Question:
BM's What's the Norm
I had surgery 05/09/2005 - since then I bet I can count how many times my tummies moved on my two hands and still have fingers left! At first when it would move I had to use the plummers help to force it down the drain and it nearly tore me in half. Now I may go nearly two weeks without a BM....this can't be good...could it? I'm in no way dehyrdrated for I stay with something to drink in my hands. Does it get any better? Will it wait until I'm 50 then bust - WHAT? Robert — RobertMiller (posted on March 30, 2006)
March 30, 2006
Well, i know it is not funny however i had the same issues. I took
everything possible and nothing really worked. I started eating crackers,
and that made everything just perfect. I eat crackers with very little
sugar, like soda or wasa which is very good. good luck
— Steve Cohen
March 30, 2006
I guess the way to say it is that the the amount of solid food is not a
large amount so there is no need for the body to hurry it through. Make
sure that you drink all your water and mayhaps getting your doc to
perscribe a stool softener , or mayhaps not waiting to go , and give
yourself an enema every 5 or so days . that might be a way to prevent the
waste mater from becoming solid. hope my sugestions help
— Stormchild
March 30, 2006
I use liquid fiber which you only use 2 ozs in 2 ozs of liquid or
food...doesn't have a taste to it at all. you can get it at Global Health
for 11.99 a bottle...I use it once or twice a day and have a bm daily at
least once. Hope this helps. They also have a great calcuim citrate with
vitamin d which can be added to liquid or solid with no taste and it is a
powder.
Good Luck.
— HubbysBrat
March 30, 2006
Hi Robert! Well, guess it is not that uncommon a problem for all of us
after all. I remember dragging my feet into the doctor's office to ask him
what I could do, sure that I was doing something not right with the new
diet, only to be reassured by him that all was well and that my body was
just getting used to its new way of eating...now after almost 3 years, it
is still getting used to it. My Surgeon recommended to me that I take a
dose of good Old "Phillip's Milk of Magnesia" every other day,
and if that didn't work, try it once a day, and if that didn't work, double
the dose to once in the morning and once in the evening. I do get in all
of my bulk, fiber, etc., but seems that I need that extra little boost that
the Milk of Magnesia gives me. The one dose a day works like a charm...no
cramps, but it does sometimes hit in the middle of the night when the last
thing I want to do is get out of a warm, comfy bed, but what the
heck...better that than having the stomach ache and cramps from not being
able to eliminate at all. See what your doctor has to say on the
Phillip's. The cherry flavored (especially if you keep it refrigerated)
isn't so bad, and considering the alternative, I'll do the yucky m'cine (as
my g'daughter calls it) rather than do the cramping and being sick. Good
luck to you. Dorrie J.
— DorrieB
March 30, 2006
I am only 3 weeks post-op, but this topic came up at our support group
Tuesday. The liquid fiber was one suggestion, Philips another, and last but
not least a couple of prunes in the morning. The dietician said it was O.K.
once you are on regular food. i have been taking baby food prunes and i
think it helps a little. Good luck to all of us.
— nurse442
March 30, 2006
This is something that must be related to the surgery since it affects so
many of us.
After too many painful eliminations, I have resorted to daily dosage
of a stool softener (non habit forming) and I take Fiber Choice......it is
sugar free and orage flavored. (has the natural vegetable fiber Inulin,
which helps with calcium absorption, too)
It has helped tremendously and I no longer have to make sure there is
a plunger around when I flush! How embarrassing to be plugging up the
toilet with a monstrous bm!
Good luck.........keep drinking the water. For those that have
difficulty getting in their fluids, after two months of not enjoying
coffee, I am once again enjoying my coffee. By drinking decaffeinated, I
am getting the fluids I need because I drink the whole pot in the course of
the day, plus Crystal Light, water and skim milk.
— LauraA
March 30, 2006
All of the above and try flax/borage oil combination, which I use daily, if
things are really uncomforable try peri-colace which works over night or
colace. Since I am on regular food I eat an apple a day and I am as
regular as clock work. Water and exercise help more than you know.
— 1968 Loser
March 31, 2006
Hi Robert...I too have had so many problems with things NOT moving as they
should!! I have found that "Senokot" helps me... I am now a
"regular" person each day!!! Senokot is rather expensive, so my
pharmacist turned me on to the generic, which works just as well and is 1/4
the price... ask your doctor, or pharmacist... I can truly say, it is my
saving grace!!! I know how it feels to go 2 weeks without a bm too...and I
don't ever want to feel that way again!!! Godspeed...GypsyKare
— GypsyWoman
March 31, 2006
Robert, Please dont wait and bust! hahaha I suggest fiber fiber fiber......
try to use as little of laxatives as you can. There is a chewable fiber at
walmart or get more green veggies. easier said then done, i know. remember
that you are eating so much less then before so your system has slowed and
just might be in a little state of shock! good luck, Reg
— reginagoiburn
April 1, 2006
I used to have problems with impactions if I didn't go every day.
Something I don't even want to think about! I liked to go more the
"mechanical" route, and not have to add another medication to
swallow. I agree 100% on the fiber, but sometimes you have to do more to
get all that fiber moving. What I did was, if I didn't go every day....the
next day I'd use a glycerin suppository. It worked within 10-15
minutes...like a charm. HTH. Regards
— Statuesque
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