Question:
I'm 5 weeks post op and

have been experiencing constipation for the last 2 weeks. Anyone have any suggestions? I've taken milk of mag. I called my MD's office and they told me to take Colace every day. I haven't had any problems until the past 2 weeks.    — tyrn04 (posted on December 19, 2008)

December 18, 2008
I have had the same problem since my surgery in August. I do take the Colace, and it sems to help somewhat. I eat Fat free cheese at noon for lunch and wonder if this could be a contributing factor. I also make sure I eat lots of vegetables, and get my fruit in. I still get pretty constipated. Don't know what else to do. Do take the Colace though it does help.
   — katiecakes

December 18, 2008
Try colace twice a day and make sure you get in lots of water!!!! Also, fruits and vegetables help a whole lot too.
   — gerrifei

December 18, 2008
I am going on my 2 year anniversary (2/15/09) - I would go from constipation to the polar opposite for some time after surgery. Once I got to eating normally, it helped. I now take a Benefiber once daily (pill form) and I am a regular girl. I also started using the Splenda w/fiber in my coffee for added security. Good luck.
   — jammerz

December 18, 2008
Hello Teresa -- if you are taking iron --that can also cause constipation. I haven't heard of Colace -- I usually take benefiber (powder form in some kine of liquid) and that works for me if I get constipated. So I echo what others have already posted -- increase water intake and probably the colace a couple of times a day. It will eventually taper off and you'll be come regular without it. Your body is still healing and going through physiological changes -- so give it time. You'll be okay.
   — the7thdean

December 19, 2008
I suffer every day. I have taken stool softner, Milk of Mag., have now gone to herbal laxative and I still suffer. I started to drink more and still have problems. If anyone has any other ideas I too am open to hear.
   — PSparks000

December 19, 2008
It is an Big Problem for me .Two stool softners plus metamucil and some prunes. that seam to get the job done. You have to rember your intake of food is less so you go less.
   — stanwalker

December 19, 2008
Unfortunately the first few months can be like this because of our diet and our body adjusting to a new way to digest a totally new system and types of foods. The most common causes are meats, cheese and eggs... (All the stuff we are told to eat first off) Lack of water also contributes as the colon absorbs water and leaves your waste compact, dry and hard...Gotta drink more water and stay hydrated! A lack of fiber from fruits and veggies and whole grains is the biggest reason though....And as a new WLS patient, these reasons make total sense....It's hard to drink a lot of water newly post op...We are not supposed to eat raw fruits and only cooked veggies but only teeny tiny amounts...And whole grains are also in tiny portions...so we do not get enough water and fiber. A lack of exercise will also contribute to constipation...I take magnesium and that didn't help you, so at least now you have the main reasons...Iron will also wreak havoc on your system if you are taking iron salts and it would benefit you not only for constipation but in a better absorption of iron in other forms of iron. Switch to a gentle iron in the form of carbonyl iron...It's the same iron used in the Baratric Advantage Iron and can be found as "Tender Iron" in the grocery store's or at Vitalady.com...Hope that helps...sometimes just knowing the reasons is the best way to get things moving...A little lubricant would help too in the form of good fats like omegas in fish, olive oil, a little sliced avocado etc! They'll be times that this will come back too...I've gotta say, after 5 years, I still do not know what to expect in the bathroom...Everyday is just...well...different! LOL Good luck...
   — .Anita R.

December 19, 2008
In agreement with most of the other posts, adding water will help a lot; do take the Colace. Adding fiber is fine but do eat the fruits and veggies when you are able that helps too. If you still have problems, get to the doctor ASAP as this may be more than a post-op reaction to the surgery. vinnigirl
   — vinnigirl

December 19, 2008
I do not share your problem, however, my friends are having success with Miralax. Best of luck, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

December 19, 2008
I am almost 6 months out and continue to battle the problem. I have just switched from Benefiber to Miralax and it works great. I used it for about a week once a day in my coffee in the morning. I could not believe how much more stool I was passing after about 3 days. I now use it every other day and am a regular girl. Pay attention to your body. I got so I could not eat and became impacted even with the Benefiber, veggies, fruit and lots of water. Try the miralax a sample came with my post opt bag of goodies. As you can see you are not alone
   — redpetal_14

December 19, 2008
I had that problem and was told to buy a stool softener. I bought a generic brand that has Docusate Sodium in it. I take 1 pill a day, 100 mg. gel tab. Works great. Haven't had a problem since. :-)
   — runningagain

December 19, 2008
At my support group I heard about something called "Smooth Move" Tea. You can get it at Super Supplements and some grocery stores carry it as well. It comes in two flavors - one is an orange spice flavor and the other is cocolate. You get 16 bags for about $4 or $5. You drink it at bedtime, and by the next day you usually have a bowel movement. It may take 2 or 3 days if you are really bound up. You don't get diarrhea, it just helps regulate you. The longer you let the tea bag steep in the water before you drink it, the stronger it is. Also, drink lots of water because that will also help. Wendy
   — Wendy M.

December 19, 2008
Try doubling your WATER.
   — SharonZ

December 20, 2008
Benefiber works great for me. I just put a tablespoon in my drinks a couple of times a day and it dissolves completely with no taste or grit or anything. I love it and it has helped make me regular. The Milk of Mag seemed to give me terrible cramps and gas. Nothing else has worked for me. Good Luck......
   — treksrowe

December 20, 2008
I think we're all in the same boat. They have me on 2 iron pills/day plus extra calcium, multi vitamin and all the rest. Add that to the fat-free cheese, meat, & no raw veggies (I'm actually craving salad!) and it's no wonder I'm constipated. I'm using Docusate Sodium 2x a day, plus some Benefiber mixed into a liquid and I've increased my water intake until I'm *almost* getting as much as I'm supposed to. If I go once every other day, I'm count myself lucky. If I get much past the 3rd day it's time for a Dulcolax. I only take one because I hate that crampy feeling I get if I take a too strong laxative. It seems to work about as well as I can expect it to--until I get to regular food.
   — Tina G.

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