Constipation

I had RNY in August 2006 with great success.  I, for the last year have been taking a lot of pain meds to help with a back problem that I have and just within the last few months have struggled with severe constipation.  I take stool softeners one at night and 1 in the morning.  Also take MOM a few times a week.  Prune juice at night.  Anything else you guys can think of?  It takes me about 1/2 or more to go.............Thanks all........

I found I had to increase my stool softeners.  Try taking two at night and then if you need more you could take three.  Many of us in my post op group are taking 3 - 5 stool softeners and our doctors say it's not a problem to take that many.  The further out I am it seems the more I need to take to be normal.  Just make sure you drink plenty of water because that helps the constipation problem as well and without the water, well you know how dangerous that is for a post op.

Hello - though the other person said that taking that many stool softeners isn't bad I have always heard/been told that it's not good for our system to take them long term as your body loses the ability to function normally w/o them. You might want to talk to your doctor to be sure. I use 4 different methods when I get completely plugged, sometimes on top of each other. Benefiber is our friend and really isn't noticed in whatever food/water you put it in. Really up the water. Exercise - even walking at a slower pace for an hour if your back will tolerate it - really, really helps. And for me, I can be lactose intolerant so if all else fails - I eat something nice and rich and dairy based. Sometimes pay for it via dumping, but w/i an half hour I'm in the bathroom so it's well worth it. Hope you find relief soon.

I was put on 3 stool softeners every evening and that did help some. The colon/rectal surgeon recommended that I eat Fiber One cereal (the original kind) and that REALLY helped to keep me moving on a daily basis better than the many meds that I tried~over the counter and prescription. Also, be sure you're getting plenty of liquids~ I shoot for around 100oz per day. I have used Smooth Move tea, Zelnorm (no longer available), Miralax, Lactulose, MOM and more that I can't even think of right now, LOL. Once you get it under control its really  a matter of keeping up with whatever regime works for you b/c once you get off the plan the consitpation will probably appear again. Good Luck!

They use Amitiza now instead of zelnorm. It's fabulous!

I also had RNY in August 2006. I have found that I need more than the recommended amount of fiber - I shoot for 30 grams a day. My favorite remedy is gnu bars. They are a little pricey, but I order a month's worth at a time and it's about $48 with shipping. Nothing in there to make us sick and they taste OK compared to some other stuff we've had to eat. I also eat Fiber One bars (althugh they're a litlte on the sweet side and sometimes don't sit so well), Kashi Bars, Nature's Own double-fiber wheat bread, Total bran flakes with some raisins, and spinach. I agree that it helps to drink a lot. I know the doctors and nuts go against this, but I don't try to cut back on fat very much, as I've found it has a binding effect. I used to take Colace but with my curent regiment I haven't needed anything like that. I thank the Lord every morning if I can come in under 130 pounds and make a perfect poopy, and I know the rest of the day is going to be great. http://gnufoods.com/

My miracle for constipation has been Miralax.  I used to use Colace and Citracel, (Benefiber gave me such gas I nearly blew the roof off)....but Miralax has been a godsend to me.  I also eat Fiber One cereal every day (the original kind)  You can't taste Miralax when it's mixed up with Crystal Light and it's not thick or gooey.  I checked with a gastro dr. to see if it was safe to take every day and she said yes....it doesn't enter the blood stream, it just brings more fluid to the colon.  Now that it's over the counter I can get it at Costco for a pretty reasonable price.  I don't care how much it costs really...it has made my life much easier!

Thank you everyone..........I increased my stool softeners last night so I will see how this morning goes.......It's soo frustrating.....Before RNY I had IBS soo bad (with diarrhea).  I could barely go any place because I would have to have diarrhea, not it's the opposite........Thank you all again......

Fiber One cereal is the best laxative I have found.  Works like a charm, have a bathroom near when you eat it =)

I had chronic constipation for 11 years. I tried: more fiber, less fiber, soluble fiber, insoluble fiber, no fiber, both fibers, stool softeners, Smooth Moves & Correctol teas and Metamucil wafers, together, apart, more water, less water, cut out anything bu****er (and protein), senna, cascara sagrada, everything one could possibly try until I was basically dependent on enemas for 3 yrs.

Miralax helped the stool be passable. It was rx and finally became generic, so went from $80 for 3 months to $20 for 3 months. Now it is OTC, but is about $8 for 5-6 servings. If you can get the rx, it is much cheaper, safe, daily, for life, according to my GI doc.

The stool softeners are store brand equal to Colace, not PERI-colace.

Word was that magnesium citrate was such a great thing. This is pills, not the green bottle, so I tried it and nothing happened, and so I kept increasing it. What DID happen is that my foot and leg cramps ceased. So, I kept doing that and tried magnesium oxide. This is small, cheap, found anywhere, like drug stores. And finally, it worked. Mine are 500 mg and I take 2.

My final formula:
1 serving MiraLax (rx)
4 stool softeners at night
1 mag ox with lunch, 1 with dinner

In the morning, hot beverage first thing on empty gut

This has worked for more than 3 yrs now.