A whole lotta...constipation

Not sure about the kidney issue, I hadn't heard of that, but I've been taking Restoralax daily since about 4 weeks out, I'd started out with the stool softener and Senokot daily that was recommended by my center TWH but still it wasn't working and had to resort to MOM, I spoke to the NP at the clinic and my PCP and they both recommended switching to Restoralax daily, I've also added a daily probiotic, which I've been taking ever since. It works for me and now I go at least daily. Occasionally will miss 1 day but that is all. I personally know a couple of older women (my Mom and Aunt) who have been taking daily laxatives for a number of years due to pain killer caused constipation. I also take magnesium supplement daily have been for a number of years.

The bottles for restoralax and MOM usually say should not be used by those with kidney issues or something to that effect. They also both say not to take for more than a week yet I keep hearing restoralax is not habit forming for the bowels so I'm not sure what to believe. Bottom line is it works for people though so I'm going to talk to the kidney doc about any long term impacts.

For your probiotic what do you use/where do you buy it. There's so much out there I'm kind of at a loss. Also heard something about making sure it's active and how are you suppose to know if what's in the bottle is still "active" lol.

My understanding is the "active" ones have to be kept refrigerated, the first one I bought was in the fridge at Bulk Barn but was also kind of expensive $35 for a month and I had trouble remembering as it wasn't in the little boxes with all my others pills/vitamins (only way I can remember them all), so I switched to the one they had at Costco still seems to work and a lot less expensive.

I'll check out costco's...thanks.

my PCP said Miralax is safe to take every day. She said they have the seven day warning on the bottle because they don't want people to just take that if they have a really serious underlying issue that they haven't consulted a doctor about. They want you to see your doctor *just in case*. But if there's no serious underlying issue, then daily Miralax is no problem. But I don't know the answer for people who have kidney problems. I'd ask a doctor about that.

That actually makes sense, nice to have an explanation for that warning. I left a message for my kidney doctor today, we'll see when they call back.

Bariatric Advantage probiotics...grape flavored..90 pills,,@$30.00..I take one every morning like clock work and ever since I have taken them I have ZERO problems with constipation. Plus I drink 100 FL of water daily and exercise daily as well.

https://www.bariatricadvantage.com/item/probiotic-chewable

Good Luck!!!

Hey Stitch, how are you? How goes the weight loss and all things RNY? Hope you are good!

Awww constipation, I am no stranger to this unfortunately. And I had problems with constipation since I was a little kid and now post op its worse. But lucky for me listening to the Vets here on OH I have figured out what works for me so here is what I do, hopefully this will work for you as well!

I use Restoralax daily (yes Miralax is American name and Restoralax is Canadain name, exact same product). I use a capful in my first coffee of the day. I also eat one Activia yogurt which is a probiotic yogurt and I add in a tablespoon of Bran buds in my yogurt. I have also started eating half an apple a day for the fibre. Sometimes I add a tbsp of peanut butter with the apple but not all the time.

I have been using the Restoralax since year 3, daily. I received the okay from both my Centre and my family doctor. I have also turned several family and friends on to Restoralax and they use it daily as well. It is not habit forming like the old school laxatives our parents would use. Restoralax is safe for your kidneys as its made from polyethylene glycol with salts which from what I just read its safe for kidneys.

I drink at minimum 200 + ounces of liquids a day, I am pretty much drinking all day except when I am eating. I drink approx 10 16oz decaf coffees a day at work (160 oz) and 4-5 16oz of water in the evenings.

I know a lot of the Vets take magnesium and it works great, I have not used it yet but I might start adding that as well. I find the Restoralax daily, fibre (apple & bran buds), probiotic (Activia yogurt) works for me. I also know a lot of the Vets eat good fats to help keep them regular. So olives, avacado, coconut oil, butter and nuts like macadamia nuts, pecans, walnuts. I use a lot of butter on my veggies, a lot and it helps.

I would suggest if the calcium gives you problems you should use the PatchMD Vitamin Patch, just buy the Calcium one. I use three of the PatchMD patches = Iron, Multi, Vit D & Calcium (one patch) and I take B12 orally using sublingual tabs. I get my labs tested every six months at Life Labs and all my labs are great, so the patches work for me. Once you sort out your constipation and start going you could go back to a calcium pill and see if that's okay.

Best of luck, I know the pain of constipation and its horrific. Also something to note, you probably know this but any kind of pain meds will constipate you. I have terrible migraines every month, and I take a lot of pain meds and my constipation is worsened so when I am taking pain meds I double my dose of Restoralax.

I second what HollyKim said you need a stool softener at this point, give it a few days (sorry I know you are desperate) but it will begin to work. And up your liquids even more. Add more fibre and fat. If you are the kind of person who likes fat on their steak of pork chops eat that, the extra fat will help going to the bathroom.

Best of luck, and this will most likely be a life long thing so you need to find a "routine" that will work for you long term. I have resigned myself that I will always use Restoralax and fibre and high fat. By the way I get my Restoralax at Costco, its a massive bottle and lasts quite a long time.

Hi there Daisy...I'm doing good I think, thanks for asking. I feel like my weight loss is moving along at a good pace and am happy with what I see. Yet at the same time as frustrated and want more loss, mostly because I worry I won't get down to where I want or I see others dropping more pounds each month and it makes me worry about what I'm not doing as well as them. It's such a roller coaster this post surgery stuff!

Funny enough I seem to drop a few pounds when I do get things moving which is no surprise, and if I can follow all the advice here and get a smoother ride in the constipation side of things that could help!

The dietician suggested bran buds too but given I eat fruit I was trying to avoid more carbs, apparently this fibre piece is something I'll just need to suck up the carbs on, good to know.

I thought my restoralax bottle said something to the effect of those with kidney issues should use with caution, however I just read something by the BC renal program that said it could be safely used even for those on dialysis so that's a positive sign, looks like you're right. Not sure why the bottles of this and MOM have those warnings then, unless it cover for some far fetched lawsuit issue.

I am super impressed by your liquid intake, really! I thought I was doing great at my three litres and was proud of myself...you must always have a drink at your lips which is definitely dedication. I don't drink coffee or milk so it's jus****er for me, although Come winter I might be able to up it with some sugar free hot chocolate enticements.

I am interested in the patch for calcium. Questions about that...do you know why skin absorbation means it doesn't impact constipation in the same way? Also does it matter when you put it on re: other vitamins like it does when you have to take separate from your multi vitamin orally?

thankfully I don't have any meds other than the supplements and reactine so the pain meds is not an added factor. I get occasional migraines but they became very infrequent after I got off the birth control pill and now I only get them around twice a year. Monthly...I cannot imagine that, they're horrible!!

Got it...fibre, fat, restoralax and stool softeners...I'm on it! I just wanted to say thank you very much for such a detailed reply, I really appreciate all your advice!! I'm happy to have the sounding board of those who have been here. Hope you are doing well!

I had the same issue but for me it was caused by the ferrous gluconate, and taking calcium without magnesium. When I switched to ferrous fumarate and a calcium with magnesium it helped. I also take a stool softener AM & PM and I've finally got it under control. Constipation is horrible, I'm sorry you are going through this and I hope you get it under control.