Help! BAD/chronic constipation that's not responding anymore to Colace.

Hi. I'm about 16 weeks post-op (open distal RNY). I've been battling constipation on & off (but for long "on" periods) since surgery. Last month my doc. told me to take 2 Colace/day. It worked fine for a while, but now I'm back to being chronically constipated. My problem is I don't drink enough water, even though I know it could have a positive effect on the constipation problem. I try REALLY hard to drink my water but I just don't want to drink, even though I know I HAVE to. I know all about the risks of dehydration, kidney stones, etc., etc. I'd estimate I get in only about 4-6 cups/day, and this is including the water I mix my protein powder in. Occasionally I'll get all 64oz. of strait water in, but rarely. Now I don't know if the constipation is due solely to low water intake or if it's a symptom of something more serious going on. I mean I've had long periods of easy BMs while only taking in 4-6 cups water. And WHY is the Colace not working anymore?! Has my body adapted to it? Do I need to increase to 3 pills/day? I dread having to take that horrid Milk of Mag., but I will if I have to. I also just bought those glycerin suppositories to see if that will help. I haven't tried them yet b/c I'm so sore down there from the constipation & resulting hemmorrhoid flare-ups. Am I going to have to live with this for the rest of my life?! Or does it get better with time? I'm becoming so fearful to go #2. I feel the urge, but when I try to eliminate, it comes out some of the way and then it STALLS. I try to be patient; I learned long ago to never strain & push on the toilet. That's how I got hemmorrhoids in the first place, years ago. But now, the only way I'll make any progress is by straining & pushing. It takes me about an hour & a half of HARD pushing, contorting my body any way that seems to work best (strange/funny as it sounds), enduring great pain, and coming close to passing out, until "it" finally moves. It's either that or give up & walk around with "it" partially out of my body, and that's very uncomfortable. I'm sorry this is so graphic but I'm getting sick & tired of this already. PLEASE, anyone who has had same/similar experience, how did you recover from the constipation? And also, to those who were never big water drinkers, how did you get/make yourself drink all the required water ea. day? I'm ready & willing to try hypnosis! :-) Anyone else's suggestions are welcome as well. Except I don't need to hear from "Anonomous" or otherwise telling me that "we're not doctors; you need to ask your doctor." I know full well that I need to consult with doc. & I WILL be doing this on Mon. I'm just looking for advise/suggestions/comfort from others who have been thru it. But my doc. has the last word & I won't take anything without his approval first. I'm not posting anonomous, even though this is pretty embarassing. But at this point, I'm too fed-up to care. I know you guys are not judgemental. I hope I can hear from a few of you good people out there. TIA.

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