Question:
Do most of you who have had WLS suffer with frequent and explosive bowel movements?

If so how long have you experienced these problems? For a few week, months, years. Does it get better?    — ann A. (posted on March 21, 2000)

March 21, 2000
The first week or so the bowel movements were loose. They started to form on the second and third week. Now, that I am 6 weeks post op, I normally have a bowel movement every morning. I do not have it during the day. It is very conventient. I have not had any problems with it nor gas.
   — Lee Ann B.

March 21, 2000
I'm 6.5 weeks postop with a DS-LG. I have a 100cm common tract and I do not have a problem with frequent explosive bms. I normally go at night and then in the AM.
   — Cheryl C.

March 21, 2000
I'm 3 months post-op with a BPD/DS and at first thought I'd be one of the rare 'frequent bowel movement' statistics, but I'm down to a couple in the morning, and sometimes one in the evening. They're only frequent and explosive if I eat something with lactose and forget to take a lactase pill. My stools are softer than they used to be, and my tummy rumbles a lot more, especially in the evening, but I'm not overly gassy or stinky. And I eat a pretty high fat diet.
   — Duffy H.

March 21, 2000
I had the BPD/DS on 12/8/99, and while I had some problems with frequent BMs in the beginning, it's resolved itself. I can still get some pretty explosive BMs, but it depends entirely on what I eat. Dairy products with high lactose content can set me off every time (and I am not always careful about checking labels for dairy content, so my sweet boyfriend reminds me - LOL). As Duffy says, YMMV.
   — Kim H.

March 22, 2000
My first three or four bowel movements after the surgery were loose. Since then I have had a problem with constipation. You may be lactose intolerant or may be consuming hidden sugars. It may depend on how much small intestine was removed, as well. My surgeon removed less than 40 cm and said his patients run on the constipation end.
   — Jackie L.