Question:
I had LGBP surgery 5 mo's ago and have chronic constipation on a daily basis.
I drink 64 oz water daily, exercise 60 min/d, eat plenty of protein, but am constipated daily. I take colace twice daily, tried Miralax, and am now trying cereal for fiber. When I do have a BM, it's painful and sometimes streaked with blood. As a result I get torn anal tissue and my bottom hurts for days. Any advice? My surgeon keeps saying it will get better. — Nyla (posted on April 15, 2008)
April 15, 2008
I haven't had much of a problem with this, but the one time I did my doc
suggested that I try a stool softener so that when I did go it wasn't so
hard.
— snaps55
April 15, 2008
I had LAP RNY in December 07 and I had the same problem. Sometime I would
not have a BM for more then a week. I spoke with my doctor and he recommend
Citrucel w/suger and I take a 8oz glass twice a day once in the moring and
evening. I also eat 1 Dannon Activia light a day. I have been doing this
everyday faithfully for the past month. I have been having at least 1-3 BM
everyday and my weight loss and improved greatly every since also. Good
look Roz
— roz_1
April 15, 2008
I was drinking a slimiming tea once a week when I was constipated. Docs
will tell you that if you do this then you have to continue as your body
will expect it. However, I haven't needed to take it for a month and now,
if anything, I have the OTHER problem. I'll take that over being
constipated however.
— cjjordan
April 15, 2008
I am sorry to hear that your having some issues. I have that same thing
from time to time. This is gonna sound gross...but its not shocking as that
may sound. When I was in the hospital (not WLS related) There was a nurse
from the middle east there and she brought me in this drink after taking
all kinds of pills and said to drink it and she could guarantee that, I
would be able to go to the bath room. It was a dosage of Phillips (Mint)
and prune juice and mix it together. Now I know that sounds like it would
be so nasty you wouldn't be able to keep it down, but as long as you use
the mint flavor it tastes good...not something you wouldn't want to drink
everyday but good. She said that they use that before handing out any kind
of medications and 99% of time it works! I drank it and it did it worked
right away and seemed to cured my problems for a while and to this day I
will refer back to that if need be. I wish you the best of luck.
— TattooGirl1982
April 15, 2008
A lot of time fiber helps but can also bloat and make one feel
uncomfortable... I try to get 35g of fiber daily though...and it helps with
both diarreah and constipation! Many people fear fat (I have no idea why)
but a good healthy vegetable fat in your diet such as olive or canola oil
is very helpful. I think too many people try to cut out all fats completely
out of their diet. Fats also help carry fat soluable vitamins thru your
blood...Such as Vit's A, D, E, K (many of which WLS people find themselves
deficient in) Probably lack of good fats...Bad fats will cause
diarreah...Good fats will help things...SLIDE...
— .Anita R.
April 15, 2008
A lot of time fiber helps but can also bloat and make one feel
uncomfortable... I try to get 35g of fiber daily though...and it helps with
both diarreah and constipation! Many people fear fat (I have no idea why)
but a good healthy vegetable fat in your diet such as olive or canola oil
is very helpful. I think too many people try to cut out all fats completely
out of their diet. Fats also help carry fat soluable vitamins thru your
blood...Such as Vit's A, D, E, K (many of which WLS people find themselves
deficient in) Probably lack of good fats...Bad fats will cause
diarreah...Good fats will help things...SLIDE...
— .Anita R.
April 15, 2008
maybe you should try milk of magnesia. it is gentle and it wont give you
cramps. its' what i use when i need a laxitive or have trapped gas.
— soliisoul
April 15, 2008
Hey...I am almost 6 yrs post op and have had an issue with this problem
from time to time...the best remedy I have found is to take a natural
remedy called Swedish Bitters...it is wonderful!...and I ALWAYS eat yogurt
with a probiotic like l. acidophilus...it is just awesome for your
digestive system...good luck!
— Samantha M.
April 15, 2008
My doc told me to take Miralax. It is a tastless powder and you can put it
in anything you eat or drink once daily. Nothing worked for me until I
started taking it. You can get it most places but is the cheapest at
Wal-Mart. It has got me back on track when nothing else would.
