Need advice on avoiding this constipation....please!

I've been doing well approaching 1 month post-VSG. But I need some advice on constipation.

I had a severe blockage last night that took 9 hours of effort (with steady pain) and Milk of Magnesia and 60 ounces of water to clear. Rock hard stool (sorry to be graphic) and finally going to sleep now. No bowel movement in 5 days and thought it was just slow since I started a week ago on soft foods (600 calorie, 60g protein). I think I made a mistake in starting calcium citrate pills when I started on soft foods even though I was getting calcium (come to find out) in a PatchMD study I am doing. Also felt that maybe my hydration is not as high as it should be. And finally, with all the attention to protein, I am not getting fiber, fruits or veggies and specifically no fibrous foods. So I think I need to go on a regular, daily laxative or something.

Please post (1) if you need daily preventative and (2) if so, what do you take during the soft food stage.

Thanks

I've been taking Restoralax daily since about 3 weeks post op and making sure to get at least 64 oz water daily. Constipation is a real issue for us and you must stay on top of it. Restoralax or Miralax are non habit forming and should help. Plus they dissolve in water so it's like drinking regular water, not like Metamucil which turns to sludge.

many people take Miralax daily.  I took milk of magnesia for a long time though my doctor doesn't like it. fiber drinks like bennefiber don't do much. Don't be afraid to get a suppository or fleet enema. This will turn around when you are off protein drinks and getting natural fiber but its miserable until then. I also used to eat three prunes per day when I became able. Might try prune juice.  And of course, get all the water you can. There is a hot tea called "smooth move" that is senna and may help. gl   Diane

I'm at the same food stage as you and had the same problem as you this week.  I was in agony.  We had a conversation on the main forum about his.  Seems a lot of people use miralax.  I visited the NP at my surgeon's office this week and talked to her about and she suggested prunes, or ground flax seeds in protein shakes.  I picked up some prunes but am trying to limit myself to 2-3 because they have a lot of calories and sugar in them.  I also got some miralax as a backup.  Dont want a repeat of this past week.

Upon leaving the hospital after my sleeve surgery 6 months + ago my surgeon prescribed this over-the-counter stool softener.  I get it at Wal-Mart: Equate (their store brand) Stool Softener Plus Stimulant Laxative taken 1 tablet 2 times a day.  I still take it as prescribed by him.

I've been doing well approaching 1 month post-VSG. But I need some advice on constipation.

I had a severe blockage last night that took 9 hours of effort (with steady pain) and Milk of Magnesia and 60 ounces of water to clear. Rock hard stool (sorry to be graphic) and finally going to sleep now. No bowel movement in 5 days and thought it was just slow since I started a week ago on soft foods (600 calorie, 60g protein). I think I made a mistake in starting calcium citrate pills when I started on soft foods even though I was getting calcium (come to find out) in a PatchMD study I am doing. Also felt that maybe my hydration is not as high as it should be. And finally, with all the attention to protein, I am not getting fiber, fruits or veggies and specifically no fibrous foods. So I think I need to go on a regular, daily laxative or something.

Please post (1) if you need daily preventative and (2) if so, what do you take during the soft food stage.

Thanks

the calcium from thepatches won't constipated you,so don't worry about that. 

My colo-rectal specialist said to take stool softener's every night,as many as it took to get  soft  formed stool the next morning. If I hadn't had a bm by bedtime of any day, he said to take a capful of generic Miralax in 8 ounces ONLY of liquid. He said t if it is diluted  too much ,it won't work as well. 

Many of us ,after the Vsg ,have had to adopt a bowel program.

I've been told that the problem comes from the high protein diet which typically contains very little fiber.  On my doc's recommendation, I take Miralax (or generic) every morning in my coffee for the past 2 years and have no more painful potty sessions.  Yay for happy colons! :)

I posted this earlier this year.  I have added back the miralax in my morning coffee as a preventive as I have changed my nuts and seed intake in my diet.  Hope this helps.

I am regular. Like clockwork. I don't take any fiber or other supplements. I don't eat veggies or fruit, just lots if meat.

I DO get a lot of fat in my diet, and possibly it's that I can credit for regularity. Maybe take a look at how much fat you're getting.

During my first month post op I went low carb, and that caused terrible issues. I had to take colace daily. Hydration was never an issue for me, in fact I tend to drink too much. I put carbs back in after a month- complex carbs and concentrated in upping my fiber to over 30 grams a day. Found 35 grams is about where I should be to keep things regular. I did not eat too much carb at one time though- 30 g at a meal and 15 at snack.