Question:
Is anyone else having frequent bowel movements?

I am 2.5 months post op, and I have noticed my bowel movements have become a very light color, and I go more often (almost everyday). Additionally, it seems like the bowel movement is quite a lot for the amount of food I eat. I can still only tolerate soft proteins. I usually eat 1/2 cup of food, two to three times a day. I would appreicate any feedback. Thank you! :)    — [Anonymous] (posted on May 27, 2001)

May 27, 2001
Boy are you fortunate. I've been constipated since I was 16 (I'm 43 now) and "still" have constipation and I'm 19 days post op. I've had maybe... 4 bowl movements since surgery. I personally think you need to contact your doctor to ask why this is going on. Sounds like something may be wrong. I know I'm going to contact mine to find out why I have the opposite problem you have. Good luck.
   — Danmark

May 27, 2001
I was wondering the same thing about me! I have very frequent bowel movements, light in color (almost yellow), and I'm definately putting out much more than I'm taking in! I'm almost 10 weeks post op and this has been going on since week 4 and I'm not complaining because the way I see it, if I'm putting out more than I'm taking in.. i'm on the winning side of this war. However, I am scheduled to see my doctor for a follow up this coming week and I intend to ask about that -- just in case. I'm just grateful that I've had no diarreah, no constipation, no dumping, and no vomiting. (I think I'm down about 60 lbs total). Take care and I hope it helps to know that you're not the only one.
   — Karen V.

May 27, 2001
Yes, I have found that I go much more. and the stools are light in color, almost yellow, and for the amount i am eating, I am wondering where it is comming from.
   — Marie B.

May 27, 2001
Add me to this list. My stools are definitely lighter in color(yellow),soft and very buoyant LOL!. I don't go everyday-maybe every 2-3 days. I was talking to a friend who also had WLS a couple of days ago and I said the same thing about the "amount" of stool. I can't believe how MUCH there is for what little bit I can eat. I think we are seeing the malabsorption aspect of this surgery at work.
   — Shelley.

May 27, 2001
Are you staying mostly milk-based? So, eating like a baby, so making baby-colored waste? That would make sense. Also, since you are doing the 8-12 oz of food anyway, you might get a better result if you did 6 meals of 2 oz each. Less pouch stretching, more sensation of satisfaction, more level blood sugars. Not grazing, but eat, wait, eat, wait. I have not done any milk at all since my surgery, but even so, on clear liquids, I reminded myself of a baby.
   — vitalady

May 27, 2001
Gosh you guys! And I was comparing how fast I was losing weight, when I should have been comparing how much I was pooping! hahaha. I still go three times a day, like I did when before WLS. I never did go every few days unless I was constipated and miserable. Ask you doctor if you are worried, but I'm doing good and still losing weight.
   — [Anonymous]

May 28, 2001
It's the malabsorption. Fat malabsorption causes frequent, bulky, oily, floating, pale, often malodorous stools, all in proportion to the amount of fat eaten, and how distal the bypass. Gallbladder trouble can do the same, so if you have a sudden change in BM's with other signs like nausea and right-sided pain, and your eating habits have not changed, see your MD. RNYers tend to be more constipated--they are eating less fat, and the proximal ones are usually not malabsorbing enough to make a noticeable chane in stool appearance.
   — Jesse M.