— Babbles
April 16, 2008
I'm two wks post-op and am experiencing this as well. Although no blood as
of yet. But i have had issues with hemoroids in few times in my life and
always use preparation H right away. Use it before you try to go the
bathroom and also at bedtime so you can heal overnight. And anytime you
need comfort and relief. To help move the bowels, i use mint milk of
Magnesia and Plum Smart Light. Reg. prune juice has too many cal. and carb.
The plum smart is a bit more expensive but worth it. And as icky as it
sounds a small enima is very helpful for clearing things out. Good luck.
— Kristi H.
April 16, 2008
I eat 1/2 C of Kashi Golean Crunch cereal and it seems to help keep me
regular. It also tastes good and I enjoy being able to eat something
crunchy.
— Kimberly928
April 16, 2008
Enema with pure, warm water, with a 1 teaspoon of epsom salt disolved in it
will do the trick. You can do that daily until not needed. A little of vit
E oil in the tube and you "a..hole" will help with evacuation.
And the relief...
— H.A.L.A B.
April 16, 2008
Hi Diane, I don't know what foods you are eating, but that may contribute.
For example, I cannot eat bananas too often because they stop me up. I do
munch on raisins which helps me, and I use the miralax which helps. I
don't know why Miralax won't be helpful to you. Taken daily I found great
relief. Try raisins. Take care. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
April 16, 2008
I had this happen to me and I had it so bad I had a fissure which was the
most painful thing in my life. I went to the dr and he had me taking
metamucil. I took 3 pills a day, I took 1 colace and i took 3 baths a day.
and they also prescribed a cream to use and suppositories.This helped. Are
you taking iron pills? Thats is what did it to me. I was very anemic and I
took the iron. Well the iron went in the garbage real fast. Wehn you get
the metamucil ofr what ever fiber pill you get try not to get bulk forming
if at all possible. I used that to but the non bulk forming is better
— Joanc
April 16, 2008
As another eluded to earlier this answer might be gross but it helps with
the tearing, and painful rectum. I have had hemoroids in the past. Used
to flair up everytime I would have a large, hard stool. Most of us simply
relax as much as possible when the BM exits our rectum. Problem is the
size, density of the stool tears things up on the way out. My PCP told me
to not allow the stool to pass in 1 large piece but rather to flex my
sphincter(?) muscle repeatedly while the stool was exiting. Basically he
said "Pinch it off in small pieces while it passes". This keeps
the stool from expanding and tearing the anus. I have not had hemoroidal
flareups now for over 3 years since doing this. just a thought. Amazing
the things we discuss on here.
— billfresh
April 16, 2008
I agree with the idea of having the healthy fats. You can add 1/8 of an
avocado to a meal or just have it plain. Coffee is great for constipation
and if you are not a coffee drinker you can add a 1/2 cup to a shake. The
skinny latte with a sugar free flavor from a coffee place can help too. My
other suggestion os the lack of veggies causing the lack of fiber as well.
It is not only the grains but the veggies. V8 juice is fabulous, especially
the low sodium or a veggie soup. As my husband would say, " They are
scrubbin bubbles for the colon." Good Luck
— pjlewis1
April 16, 2008
Good job on the water! Colace is great if you intake too much iron and/or
"BINDING" food, but with no more than you are eating, I cannot
imagine that you are doing this. Anyway, I think that my advice would be
to use a product like Benefiber. I was shocked with pregnancy at 40, and I
had this issue, as well, although, without LGBP, of course (ha!), and it
worked for me. Benefiber was a great choice because it dissolves
completely in that water you are doing so well with gettin' in every day,
and you can even sprinkle it into whatever foods you are preparing, or
simply shake it onto your meal. Hope this helps you!
— Maria V.
April 16, 2008
Hi Diane I suffer from irritable bowel syndrome for years so I know what
your talking about. I finally seen a specialist when my bowels didnt move
for 8 days. Am I glad I did. He has me on Amitiza, its a small tiny gell
pill that I take 2 times a day when needed. Well before my surgery I
only took one every other day. Now with all this protein and iron I need
to take since my surgery I need to take at least 1 gell tabs. everyday.
So if nothing else works for you I suggest seeing a dr. and soon. There
is no sense being in so much pain when there is help out there, so call
your family dr. maybe he will just call them in for you. Just to let you
know though they arent cheap by no means. The one prescription might last
your 2 months at a time though. So good luck on what you try and I hope
you have comfort soon.
— moosey52
Click Here to Return