Ongoing constipation

Hello everyone   

I am just over 4 weeks post RNY.

Coping with constipation has been an ongoing problem.

I am drinking 2 litres of water daily

1 litre of tea & 3 Premiere Protein shakes daily.

Colace 200 mg twice daily, Restoralax daily. MOM every 3 days.

I started Heinz strained-Purée prunes daily.

I am very active.   I am going to start Mineral Oil daily to keep things moving.

I know this is common early on. I know that once I progress to the "food for life" stage that maybe increasing fiber will help.

I am not in a very good place. Spending hours on the toilet is taking it's toll.     I considered going to Emergency yesterday.

Concerned about the damage it is causing down below.  

Please help

Sandra   

Mahalo.  

Have you contacted the NP at WMC?

I haven't had RNY yet so I can't offer more assistance :(

Yes.... I have been in weekly contact with them.

They said that this is common early on.  They recommended MOM to stimulate the bowels.  

I am looking at food options that have worked for  on this forum.

Metamucil is not possible until 6-8 weeks as intestine is still healing.

Thank for responding...

Mahalo ??

Yup. It's the worst. I had to go to two doses of restoralax for a while. I know you are drinking a reasonable amount of fluid for 4 weeks out, but If it's possible, I'd suggest upping your water or tea. A lot of these stool softeners etc cause water to be drawn into the intestine, so you need more to replenish. I can now add metamucil capsules to my diet, and it works great for me.

Are you able to have chia seeds? They have a ton of fibre. You could just add them to yogurt. 

Also, although I don't drink caffeine, I did have a full caffeine coffee once, and that helps too.

And lastly, as I've mentioned to others, you might want to try an enema if things are getting really backed up. It won't be the most fun you'll ever have, but it's worth it.

Good luck.

Thanks so much for your input....

No seeds of any kind until 6-8 weeks!

Oh yes.... I have to do fleet enema X 2 every 3 days.

I am thinking of investing in a soap suds enema...

Crazy, horrible, horrific experience...  

I don't ever remember being told this would happen.

I am finding my fluid intake is already a challenge.

Especially because you have to wait 30 minutes before drinking.

I used to really enjoy the water & now I find that I am often forcing myself to drink to meet my daily quota.

TMI warning. Child birth was easier then this 

Thank you

Sandra.  

Mahalo.  

Yeah, my clinic mentioned constipation, but it was kind of in passing, and I certainly wasn't given the impression it would be something I'd have to think about and manage on a daily basis.

with regards to water, I'm the same as you. I used to drink a ton of plain water preop. After, I have had  to try a lot of different things to  be able to get it down. Here's some of the things I do, some might work for you.

• different temp water (early out I couldn't do fridge cold water at all, and prefer room temp or just cool water)
• switched to a sports bottle. Don't know why, but it makes a huge difference in how much I can drink. I use a contego from Costco.
• flavour the water. I never used to flavour my water or drink juice. Now I'm a mio and crystal light fiend. I just add enough to change the flavour. (Some people can't do artificial sweeteners) A lot of people on here add a splash of diet cranberry juice to theirs.
• Herbal tea bags in my water bottle are great too. I buy citrus, strawberry etc teas. 

Good luck, hope you find some relief soon!

You DON'T have to wait 30 minutes BEFORE drinking, that's crap and any Vet here on OH will tell you that as well.  I drink right up to a few seconds before I eat a meal or snack. Its AFTER you eat that you have to wait a minimum of 30 minutes, after you eat, not before.

Trust me, ask the Vets in a separate post, the before thing is just wrong advice.  It will change getting liquids in as you can get in more, trust me!!!

Good luck and glad you went, stay on top of it, for the rest of your life, this is now your "new normal".

Have a great day, get some rest!

Taking fiber when someone is constipated is not a great idea. I know it's the conventional treatment, but it just bulks up things even more and make it even harder to go than it already is. Chia seeds would be a baaaad idea for the OP. 

I had a partial blockage a couple of years ago. My surgeon told me to stop all fiber supplements until I was cleared out. 

Thanks! That's a Really important point. I was more caught up thinking along the lines of what I'm doing now to stave off constipation.

When did you start the Restoralax? I use it daily and I "go" daily. I know I am farther along and eat dense protein & veggies but it does work. I did noticed that it takes a few days to start working so if you just started it, give it a few days.

If you are on the soft food stage or full food stage yet?  Sorry not sure what stage you are at?  If soft/pureed food what about mashed avocado its healthy fats that also keep our bowels happy.  If you are on the full food stage, are you allowed peanut butter?  A tsp?  Full fat butter, EVOO? Probiotic yogurt?

The problem with us RNYers and getting constipated if you wait too long to address it you get in trouble.  If the pain is too intense then do go to the emerg. They can help and then you can start "fresh" so to speak but then you HAVE to keep on top of it, as in using something whatever it is you choose daily.  I have been using Restoralax for close to a year now, I use it daily, one capful in my morning coffee, its a must for me.  I would not go back to where I was as a newbie struggling to go to the bathroom its horrible and you must keep on top of it.

Good luck Sandra, there is nothing worse than bathroom troubles, hoping you find relief soon!