Question:
Bowel Movement..

im 4 months post op & i havent had a god bowel movement n almost a month...what can i do to solve this problem?...will this hinder my weightloss?    — BLAKROZ06 (posted on July 16, 2009)

July 16, 2009
my surgeon said to take a stool softener for the rest of my life-so I do-and I have no bowel movement problems.
   — cookiedav

July 16, 2009
I have same problem and take 3 stool softing pills per day and drink alot of fluids.Works for me.
   — gay_

July 16, 2009
Here are two good options: (1) Miralax - a very gentle laxative that you stir into a drink and does NOT alter the taste or consistency of the drink. Or (2) Phillips Milk Of Magnesia - I buy the caplets. These are about half the price of the Miralax and work just well. Essentially, what it is, is a Magnesium supplement. It won't give you cramps or anything. This is what works best for me. The caplets are a little large but I just break them into two pieces and tolerate them just fine. The Miralax is just over ten bucks at WalMart and I buy the Phillips caplets at my local drugstore for just over five bucks. (WalMart might have the caplets, but I couldn't find them when I looked there.) Happy plumbing! LOL
   — PaulaJ

July 17, 2009
If it gets really out of control, I take stool softeners and Miralax 2-3 times a day. Miralx is not cheap (buy it at Costco in big bottles), but it does not have the dependency factors that Milk-O-Mag has. I've had 2 G.I. docs and my surgeon strongly suggest to use that instead. Hint: I use about an extra half cap of my Miralax each time I mix it with water. I forgot to tell you my favorite thing about Miralax......it never gives my abdominal cramping and pain. Good luck! -dd
   — dadebrito

July 17, 2009
If it gets really out of control, I take stool softeners and Miralax 2-3 times a day. Miralx is not cheap (buy it at Costco in big bottles), but it does not have the dependency factors that Milk-O-Mag has. I've had 2 G.I. docs and my surgeon strongly suggest to use that instead. Hint: I use about an extra half cap of my Miralax each time I mix it with water. I forgot to tell you my favorite thing about Miralax......it never gives my abdominal cramping and pain. Good luck! -dd
   — dadebrito

July 17, 2009
Since fiber is not part of what we eat now, you will most likely want to add a stool softener to yur pack of pills you take each day. I take two each morning and no more problems. It was really bad for a while.
   — trible

July 17, 2009
Hi Erica....I was really constipated for a while, too. My PA kept telling me to eat more fiber, but that can be hard to do sometimes without using up all your fat allowance on it. She doesn't really like us to use laxatives except as a last resort, and I have had to do that several times, so I either use Miralax or Cherry Flavored Phillips Milk of Mag. BUT, I found out that one of her suggestions, Benefiber, now comes in flavored "stick packs" like the Crystal Light On the Go, and I will sometimes drink two or three bottles of that a day. I haven't had too much problem with constipation since I started using them. BUT I will say this... my bowel movements are nearly always very SMALL. I'm thinking that's because of the amount of food I'm eating. I never have the large bowel movements I used to have.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

July 17, 2009
I am almost a year out and this has been a huge problem for me. I recently had a complete hysterectamy and bladder surgery so "pushing" was impossible. My GYN suggested the Benefiber sticks that and early post mentioned. Since I drink about 4 bottles of water (16.9oz) per day I put one in each bottle. It is not cheap but I have been doing great since. I would highly recommend this to anyone. Also, most importantly they don't taste bad.
   — phyllismmay

July 17, 2009
Gee, I thought I was the only one with this problem. My doctor said to take Metamucil daily. I take Metamucil and a stool softener daily (bedtime), but still experience problems. Perhaps I need to take them both in the morning and at night.
   — lieutenant-ed

August 24, 2009
I had this problem from day one and my doctor had me try the stool softners (did not work) So he had me take Phillips it worked but after several bottles came up on something that works great for me. I drink an atkins protein drink in the morning followed by decaf coffee works great not pills. eotexas
   — Edna O.

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