Question:
Did anyone ever lose bowel control after surgery?
Someone told my husband he could lose bowel control in the weeks after surgery. Now, he's really worried it could happen to him at work or somewhere in public. Has it happened to anyone? — kathy W. (posted on October 13, 2003)
October 13, 2003
For me there is more of an urgency than pre-op. As soon as it registers in
my brain that I felt a cramp, my first priority is finding a bathroom -
pronto. Where before, I could hold it til I got home. No more pickiness
about where I go - I just have to go! Best and most useful tip: NEVER EVER
take a "fart" for granted :)
— Kim B
October 13, 2003
I agree with Kim. Sometimes I just can't do the polite thing and wait until
I get home from work like I used to, but its certainly not a loss of
control. And don't forget, we eat so much less than we used to, that
there's less waste to come out! Good luck to your husband, this is a
fabulous journey. Best thing I ever did for myself.
— lorien
October 13, 2003
I'm terribly constipated since surgery. The only time post op that I had a
control problem was in the hospital after being given this stuff to drink
for the leak test. That was a big time laxative and I had no idea it would
do that to me. But now... I have to take milk of magnesia and colace so I
can go every few days.
— Happy I.
October 13, 2003
OK I am 13days post-op and for the frist week and a half a had little to
know control. Just think when you have a BM normal it is lager then you
opening, so you have to push and you can feel it....Well you will only be
having liquids and everything is thin and just kind of slids out.You can't
really hold it in. Well I know that's not pretty but it's what happend to
me.
— Amy M.
October 13, 2003
I had open rny 8 months ago and have had one regular (controlled) bm a day
since. i haven't heard of anyone that has totally lost control. Well
maybe one or two on here. I don't think the majority of us have this
problem especially if we eat right.
— Delores S.
October 13, 2003
I agree with Kim also; it's definitely a sense of urgency over loss of
control, although this very night I was on the floor cleaning around my
bed, and the urge hit so hard that I was unable to make it to the bathroom
in time. At least I was home, but it's still extremely humiliating. I
should note that I also had this problem as a pre-op, so my surgery may
have absolutely nothing to do with it. I will say that when the urge hits,
it hits HARD!
— Moysa B.
October 13, 2003
I have never been SO regular in my entire life. 5 people in my immediate
family have had it done and none have had those kinds of problems.
— [Deactivated Member]
October 13, 2003
sometimes i will go for a week before having a bowel movement EXCEPT when i
have a protein shake in the morning, i hadn,t been getting the protein that
my Dr. wanted me to have so i got the "odorless"
"tasteless" protein powder from GNC to add to my protein shake in
the morning (27) grams of protein,but right after i drank the shake, within
an hour no matter where i was i had to find a bathroom. i still have the
protein shakes but i take a lot longer to drink them and i find this really
helps a lot.different people react in different ways so maybe your husband
won,t have any problems. this surgery is one of the best things i,ve ever
done for myself. i,ll be (9) weeks post-op tomorrow and down 52 lbs. i wish
your husband the very best.
— patricia M.
October 13, 2003
I know when my aunt feels the need to go, she has to right then (she hasn't
had WLS) So far I am almost 3 weeks out and I am about every other day
& feel fine.
Some people contribute it to them not having a gallbladder, they took mine
out so we will see.
Also just a thought but could you be dumping? I know that it can make you
severely sick that way.
But I have never seen a case that severe, talk to your doctor!
— Saxbyd
October 13, 2003
i had problems, but i found out that i was lactose intolerant started
taking lactaid and finally tried to eat things without it in about a month
and i was then ok try that
— Ginny L.
October 13, 2003
Well, I never had a problem pre-surgery but sure do now whenever I get near
milk. If I am going out to eat I must be careful what I eat as when the
urge hits, I gotta go. Fortunately the only accidents I've had have been at
home. The Vista Vitamins have helped with this a lot as well as I don't
leave home without taking presciption medication for diarhea like lomotil.
I have a standing monthly order at the pharmacy. Sometimes I have to take 3
before I leave the house and 2 more when I eat if I am out dining.
— Sandra Y.
October 13, 2003
Its not a common problem and rarely reported here. Now constipation that
comes up often. Dumping can cause this, for me very early on deep friend
foods made me go. But it wasnt uncontrollable and I never had a accident. I
used it to fix constipation and was kinda sad when it went away. Sounds
like your friends are common they tend to report all sorts of wierd stuff
without really knowing whats up. They reported this one to me. Found out
later it was during the fleet phospho bowell cleaning before surgery. The
patient went shopping right after drinking the liquid. Noiw they tell us to
stay home and by the toilet after taking it. Get this book it explains so
much<P>
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1932205306/qid=1060605302/sr=2-1/ref=sr_2_1/102-7313568-4285763
— bob-haller
October 13, 2003
This only happened to me once very shortly after I got home from the
hospital and I really believe it was the liquid pain killer they had me on
- lots of sweetener in it - and still gagged me. Sigh...anyway, not a
problem once I gae that up. Open RNY.
— [Deactivated Member]
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