Question:
I have a personal question and need help
I am 4 wks post-op from a open RNY. I haven't been able to move my bowels in 6 days. I have a pain to the left of my incision and it's probably the constipation. I tried to drink some citricel but I can't drink a full 8 oz of water quick enough, it takes me about 45 min to drink a 8 oz glass of water. I don't like prunes either. Any suggestions? — Peggy D. (posted on May 3, 2002)
May 3, 2002
Hi...I have had the occasional bout as well, and my surgeon recommends Milk
Of Magnesia. Sometimes the iron in our vitamins is the culprit, sometimes
not drinking enough water is the culprit. Just don't make the same mistake
I did: I took 2 Correctol tablets once and they went to work immediately!
I suffered all day because of it! Milk Of Magnesia works well. Good luck!
— LaRayne H.
May 3, 2002
Poor Peggy. I remember those early days, I was constipated terribly. If I
was really constipated I would take stool softeners, I would chew fiber
choice and I would use enemas. I would check with your doctor to see what
you should do. I do remember one time I was so backed up I almost had to
go to the hospital and I tell you I never let it get that bad again. It
does get better the more post-op you are because you can eventually eat
more fiber and fat to keep things moving. Good Luck.
— Helen C.
May 3, 2002
I know you said you don't like prunes, BUT, a small glass of warm prune
juice will do the trick!! Keep the faith, it will get better as you get
farther out. Good luck
— deb_wls2001
May 3, 2002
4 tablespoons of Phillips Milk of Mag. It works overnight. You'll be fine
in the morning. Same happened to me at 3 weeks. I felt horrible, the MOM
tasted nasty but I felt 300% better the next day. Good luck and God Bless!
— Kimberly L.
May 3, 2002
I also want to agree with Kimberly the MOM does wonders and it does taste
NASTY, let me give you a suggestion that my mother did for me. I was about
4 days post op and was a bit consitpated, and I was afraid of
"straining" so I did the MOM thing, my mother had a teaspoon of
sf pudding to shove in my mouth the second I swallowed the MOM. It took
that bad taste out of my mouth immediately. Gotta love MOM ( both kinds..
giggle giggle)
— Diane Rhoads
May 3, 2002
You may just be constipated or you may have a more serious bowel
obstruction. Bowel obstructions are serious and can require need imeadeate
care. Please call your doctor.
— Amber L.
May 3, 2002
I had those problems after I gave birth. The doctor gaved me a prescribed
"stool softerner" that really worked. Definately consult the
doc.
— emilyfink
May 3, 2002
Why not give your doctor a call? I am sure they have heard this many times
before. I went seven days without a bowel movement after surgery and I was
given the delicious Golytely I had before surgery. My doctor said that
anytime you go over four days without a bowel movement you should contact
your surgeon. Don't want to go and get a bowel obstruction and have more
surgery. Hope you get well soon!
— purdue_1993
May 3, 2002
I have been dealing with constipation recently at almost 6 months post-op.
Someone recommended Fiber Choice chewable orange tablets. It is natural
fiber and causes me no cramping. I tried the Smooth Moves medicinal tea
bags and cramped up bad. Fiber Choice sugar free is tasty too. I just
couldn't deal with the awful taste of MOM, especially if I was going to be
doing this for a long period of time. I hope you find something that works
for you.
— Cheri M.
May 3, 2002
I had this problem for about a week, and it sucks! I found a Sugar Free
chewable tablet that worked well (and tasted good!!). It's called Fiber
Choice. I got it at Walmart. It's orange flavored. It took about a day to
kick in, but it worked well. Hope you feel better soon!
— Angela B.
May 5, 2002
Hi. Try the cherry flavored M.O.M. It doesn't taste bad at all. I didnt'
take a full adult dosage but took a child's dosage and it worked within the
day. ( I was going on 5 days.) Good Luck and God Bless.
— Leah H.
May 6, 2002
I am a big fan of Fiber Choice. I chew two tablets each morning, and
haven't had ONE problem with constipation since. I may not need to do two
every day now that I am further out, but I am afraid to go back to the pain
of constipation so I just keep taking them! They work just great. Good
luck! open rny 6-20-01 (-94.5)
— blank first name B.
February 3, 2003
Constipation is a serious issue after this surgery. I was hospitalized
with impaction after the same 6 days no bowel movement. They said it
could be toxic and afteri was released from the hospital they said to buy
milk of magnesia and use it consistantly.... Oh i am 3 months po
— Deborah L.
February 4, 2003
I also had this problem and tried lots of different remedies before I found
what was right for me. If I were you I would do something major to at
least start things moving again, like a glycerin suppository. They work
within and hour or two at the most. Then once you get everything moving
again I would take something to maintain it. I also take Sugarfree
Fiberchoice faithfully. I am not a big fan of prunes either but just to be
on the safe side I also drink a small glass of prunejuice every night as
well. It seems to be a good combination for me. I can definately tell if
I take one without the other. But things move steadily with both. I think
it all depends on the person though. Good luck!
— Laurel C.
February 4, 2003
Another option is Benefiber, which is ground so fine that you really don't
notice it mixed into a liquid or in applesauce or yogurt. Also, down the
road -- when you're NOT just four weeks out, which may be too soon -- I
found that adding a bit of Kellogg's All-Bran to my Special K in the
morning really got rid of this problem. I know, I know -- carbs!! -- but I
was glad to find a solution that cut down on my use of fiber supplements.
:)<P>We all really need to find our own solutions to this problem,
because chronic constipation increases your risk of developing colon
cancer. :(
— Suzy C.
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