Question:
only having bowlel movements once a week?

I know im not the only person with this problem... what can I take to make this better?    — tstepp (posted on August 3, 2009)

August 3, 2009
Honestly I was going threw this myself come to find out my galbladder was bad and that was the main issue. However you can take Benifiber or any of those things that give you the fiber because my doc who I work with said the fiber in your diet is most likely not enough. If you start to have pain or vomiting alot because of it i do want to stress to you to have the galbladder checked the pain will feel like heartburn really bad and you right side will hurt like no tomarrow. hope that helps.
   — Tiffani B.

August 3, 2009
hi i had my rny on 2/19/09. i too had irregular bowel movements. my problem does not have anything to do with my gallbladder because I had my gallbladder removed. my doc says that it is normal, but not necessarily healthy. to help with my problem i had to up my fiber (vegtebles), sometimes take things like benifiber and metimucil, and i occasionally take a laxative like exlax if i don't have a bowel movement for over a week. You can take the pills as long as they do not hurt your stomach. hope this helps, let me know if u need more info.
   — alojah82

August 3, 2009
Same here but I figure before my surgery I was going 3-4 times a day and alot of this was due to irritable bowel. Now I go every 4-5 days and do not get diarrhea......I asked my surgeon and he told me this was due to my decreased eating & more food being utilized as energy rather than being stored as fat. Good luck......
   — karensaporito

August 3, 2009
I find myself talking about this issue more and more now a days. I use to go every morning like clock work. Now I am lucky if I go once a week. I take 3 stool softners a day to help with the hardness of the stool. I also drink one All-Bran fiber drink mix,pink lemonade a day. Sometimes I still have to take a lax to help move things along. This is the only thing that really bothers me about this surgery. It was one of the side effects I did not know about. I just don't enjoy the bloating feeling I get after a few days from not going. I am hoping it will get better as I add different foods to my diet. Good luck. Have a great day.
   — dsquire

August 3, 2009
My surgery was 3/23/09, prior to it I had daily bowel movements. Since the surgery they have been only every 2-3 days. I take fiber supplements but I think it's just due to diminished volume of food intake.
   — rkurquhart

August 3, 2009
I had the same problem after my lapband surgery 3 years ago. My doctor recommended Miralax and it works. It is a white powder and you can mix it with anything food or drink and it is tasteless as well. It does work....it is over the counter now and most anywhere has it. I normally purchase it at Wal-Mart. Like I said, trust me it works.
   — Babbles

August 3, 2009
We had a long discussion about this at our last support group meeting, (hosted by our surgeon). He told us to increase fiber but that we need to train our bodies. Try to go at a certain time of day. Like after morning coffee (if you drink that stuff) or after breakfast etc. Try to get you body used to going at specific times. I have made a conscious effort and have noticed its getting easier. He also said to take like Milk of Mag or Phillips to get things going and then use Miralax, Benifiber or whatever. The trick is to not let it get so bad and wait that many days. Which I was doing.... I also eat a Fiber One bar mid morning that also helps. I may get yelled at for this last one, but here it goes. Tostados make me go, I take out 5 - 6 put the bag away and eat with salsa or cheese or plain. I guess its the corn but it works everytime for me. (They do come in reduced fat.)
   — ToniLee

August 3, 2009
Not sure how far out you are but I have an answer different from all those above mine. And you dont even have to spend any extra money on it. Just up your fat intake. Yes fiber is good too but if you arent getting enough fat in your diet it will make it hard to go also. My nut suggested this to me when I was about 4 weeks out and since then along with 4 oz of 100% apple juice a day, I go go almost every day. I have times I even will go twice a day and I never strain or have fights with the porcelin object of everyones hatered. good Luck!
   — uNiQuE, iTs wHaT i Am!

August 4, 2009
I was having the same problem during my first month or two after wls. My nutritionist strongly suggested chia seeds. I tried them and like she told me, they're a miracle. I still drink protein shakes for breakfast and add the seeds but they can be put in lots of things. You do have to mix it well because they soak up ten times their size in liquid. You can google Chia Seeds and find lots of information about them. Here is one site:http://www.living-foods.com/articles/chia.html
   — Char-Ree C.

August 4, 2009
I also have this problem pretty regular before. Had my surgery June 22 and the first month was bad. Now into my 2nd month it is getting better. Was told to drink more water. I thought I would be getting the runs. Guess not. Good luck. Rita
   — newchapter09

August 4, 2009
Miralax....it's what my NUT suggested and I can take it as often as needed. I just put a dose of it into my crystal lite and sip on it all day. Totally tasteless and it's not a laxative so there's no cramping or other ill side effects. It's a fiber so you can't become dependent on it. PS...the iron supplements made my constipation problem 10 times worse. Other suggestions I've read is to take Colace stool softeners but I've found those don't help me too much. Try each suggestion and see what works for you. Be careful on the apple juice though because of the sugars. Read the nutrition label.
   — Arkin10

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