Everybody Poops!

 .....well except for me! Ha!

I have had major bowel inactivity since surgery! Extreme constipation and pretty much no urge to go ever! After having a badly impacted bowel in April I resigned myself to taking a stool softener/laxative every three days if I haven't gone on my own. I have never NOT had to resort to the laxative. Has anyone else struggled with this? Any tips? I would really like to have normally functioning bowels again some day. 

I am 5 days out and had not had a bm since before my surgery. I wasn't eating much so that didn't surprise me but I knew at some point that would be an issue. As a precaution I added 1/4th of a dose of the MiraLax to 2 oz of a protein shake once a day. Even that didn't make anything happen until today finally. (TMI...I know sorry!). Today I went 3 times. I was glad that I added that bit of Miralax for the past 4 days. Things were rather solid the first time, then well...you really don't want to know the details. Lets just say that now everything is moving well.

With a high protein diet you are bound to get constipated. I think just about everyone has to use some kind of stool softener or fiber suppliment until they are able to include enough fiber in their diet. Even a leaf of spinach could be enough fiber to make a difference. Beans area great for fiber. There are many fiber suppliments you can mix into a drink and you don't even notice them.

It might be worth talking to your dr since it has been a cronic issue for you. Good luck...don't give up...it will all settle back to more normal as your diet gets more variety.

 My suggestion is to keep taking the softener -- hasn't gotten better for me and I used to have the opposite problem.

 it takes time ,it was 5-6 days for me ,then it does get better ,you will go..

I still suffer with constipation but have found something that works for me.  I was taking two stool softeners a day and it just wasn't working out if you know what I mean.

Someone suggested probiotics and I tried a few brands before hitting on a winner for me.  Jamieson 4 strain  - 2 at night and I go like clockwork in the morning after my coffee. The Jamieson 8 strain was a waste of money for me. Ithought more strains more action - wrong.  All it was was more money.  Give it a try and give it a week to work.  I kept taking my stool softner for the week but only 1 a day and then none. I buy mine at Costco or Walmart. 

If you stick to a softner only you will probably have to do it daily and still that was not enough for me.

I remember the hell you went through being impacted and I am sure you don't want to go through that again.

The probiotic makes for a nice consistency and no straining or digging. 

See if you can get some ground flax seed. It's chalked full of wonderful stuff for your body including your bowels.

You can get it at Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Walmart even carries it. I started adding it to my family meals, my husband's baked goods, I add it to yogurt, salads, just about anything. Just make sure you get the ground. The regular seed form is difficult to chew down.

Full of Omega3s and other great stuff.

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed

The key to eating this stuff is to drink tons of fluids just as you would if you were taking fiber supplements.

yeah, well, me and  you both! LOL!

Seriously, I tried all sorts of things until I finally found what worked for me: 1 stool softener in the morning, 1/2 to 1 dose of Miralax in my morning protein coffee and 1 stool softener at bedtime.

Just call me a "regular" Joe now!

ha ha ha!  Miralax in coffee = "regular joe!"  that's a good one!   Lol!