Irregular bowel movement

I'm quite concerned at the amount of times that I've had bowel movement. I'm three weeks post op. I've been eating pureed foods and soft foods in water for a week. I used milk of magnesium once ( after nothing for 5 days), and though it worked, the same thing is happening again. When I was on liquid i had BM every 3 days. Now that I'm eating, it seems like it's longer stretches of time. Is this normal? I worry too much.....

Constipation can be a real problem after surgery because we eat a high Protien diet.  Now is the time to address the issue before it becomes a problem.  I would recommend taking Miralax daily to help keep you moving.  If it's longer than 3 days for me I get really uncomfortable. 

I once let it go for so long that I ended up in the ER with severe abdominal pain.  X-rays showed I was impacted and it took 4 enemas over 2 days to get things moving again.  

 mixing a capful of Miralax with one of your drinks should help. Make sure you're  getting your fluids.

I also found one I was able to eat roughage again,  it really helped with the pooping. 

I ended up in the hospital for this problem twice. I was told that my bowel was extremely full of stool. They gave me magnesium sulfate and you can get it at pharmacy over the counter. It is a liquid and you drink the whole bottle. It tastes like ginger ale and has no carbonation. At the hospital I was given a huge enema and suppositories.

I just saw my dr on monday and talked to him about my irregular bowel movements and he suggested. Miralax and colace all over the counter.

magnesium citrate total brain fart sorry

I am a year out, and totally agree that now is the time to experiment with what will work for you. (I had a fecal impaction (what you have when you are full of sh*#) when I was a kid and I remember it decades later - not a pleasant experience as you can tell from the other posters.)

If, when it comes out, even after 5 days, it does not cause pain or strain, you're prob OK for now.  If you have pain or strain, then now is the time to find your uhm  "preferred remedy."

First, I write down on the calendar little p or big P - you get the drift. Track it so you don't get into real trouble.  About every other day, I use benefiber in my yogurt. That does it for me, now, as well as doing all the fluids.

When I went hiking and rafting in the Grand Canyon, I had to be very careful because staying hydrated was difficult and bathroom facilities were 'unusual.'   If you need further info on what should be in an 'emergency' kit.  Let me know. I posted on it a couple months ago.

I also feel that with the surgery and all the staples that straining is not a good idea (esp close after surgery).  My doc says no different that a 'normal' person.  Anyway - stay out ahead of the issue.

Thanks Sharon. I will definitely use your calendar idea.

Be careful of fiber. Fiber can keep you regular when you are cleaned out. But if you take fiber while you are really constipated, it will make things much worse.

Take something else to empty yourself first.