Question:
Gross but:Has anyone one else experienced huge BM's after surgery with small intake?

I know this is gross but, I am having HUGE BM's sometimes 2 times a day and not eating alot. Is it fat? Or does protein shakes make for more BM? I am just curious if anyone else is experiencing this.    — Carla T. (posted on January 1, 2002)


January 1, 2002
Not a gross question at all! I asked my surgeon the same thing. I was told initially following surgery that your BMs might be bigger and harder/looser. They contribute it to the fact that you are flushing out all the fat, body wastes and foods you are eating. Not to worry, mine has gotten to a more 'normal' if not smaller size. Good Luck! Amy
   — purdue_1993

January 1, 2002
I had open RNY and I've found that my BM's are smaller. To be graphic, they are long and very thin, like a big pencil.
   — [Anonymous]

January 1, 2002
Well, to join the "gross" crowd, I too was wandering the same thing. My stools are big and very long... light in color, like an infant's. Yes......alot! and has a strong oder, and I use more toilet paper since the surgery. For all you long post ops.... I'm 5 months...... does this ever changd?
   — [Anonymous]

January 1, 2002
I am 11 months post op and have the same thing, very big and long.....gross but true and I also use more t.p. Before the surgury I would go serveral times a day and now I am lucky if I go every other day. It seems fairly normal.
   — [Anonymous]

January 1, 2002
Me too! I am 9 wks post op and I am wondering if I am ever going to have a normal BM again! The scariest part is when I feel the urge, I better RUN to the nearest bathroom because there is not much control. If I don't get to a restroom, I could have an accident. Also I have so much gas and I am scared to death, I won't be able to hold that and will be embarrassed. Sometimes I wonder if our doctors ever read this board and if they would respond to these types of questions if they do. They could be anonymous too but state they are a doctor. This type of question is rather "delicate" and a lot of us are hesitant to talk about it to our docs. What is doing on with our digestive systems?????? Help!
   — [Anonymous]

January 1, 2002
RNY 11/20/00. Mine are very soft and explosive. I can go up to three or four times on an average day. Sometimes more. I have gas constantly. Neci
   — Nynese W.

January 1, 2002
I had this problem and attributed it to the protein shakes. As soon as I would have one, I'd be running to the bathroom for the rest of the day. First with BMs then with the runs. I found that when I switched to Challenge Wild Cherry Liquid Protein, the problems went away. You can get it at any GNC, and it isn't as bad as I thought it would be. Especially if you hold your nose while drinking it! :-) GOOD LUCK!
   — Janet C.

January 1, 2002
The size hasn't changed but the color and the frequency has. I use about a roll of toilet paper every day. I was just thinking this morning I'm going to go broke buying toilet paper. I go about 3 times a day but all first thing in the morning. I know not to go anywhere for about 2 hours in the morning until I'm finished with my chore. And the smell - of course I heard about the smell before I had surgery. But I didn't believe it. Now I believe.
   — [Anonymous]

January 1, 2002
normally i have very small bms and only every 3 days since surgery UNTIL i start losing weight again...then i go like four times a day in large amounts. The only thing i can attribute it to is it is a way your body flushes out the fat. Once a month i go through this and it is the only time i lose weight...like ten lbs in three days...consistantly.
   — paula B.

January 1, 2002
Well, I have to say, this is the first time, in many years my BM's have been normal. They were always very runny, and I was going all of the time. After the surgery, I have been going about an hour after I get up, every day, like clock work. I am finally "regular", and it feels good. I attribute it to the good things I am eating, instead of the fatty junk food and crap I ate before surgery. Dont let it bother you, your body is going to be changing for some time. Good luck and God bless!
   — Kerry P.

January 1, 2002
Oh man... do I hear you on this one!! lol... There are days when I sit on the toilet most of the day, and then there are days when I maybe go once!! AND, they are all usually very liquidy, very gaseous, and a tremendous amount. lol... But, I was told by my surgeon and my doctor that this was totally normal, I would eventually settle down to a pattern that will be interrupted during periods of greater weight loss. So, expect lots of loose, smelly stuff and be happy with the knowledge that once you lose the weight you want to lose, your bowels will normalize!! :) (Thank Goodness, huh!!)
   — Sharon H.

