about a week and see things go.
Thanks for sharing....I may try that tea too.

Ruth
Go to Walmart or drugstore and get you some Miralax and start taking it ,,You take it everyday wiht no problems per my doc ,,Since I started that I have had NO problems ,,,so glad I found it .
Shirley

Thanks for the suggestion!!!!
I've been afraid to take stool softeners or laxatives for more than 2 or 3 days....I've only taken the laxative twice since I had surgery.....so I guess I can safely take a dose today.