Question:
What's considered normal...?

I'm 7 weeks post-op for VBG with mesh band. Everything seems to be on track and I've lost 37 lbs. so far. However, I'm concerned about my irregular bowel movements. I realize that I'm just not eating as much as a normal person would, so it makes sense I'm not having a bowel movement every day anymore...however, it's been several days now. I know that post-op folks tend to go through bouts of constipation now and again. What I need to know is what is considered NORMAL...every other day? Every 3 days?    — suezahn4me (posted on April 23, 2008)

April 22, 2008
Sue, I had a RNY and I have large variations in my timelines. Thee are days that I go every day and because there is a lot less food than we ate, some times 3-4 days will pass. Constipations comes when it takes too long, so if it has been 3-4 days, take a stool softener and it will allow things to slide on down, however, if you don't have any disconfort, you most likely just are not having any probelms, it just takes longer to fill the colen then it use to for you. That is the way it is for many of us. I use to go every morning when I got up, so it is strange to me as well. Best of success to you.
   — William (Bill) wmil

April 23, 2008
You and I seem to have had our surgery at about the same time. I had mine on March 1. I, too, had VSG. I also have the same issue with infrequent bowel movement. Prior to the surgery I would go 3, 4, sometimes 6 times a DAY and now I sometimes go 3 DAYS between a MOVEMENT! The thing is the movements are not CONSTIPATED when I DO go, there just isn't as much FOOD to send along through the digestive tract. You may want to talk to your physician about trying some form of a fiber based drink between meals if you are concerned about this. Metamucil makes something that my wife drinks on a daily basis to keep herself regular. You just do not want to do this on a scheduled MEAL time as you do not want to FILL your stomach up with the FIBER and have no room left for the nutritious FOOD. I am not a medical expert but my WIFE is a nurse practitioner. This is what SHE does to keep HER intestinal tract healthy. As I said earlier, I suggest you talk this over with a medical professional and get their take on it before you try this. I hope this helps, Hugh
   — hubarlow

April 23, 2008
I am 4 months from RNY...until about a month ago, I only had or two bowel movements a week. My doc said this is completely normal. As long as I was not feeling like I had to go and straining and the BM's were normal feeling and looking then it was fine. He advises against taking ANY stoll softeners and/or laxatives and instead says to use fiber products like citrucel becasue your body needs to get used to it's new food processing/waste eliminating system and it can cause you to be chronically irregular if you introduce things to force you to have a BM.
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 24, 2008
I'm 3 1/2 wks out and have had this problem as well and also some constipation. I started adding Benefiber to my liquids (it's tasteless) and i drink a small glass of Plum Smart each day. This has helped the constipation a lot. Now i go about every three or four days comfortably.
   — Kristi H.

April 24, 2008
There is no universal normal when it comes to bowel movements. For people who have not had WLS the average is between 3x a day and 3x a week. But average means that some people go less often and some people go more often. Rather than worrying about how often you are going, I would focus more on how you are feeling and what type of stools you are passing when you go. If you are passing small, hard, dry stools or if you are uncomfortable because you haven't gone, I would consider that constipation. If you are passing "normal" stools and not uncomfortable, then I wouldn't worry about it. Eating fiber is important whether you are constipated or not... make sure you are eating plenty of fruit and veggies. Benefiber and Fibersure are great but you still need to eat foods with fiber in them even if you are using a fiber supplement. Colace, a stool softner, can also be helpful if you are passing hard or dry stools. Best wishes.
   — mrsidknee