Question:
BM ONLY EVERY 4 DAYS W/HELP..NORMAL?

I am 4weeks post-op on Mon 03/29 and have been on soft diet for approx. 1week. Since going off clear liquids I am having no urge to have a BM at all!! I just feel tired & crappy and finally gave myself an enema and that was not comfortable or pleasant(but was certainly effective!!) To top it off I gained 6.5lbs until I went to the bathroom. It is now happening again..I'm on day3. I tried just a suppository and nothing! What is up with this?! Any thoughts will be greatly appreciated! Regars, Cindy Mae    — CINDY M. (posted on March 28, 2004)

March 28, 2004
As always, contact your Dr. In order to stay semi-regular I take 2 fiber-con and 2 stool softeners per day, sometimes more if the stool gets too hard. I also take in well over 100 oz H2O. Remember you are not eating much so may not go every day. Geraldine RNY 10/27/03 304/284/194/150
   — Pupcake !.

March 28, 2004
Yes, do contact your doctor. Mine told me before I left the hospital that I would probably have this problem so I should take Milk of Magnesia about every other day for a couple of months. We simply don't get enough fiber early post-op to help us along. I didn't take his advice and had two HORRIBLE episodes with constipation so now, if I miss going more than two days, I take a dose of good old MOM. I've also started taking the metamucil tablets everyday and that seems to be helping. It seemed such a puzzle to me that we could have a problem with constipation when we were only drinking liquids for three weeks but believe me, I found out just how wrong I was.
   —  SCbabe B.

March 28, 2004
Benefiber did the trick for me. I used it a lot in the beginning but now at 8months out I no longer need it.
   — TheresaC

March 28, 2004
Hello dear, I can't believe I just found this post. I am four weeks post op now and have suffered with constipation these past three days. I have started Benefiber but didn't do the trick, had to have an enema....now my insides feel like they are inside out with cramping. I drink lot's of liquids and excercise faithfully for an hour every day of the week. I am so miserable.....thank you for your original post....it's nice to know I am not alone in this. Katherine
   — Katherine G.

March 28, 2004
Cindy, From what I am aware of this is very common. It has a lot to do with the medication you were given at the hospital, and the morphine given for pain. You can use fiber, and other over the counter items to help. But this will go away, and you will return to normal. It just takes a bit of time. I would say about 6 to 8 weeks post op, you should be getting back to normal. Good Luck, Jennifer
   — dustysmommy

March 28, 2004
I would call the doctor to see what he/she might recommend. I have always had constipation problems, and of course they got worse after WLS. For severe problems, my doctor allows us to use milk of magnesia. On a regular basis since about 2 months post-op, I have been using 2 stool softeners, plus 2 doses of Benefiber per day-also doctor approved. This keeps me regular on a daily or every other day basis.
   — Carlita

March 29, 2004
Hello Cindy :) I had this very problem too. I called my docs office & they said that sometimes people can go like up to 10 days without having a bm (ouch!!). I used MOM like the previous posters said & it worked the next morning. There is also a tea out there called "smooth move" - I found it at my local GNC. But you should check with your doc. I also think that this is why I have been loosing so very slow (17lbs - 1month postop). I wish you the best of luck :) ~Amanda
   — amandalianne

October 17, 2005
Definitely the MOM works but if you want something you can do more regularly - try 2 Senna-C (generic is fine) with 1 Collace (also generic is fine). or you can try 1 Senna-C and 2 Collace - try a variation and see what works for you. This is non-habit forming and you can do it several times a week if needed. I also had excellent success w/ eating a bowl of Total Raisin Bran every morning (no other kind - only Total - it works!) Also an apple a day will do wonders! Red Delicious!
   — [Anonymous]