Question:
bowel movement every 3 to 4 days with help
I am 6 weeks post op, I go 3 to 4 days without a bowel movement than drink milk of magnesia on the 4th day and have diarrea the whole next day, also all my stools are bright green??? is this normal???? — Jay Z. (posted on October 21, 2002)
October 20, 2002
Not sure if you should worry aobut it or not, but I drink about 3 ozs of
prune juice every morning and I still go 4 or 5 days without having a bowel
movement. I have noticed though with the drinking of the prune juice when
i do actually go to the bathroom, I am not constipated, but I don't have
diarrea either. Just a suggestion that you might try. If you can handle
more then 3 ozs of prune juice a day; try it, but that is all I can handle.
You might try walking more. That seems to helps me a little bit more.
— Patricia L.
October 20, 2002
The nurse at my surgeon's office said I shouldn't go more than 1 day
without a bowel movement. I would ask the doctor about it. Might need to
add fiber or something to help you become more regular.
— Cathy S.
October 20, 2002
our surgeon is a big beliver in Fibercon. I dont kn if you could take the
pills yet or not...but fiber seems to be one thing you need and are you
walking? Walking is the other thing we all need to keep our systems
working...
— Jackiis
October 20, 2002
Don't worry about it. Keep up with your fluids, exercises; the prune juice
can actually help some. You'll settle down into a regular pattern soon
enough. May not be what you were accustomed to, but you'll be OK. Hang in
there.
— Chuck O.
October 21, 2002
Believe me, it took a while, but I finally found something that works for
me. Maybe it'll work for you too. A little Benefiber -low in calories,
doesn't give me gas, dissolves in liquids, non-thickening, flavor-free, no
grit. I also take this herbal supplement called ColonClenz by Natural
Balance. I don't get the icky effects of laxatives but I do get to go potty
every morning. Hope you find something that works for you.
— Carolynn J.
October 21, 2002
First, ask your doctor what you should be taking. Now, I will tell you
what my surgeon has me take. I eat three prunes or dried apricots every
day and he has me eat a small amount of Grape Nuts soaked in Grape Juice
every morning. I go every day without fail. But, for a while I was on
pain medications and they are constipating. He told me to never let myself
get constipated because I have diverticulosis - an irritation of the colon
- and that put me in the hospital 5 days this summer. He called in a
prescription for Miralax for me. It's not a laxative but an osmotic agent.
It is a powder you mix in any liquid. I had to take it for four days once
and have only had to use it twice since - one dose a day. It is tasteless
and it doesn't cause cramping or diahrrea. I can honestly say that this
regimen works very well for me. The fruit and the grape nuts add fiber to
my diet. I know the grape nuts and grape juice sound horrid but it really
doesn't taste bad - I use just enough grape juice to soften the grape
nuts.
But I wouldn't do anything, especially as new a post-op as you are, without
clearing it with your surgeon first.
— Patty_Butler
October 21, 2002
This was a very serious problem for me prior to surgery and has been
compounded since. My PCP has me drinking warm prune juice every night.
But it has to be warm to do me any good. It helps. I also add Benefiber
to it. Together I have pretty good luck. Sometimes I have to take a
Dulcalax as well. Milk of Mag. just doesn't do me any good at all. Hope
this helps.
— Teri D.
October 21, 2002
Hope things are looking up for you soon. I did ask my surgeon why it was I
wasn't going every day like I used to. He said bluntly that b/c I am not
eating as much I will not need to go as much. I too go every few days
(about every 3). In the beginning shortly after surgery I had problems and
needed "assistance" to go. I try to eat more roughage and much
less dairy/cheese so that I can go.
— Trish R.
October 21, 2002
I also only go every few days. That is now normal for me. I did have to
work some whole grain foods into my diet to keep things moving along (hi
protein is very constipating). I try to eat a little oatmeal or whole grain
bread or whole wheat pasta every couple of days. I also eat a fair amount
of fruit. You do need your fiber! As far as the bright green stools, are
you eating anything with blue dye? Vitamins, applesauce, gatorade, protein
drinks,anything? This has happened to my daughter before and I was always
able to trace it back to something with blue dye that she ate the day
before (most often cotton candy flavored ice cream--ugh!). It looks nasty
but is harmless. If you can't figure it out, call a dr that will show a
little interest. Or some insurance companies have a nurse hotline for
non-urgent questions like that. Here's what I found on the
'net:<p>http://www.medhelp.org/perl6/gastro/archive/4095.html
— ctyst
October 21, 2002
I also got very constipated at about 2 weeks post op. I am now 3 mos post
op and still constipated. I take 2 TB of MOM every other night and it
helps me go normal every day. If I don't take it then I just get bound up
and it's too painful to go. My Dr.'s office told me to do whatever it
takes to have a BM EVERY day. Benefiber/citricel did not help at all.
Regarding the green color.... mine has a green tint which I am thinking it
is the carbonyl iron pills which are a charcoal color.
— Janet S.
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