Question:
constipation

anyone have any information about what to take for constipation?? I am 6 weeks after surgery.    — midnight123 (posted on August 30, 2010)

August 30, 2010
I am 18 months out, and I still have a pretty bad problem with constipation. I take 3 colace (or Walmart's brand - Equate) gelcaps every morning, then usually 2 Sennokot. If that doesn't make me go, I have a hot cup of chocolate-flavored "Smooth Move" Tea, by "Traditional Medicinals". You can get it in almost any of your larger grocery stores, and for sure in your "Whole Food" type stores. It comes in regular and chocolate, and I usually brew up a bag in a large cup with one of the Celestial Seasonings flavors...so I don't notice any taste. Finally, if none of the above does the trick, I take a does of cherry-flavored Milk of Magnesia, and I have regular movements for at least the next two to three days. But, honestly, I think if I just drank a cup of the Smooth Move every day, I wouldn't have a problem. I just keep forgetting it's there. And, I'm not such a fan of hot tea during the summer, anyways. And finally....my daughter swears by Miralax....and so do a lot of other people on this forum.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

August 30, 2010
Thank you. I am having trouble with that, too, at almost 10-weeks out. I'll try some of your suggestions.
   — Egyirba H.

August 31, 2010
My dietitian recommended increasing my fiber intake, and that worked for me. I like that I'm not having to take medicine all the time. She recommended Benefiber but I didn't want to have to mix a drink every day. I settled on Fiber Choice chewable fiber tablets. I take two every morning and two every night with my vitamins. Works like a charm! Plus, the one I take has extra Vitamin D. Has some calcium too, but it's the wrong kind (caltrate) so I guess it doesn't really count for that.
   — Greg K.

September 1, 2010
Benefiber is good, the individual enevlopes are great. Also, Walmart has vegetables laxatives. They are great. Hope it helps.
   — pcannedy

September 4, 2010
I'm totally with you. My doctor says this is the result of the very low carb diet we're on. This has been by far the worst part of my weight-loss journey. The surgery was no problem, the diet is a piece of cake (sorry, couldn't resist.) I've taken Colace, and it helps; but I lost weight to get off meds, not to acquire more of them. Recently someone recommended flax seed to me. It took several days to kick in, but it's tremendously helpful. You just sprinkle it on whatever you're eating. It looks like oregano. It has some flavor, and helps me use less salt too. Try it, you'll like it!
   — beththebug