Question about Miralax & stool softeners

Hello everyone!

25 days to RNY. 

Just a few questions...

Do you take stool softeners regularly?

If so when do you start them?

Do you take a laxative regularly?

I know that the Americans take Miralax?

I guess we Canadians would take Restoralax?

When do they start? 

Would adequate abouts of fluids be enough?

A friend of mine recommended doing a bowel prep 48 hours prior to surgery. He said the narcotics made him constipated and straining to have a bowel movement made his life a living hell.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you

Sandra

Mahalo

You'll see many here *****ly of miralax, stool softeners etc. earliest I'd suggest taking them is 3rd post op day-- but ask your doc. 

I luckily don't need any. I'm regular without any aids- but I seem to be the exception not the norm. I can count on one hand the # of times I was woefully constipated. Not enough to dictate a daily aid.

Hi I'm  3 months post op and take 1/2to a full cap of Miralx daily in a glass of crystal light.  I started about a month post op but would suggest you start right away when you get home.  it takes a few days to work into your system and will then keep you regular. after I got home (6 days in the hospital, due to open surgery) my doctor gave me colace, tasted horrific  so I did not take it as I should.  I became constipated  and the vets told me to take the mirolax.  I've  never has a problem since. Good luck with your surgery.  I'm down 50 lbs in 3 months.

I too have not needed to take it everyday, but I'm just shy of 2 months out, maybe I haven't done the time yet :P Anyway, I did drink like a 1/3 of a capful of miralax during one terrible bout of constipation I had right after coming home from the hospital, but have been good and regular since. Water and eating appropriately for me is key! 

They gave me miralax in the hospital and told me to take it everyday until I went and then just as needed. I don't ttake it every day but usually every two or three days works. Everyone is different! Good luck to you. 

I really had no problem until about 5 months out...and then had some of the worst constipation of my life a couple of times, so decided to join the daily Miralax club. Every morning in my coffee. Sometimes twice a day. I tried colace type stools softeners but found they did work as well, and had unwanted side effects like gas and cramping.... I get none of that with Miralax.

I would not do a bowel prep unless recommended by your surgeon...

Thankfully I am one of the rare patients who was almost never constipated post rny.... Then again, the opposite is not always fun either. That is because of a combination of things... the fistfuls of magnesium citrate I have to take daily because I always run a deficit is a main reason though.

Many surgeons require a bowel prep prior to surgery (mine did not).  ask him or her what they want you to do.

My daughter does take Miralax every few days for an unrelated condition.... A capful in G2... keeps her moving fine.

audrey

yes - Restoralax is the Canadian version of Miralax.  Same thing.

most people do seem to have constipation problems.  Stool softeners weren't that effective for me, but they are for some.  I take magnesium every day.   Until a week or so ago,  I also took Benefiber every day, plus Miralax 2-3 times a week.  But I switched over to Metamucil (instead of Benefiber) last week, and it works much better than Benefiber (at least for me...), so I may not even need the Miralax anymore.  But we'll see..    (I was told not to take Metamucil after surgery - to take Benefiber instead because it doesn't expand in your stomach like Metamucil does.  But I checked with the surgeon's office before I made the switch last week, and the PA said it was fine this far out (18 months post-op).  It's evidently more of a risk when you're healing....)