Question:
Surgery and IBS? What about Paxil CR?

I am currently looking into having surgery but suffer from IBS. Is there anyone out there who also has IBS and has surgery? Also has anyone been on the fairly new Paxil CR and had surgery as opposed to the regular paxil?    — Amy S. (posted on January 2, 2003)

January 2, 2003
Hi....I'm 8 months post-op RNY, and have IBS. Have to say that the IBS is much WORSE since surgery, unfortunately. The doc bypassed 4 feet of intestine with my surgery and this somehow has made things worse. Currently seeking ways to minimize this. I know eating sugar really flares things up for me, so I try to keep that to a minimum (like we're supposed to anyway). Also carbs, especially potatoes, cause diarrhea.
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 2, 2003
I had the lap BPD/DS (the most distal of all WLS surgeries) and my IBS has markedly *improved*. Now, I did not have diahhrea as a pre-op. My IBS was more of the 'constipated kind'. Now, as a post-op DSer (I'm almost 2 years post-op), I have quite regular bowels -- usually go once or twice in the a.m. before leaving and that's it. Sometimes I go once more in the afternoon or evening but it's usually in the a.m. then I'm done for the day! :) I have not had loose or uncontrollable bowels (but my bms were loose/liquidy in the first 1-2 weeks post-op). I think post-op IBS life really depends on your pre-op IBS symptoms. If you have diahhrea now, your bowels *may be* more irritated afterwards. With the RNY, the food is not processed as fully and it hits the intestines pretty much as it is chewed (give or take some interaction with the acids, etc. in the stomach pouch). This is why proper chewing is so important. With the DS, one has a normally functioning stomach (it is just smaller - the fundus, or storage area is removed in a partial gastrectomy). This means that food is processed as it was pre-op with stomach acids, etc. It hits the intestines in a more digested form. This may actually be good for those with IBS. HoWEVER, since the DS is very distal (moreso even than the distal RNY), this *could* irritate some people's tummies, especially the colon if the common channel (the last area where digestion occurs before the colon) is on the shorter side... So, I would really look into what your IBS symptoms are now. I hope you get some more answers from post-ops here on the boards about their experiences because I think it can vary a lot. :) All the best, Teresa Noverr-Chin (preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45 (5'10") now: 138 lbs/bmi 20)
   — Teresa N.

January 2, 2003
I had my surgery on 6/17/02 and I have IBS. I think my IBS has improved greatly since the surgery. I used to have 1-3 days of painful constipation and then 1-3 days of horrible diarrhea. Now my bowels are pretty much normal, except that all of my stool is fairly soft. I only get bad diarrhea if I eat too much sugar (which we're not supposed to do anyway). I never have constipation. Good Luck!
   — Heidi W.

January 2, 2003
I had IBS before surgery. The surgeon said the the surgery would probably not help it. I am happy to say that it did. I no longer take any medication for it and feel great. The only problem I have now is some constipation every once and awhile. When I had IBS I only had diarhea. All the time. I never knew what it was like to be constipated and went to the doctor the first time thinking something was wrong. Good luck
   — tulagirl

January 2, 2003
I had IBS and was also taking paxil (for an anxiety disorder). Both are gone since surgery. Bowels are soft but not runny (sorry if TMI) and anxiety disappeared with the ridding of starchy carbs from my diet. I knew in advance this would likely happen as it had when I was on the atkin's diet :>) Don't know why you take Paxil CR but try going starchy-carb free for a while and see if your condition vanishes. Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 2, 2003
I had IBS for approximately 15 years before my proximal RNY, and it disappeared completely the day of the surgery. I always had to stay away from salads in the past because it would always set off an episode of dynamic proportions. Now, I am 33 months post-op and salads are a daily and most favorite food item. I have 2-3 bowel movements a week of normal consistency, and that is nothing short of miraculous for me! I would wish for you the same great experience.
   — Diana T.