Difficult bowl movements after surgery, am I the only one to deal with it?

I know its a delicate topic, but I'm curious how others handle this problem. I actually have always had difficult bowl movements, even as a baby according to my mom. I only go a couple times a week I think, maybe even less often than that sometimes. I don't have pain when I don't go often. I talked to my doctor and she recommended fiber supplements. I haven't noticed anything different though. Should I use a powder mixed with water instead of capsules? I take a stool softener at least once a day and some weeks morning and evening. I drink lots of water, 12-15 glasses a day. I do drink pop, but not as my main source of liquid. I don't feel bloated, maybe it is just normal for me since it always has been. I'm 3.5 years post-op, so its not a new problem I just noticed. Any advice?

Extra fat in my diet helped me immensely.

I've had the diets of higher fat, that's how I gained so much weight I needed a vertical sleeve, lol. But I don't remember going more often. But I did have diarrhea more often back then. I haven't had that since my surgery. I'll have to look at adding a controlled amount of fat into my diet. Or as others have pointed out, if its always been this way, its normal for me.

If it is normal for you then there is nothing to be concerned about.

a lot of us take a capful of Miralax every day

A diet high in protein can cause constipation and hard bowel movements, so yes, it happens to a lot of us. Many take a capful of Miralax every morning. As for adding fat in your diet, we're not suggesting a "high fat" diet like you may be thinking, as in lots of fried foods, sugary pastries, etc, which are a combo of bad fats and bad carbs, that's what causes weight gain.

Adding healthy fats to your diet will definitely help, but you still have to stay in your calorie range like always. Avocados, real butter, full fat cheeses and cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt. These will help, but if you have been maintaining your weight consistently, it will mean eliminating some things in order to compensate for the added fat calories.

So you have options. If you don't want to add in healthy fats, try the Miralax, it's up to you. But also as White Dove mentioned, if you have always had bowel issues, then it sounds like surgery didn't really change anything.

My oldest daughter, my mum and my 2 sisters all had infrequency. Mum & sisters were ex-lax queens (not advisable). Oldest daughter monitors fiber, water, and just accepts its her "normal".

I only have 5" of large colon post cancer, so my problems are the opposite direction.

Could you drink a small glass of prune juice or eat a dried prune? And sauerkraut juice will set you free, but its nasty.

I just had surgery last Monday Oct 8th. It's been easier than I thought it would be but it definitely knocked the wind out of my sails. I didn't think I would be dealing with constipation because everything has been liquid. NOT TRUE! Things broke lose yesterday and today. Wow! A lot of bad feeling was constipation and I had no idea!!!

I am so thankful I checked the message boards today. I am on my liquid diet and been drinking more than enough water but the protein shakes are causing painful BMs. In my handy dandy notebook the dietician mentioned Metamucil but said to avoid Miralax. Is there a reason why? Metamucil doesn't seem to be working.

I have surgery Thursday and really don't want to go in backed up.

The day before my surgery I had a specific liquid that I had to drink. It cleaned me out but for the life of me I cant remember what the name of it was. It was a medication that required a RX, not the over the counter things used for other tests that require a clean bowel and colon. I wouldn't worry about going in backed up.

I've seen Miralax recommended on this site. I don't remember any restrictions about using it from my pre-op/post-op instructions. (My surgery was April 2015) I may consider trying it for a while just to see what happens.

Best of luck for your surgery! It is a wonderful decision, one I am thrilled I made. I haven't had one day of regret since my surgery. Just follow your post-op instructions and new dietary guidelines and everything will go smoothly.