Bad cramps in having bowel movements

i hope this isn't TMI for some, but the last week or so, I have to have a bowel movement as soon as I wake up in the morning. Lately it has been where I get severe cramps. I even woke up I the middle of the night to go and didn't make it in time. It kinda goes from a regular bm to some watery mixed in. In fact I feel like I have to pass gas at times and have mucus come out. Not fun when you are at work and can't always get to the bathroom. I am 3 1/2 years out. I take a stool softener in the morning and at night.

thanks for any help.

Stop the stool softeners!!!

STOP TAKING THE F$/^&!G STOOL SOFTENERS!

They seem to have done their job.

I would stop the stool softner. If you are still having issues ask your Dr.

Yes, like JB and Grim said, stop the stool softeners!

You said you are passing mucus with your stool (mucus in certain amounts is normal in intestines, but not large amounts in your stool). If you are runing a fever, passing lots of gas and if you have painful rumblings/grumblings in in your abdomen along with the symptoms you already mentioned, you should contact your primary care physician.

Our low fiber diet can leave us with lots of BM problems. As we age, the walls in our large intestine weaken and with straining trying to have a bowel movement and/or from having a low fiber diet in general, little pockets called diverticuli form in the bowel wall. They are harmless in themselves, but at times, stool can get trapped in there causing an infection called diverticulitis.

If you have any of the other symptoms I mentioned above, please do get checked by your doctor just to be sure.

I hope you feel better soon.

Why are you still on stool sofeners if you are having watery bowel movements? Stop taking them! If you become constipated, take 1 a day, not 2. Being on stool sofeners long term can be bad for your body. You will become dependent on them.

I'd say we're all susceptible to the same old GI issues we always were. Doesn't always have to be an RNY thing.

Thanks everyone for your great advice..I stopped taking the stool softeners. Not having the cramping anymore. It was recommended I take them after my RNY, so that is why I was taking them. I got constipated a couple of times and don't want to go through that again.