PROBLEM? OR WORSE?

As I've posted pretty regularly (at least something I'm doing is regular!), I have had an off-and-on problem with constipation and BM's. I have had to take a stool softener about every 3 days and that's worked pretty well -- up until now. I have not gone to the bathroom in 6 days; I have taken a stool softener 3 days in a row; finally, I took Dulcolax liquid (a laxative) the day before yesterday, yesterday, and this morning -- nothing!! Is anyone else experiencing this? Should I be worried? It's always been my experience that once you take a laxative, it will work -- what's going on here??? HELP!

I'm having the same problem. It is killing me. If I force myself to drink alot of water it sometimes helps or I know this is something you shouldn't do but eat something a little fatty. It's horrible but I found that out. I go to the doctors Wednesday and that a question for him. Good luck

Stacey, let me know what your doctor says, ok? Thanks. Maureen

Now this is just what my dr has said i dont do it but.....he said if you will eat oatmeal once a day then you will have no trouble.

LaRhonda, I had oatmeal for breakfast this morning, sliced 1/4 of an apple (skinned it first) into the oatmeal and let it all cook together. Was very tasty! I have been TERRIFIED of eating carbohydrates of any kind and I think this has created the problem for me. I am now going to start incorporating some fruits, veggies, and legumes regularly into my diet, maybe even some high fiber bread once in a while (100% whole wheat for instance), but will still stay away completely from pastas and refined carbs. Hopefully, this will take care of the problem. Thanks. Maureen

I do believe this is very common. I had the same problem to a degree. I will go several days to a week between BM's and then they are somewhat hard. I am guessing this is due to a couple of factors, one being that we are taking in so much less we just aren't eliminating as often. That's fine to a degree, but we have it just sitting there getting hard! As for laxitives, I haven't taken them. I've found that certain things give me diarrhea and when I'm "ready" I just imbibe on whatever it is. For awhile there it was Orange Sunrise Crystal Light! I think before i took a laxative, I'd just go ahead and have a bite of a sugar free candy bar. With all the malitol in them, they are definitely good to use for a laxative! Dina

Thanks Dina. Nothing seems to trigger a "gotta go" response for me! I've had SF protein bars, is that the same as SF candy bars??? I really need to start trusting my new system and start eating fruits and veggies and not worry about the carb issue. I think that's been the big problem for me. Hate using laxatives and I've been warned by both surgeon and doctor that they can be habit forming to our systems. Yikes!

No - the protein bars aren't going to trigger you to go as much. These are the candy type bars...chocolate bars etc. They have malitol in them which can have a laxative affect. As for the carbs, I think you should probably add a few because just protein will also plug you up. That was always a problem for me when on Atkins, so I added lots of high fiber veggies (cauliflower, etc). You might try eating a small banana. That did it to me pretty quickly the last time. Either way you should have a little roughage to help things move along. The protein alone can really stagnate in your bowel. It was unpleasant when I was on Atkins....gotta be worse now with the wls. I know my poops are pretty loaded with bile moreso than before, so they seem more compacted and hard. And I eat some carbs too! Dina

I'm having this problem, too. I had some bananas at home and put them in my CIB (I mix it up in a blender), and that kept things moving. This morning, I had a latte, and that did the trick. HTH, -Marcie

What's CiB?? And what does HTH mean??? Latee as a laxative??? Hmmmmm.