January 4, 2002
I am the original poster. Thanks everyone for commenting! I just needed to know if it was only me. Great we can share like this.
   — Carla T.

January 4, 2002
OK this is GROSS, but here goes...liquidy, explosive stools are usually caused by lactose intolerance. Try a lactose-free protein shake. Also, lactose-free cottage cheese. Thin, long stools are shaped that way because the stool is super-soft and just slides out. Remember, you're probably not getting much fiber now. If your fanny is tender, try adult fanny-wipes, that are flushable. Also, Desitin ointment sooths a tender tushy.
   — [Anonymous]

January 4, 2002
You guys! This has got to be one of the best 'threads' on BM's. It was compelling reading, I couldn't stop myself! I noticed a large number of you posted anonymously. Chickens! What a hoot! I myself go regularly in the morning, 'sinkers' if I haven't eaten much fat, 'floaters' if I have, and the loose runny stuff when I eat too much fibre, and TERRIBLE gas whenever I eat anything with sugar, yeast or white flour. But, Lordy, ain't nothin' in this world as satisfying as a good BM!!!
   — merri B.

January 4, 2002
So why didn't anyone tell us abut the smell before the surgery? I for one, was shocked and grossed out when I had my first bm in the hospital the second day after surgery. I thought it was from that ucky stuff we had to drink the night bfore, but nooooo; now after 2 years I still have the smell that my family says will kill a roach! I have one bm every morning after my cup of coffee. When I eat bread, or starches I get gas big time, and let me tell you, never mind I won't tell you. :-) Its something that we have to live with, and something that will stay with us forever as I undertand it, I think we all should share this with the new ones having surgery. When someone writes me, I tell them when I think of it. I think of everything else that is the one problem I really wish we all didn't have... Another gross one before I leave this..You can always tell when you enter a bathroom at wal-mart if a gastric bypass person has been there, the smell stays forever...Sorry...lol
   — [Anonymous]

January 4, 2002
Well I USED to be connstipated A LOT. Right after surgery things were runny, but at 5 months they have settled down, and are actually better than pre op. Although somewhat smellier. I sometimes take gas x for this. In any case its worth the 110 pound loss:) No doubt about it....
   — bob-haller

January 5, 2002
I think everyone should identify what surgery they had when talking about post-op bowel movements. I had an open RNY with gallbladder removal, and have NOT had smelly BMs (I'm one year post-op). It's taken almost one year for my BMs to get back to "normal," but they're not as bad as some previous posters state. I think those having different types of WLS have different BMs. I also think having your gallbladder removed affects BMs.
   — [Anonymous]

January 5, 2002
Okay I had to give MY two cents on this too! LOL I am a 3 year postop BPD/DS patient. First of all, yes, lactose and fats definately contribute to my awful stools still. Even if I am good about eating, I will have at least, 2 BM's a day and they are very very loose always. Smelly? Geez what's wrong with you all? Mine smell like roses! (yeah right and I have some land to sell you). I "did" though, want to address the gas problem that we all seem to have at some point. It's horribly embarrassing and for me, gasx and charcoal and all have NOT worked. The doctor in the chat yesterday said to have your doc prescribe CHOLESTYRAMINE, whatever that is. I am gonna try it. He said it helps the situation with people who have had their gallbladders out. Produces more bile salts and that is supposed to help. Just wanted to pass that on to all. Good luck. Hope maybe this is the answer for some of us.
   — Barbara H.

January 5, 2002
If you're having lots of gas and can't get it under control, try having your dr prescribe Flagyl. It kills off all the bacteria which is the problem and then you can get some good bacteria tablets to put the good stuff back in. I had HORRIBLE gas for a while and after doing two rounds of a week each, I'm almost with no gas and the smell is even much much better.!!!!!
   — amillman

January 5, 2002
I have to tell you...I thought my girlfriends in college and I were the only ones that enjoyed talking about BM experiences! It must be a girl thing. Ha ha ha! I haven't had the surgery yet, but it's good to know that I should expect some funky stuff to go on. I'll definitely have something to share with my girlfriends then!!
   — [Deactivated Member]




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