Question:
this is embarassing, but has anyone had bowel accidents

I am 8 day post op and 4 days home from hospital. I am on liquids only and feel fine. Twice now I have had to "go potty" and could not make it to the toilet, and had accidents in the bathroom. Has anyone else had this problem? I know with only liquids coming in, that is all there is to go out, but It seems like it is too sudden. Will this improve with pureed foods. I am very upset right now about this    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 20, 2000)

October 20, 2000
I know this was very upsetting for you but it is not forever. The bowel movements return to normal along with what you are eating. Please try not to be discouraged. As a measure of prevention you may want to go to the potty once an hour or so - "just in case", kind of like when we were kids and were told to go if we had to or not. Please try to remain positive, this WILL pass, (no pun intended)!
   — Andrea P.

October 20, 2000
Good Morning, My name is Linda at [email protected]. I do know what you are taking about, I still have some accidents, as a matter of fact I had one here, all along this morning, in the bathroom also. But, I am 2 1/2 years out of surgery and have been told that is one of the side effect I will have to live with. That is from having the distal part of the surgery, which reroutes the intestines. I have gone from 400lbs. down to 160lbs. so, I can deal with anything but, the weight. If you need to talk about it and would like to chat I have given you my e-mail address. Linda
   — Linda H.

October 20, 2000
Not only will this improve with purees, but you may end up swinging the other way...when I switched to purees, I was constipated for about a week. Hang in there - your body is adjusting to not only the surgery, but the new diet as well. And get some nice lotion-treated bathroom tissue...
   — Allie B.

October 20, 2000
You might want to go back to clear liquids for 24 hours. MANY of us become lactose intolerant after surgery. And you don't need milk, unless you are hoping to retain more body fat? I could not tolerate even clear broth, either. Too much fat. But that changed after awhile. Today, I only DREAM of those days. LOL! I haven't had a drop of milk for 6 years, though, as I know I am lactose intolerant from "accidental" eating and our doc forbids it as a high sugar food.
   — vitalady

October 20, 2000
Oh My! Im sooo glad to hear someone else has had this problem! Im about 5weeks post-op,Imagine this, at 4 weeks I was out with my hubby getting some shoppping/exercise done. I felt this lil girggle in my lower abdomen, but figured I can hold it a couple hours. We walked into a furniture store and was browsing. I sat down on a very lovely soft couch, ya know the kind were you sink into this marshmellow softness, and to get back up out of it you have to swim out! Well just as I sink to the bottom of it, I feel this rumble. Yup, I froze. My only thought was please, dont let my bottom explode on this $3,000 couch! I turned to my hubby and said, "Honey, I need a bathroom" I then grabbed his shirt and in a breathless, begging growl/moan said , "Noooow!" Seeing how he has been there done that,he is 2 yr post op, AND he didnt have $3,000 on him,let me tell you.... He moooooved! He had me off that couch and stearing me to the dindgy lil boys room towards the back of the store. My hero! As we are getting into the car later, he says, " oh yea,I forgot to tell you, that happens" Needless to say, I now scope out the bathrooms in every store i go into. One never knows! And as for have I ever NOT made it? *blush* maybe...... Patricia
   — Tricee