Constipation

If anyone had constipation post op, what did you take for relief?  I tried a stool softener, but it didnt seem to help.  I dont know if it absorbed correctly or not.  It was one of those brown colored ones that have the liquid inside, looks like a Vit. E pill.  Any other suggestions?  I used to be a daily goer, now it is once a week, sometimes longer.   Jenny

I had to take Milk of Mag after my surgery (GROSS). I also bought some Phillips capsuls and they go down just fine. You can also use correctol. Hope this helps. Julie

Jenny, Maybe it's a symptom of the stage we're at.  I have horrible constipation too.  I had my 6 wk appt on Thursday and the NUT told me to buy some Gerber Apple Prune juice and drink one bottle.  They are pretty small bottles.  I tried it yesterday.  I drank the juice while getting ready for work and by 2:00 I had a bm.  It was the most pleasant one I've had since my surgery!  I know it's probaby TMI but thought I'd let you know what worked for me.  I plan on using it again in a few days. Hope it helps! Jacqui

Thanks guys! 

Prune baby food is good- get the kind with fiber...we tend not to eat enough fiber. I don't know if your tummy can handle either one, but warm lemon water in the A.M. cleanses both the kidneys and the bowel(only a TBS per cup & add some splenda if needed) and( here's the weird one) eat a pickle spear everynight....it's salty, but the vinegar does the trick. I've had IBS with constipation since I was a teen and coach of mine in college turned me on to the pickle thing....try a nibble first to make sure you won't get sicky on it. If you have a blockage, laxxitives might just make the rest go around it(so be careful) stool softeners usually take a few doses and days for me. Try liquid Mirelax(sp)-it's a oftener and a laxative....Hopefully, that helps. Angie P.S. are you getting your fluids?

I am getting in fluids, but probably not as much as I should.  I know it would help with constipation to increase the fluids.

Jenny, I had this in my post to Misty about the opposite problem: You may want to ask if you can take Citrucel too. It's a fiber caplet that is doing wonderful at adding some bulk for me. The bottle says you can take 2 up to 12 times a day. I take two 3-4 times a day. If I drop below that, the diarea is back. BTW...it is also good for those who have the opposite problem. So many times we get constipated because of not enough fiber in our diet. For us post-ops, we try to keep our carbs low..and fiber is non-digested carbs. The nut recommended at least 30 g of fiber per day for me. Once you can vary your diet more, Fiber One cereal (the original) has 28 grams of fiber for 1 cup. At one point, I put 1 cup of it in a baggie and would munch on it at night like it was popcorn. It really helped me to get the fiber in my diet. When I am 'normal', I have a big problem with constipation most of the time. Other than adding fiber & drinking lots of water, I also drink a cup of Smooth Move Herbal decaf hot tea when needed. I drink a cup before I go to bed and in the morning, I'm back being regular. Now..the prune juice or prunes...I never could choke that stuff down. Sherri