BM Help!!!!! **Warning: Bathroom talk**

Holy Crap (pun intended) - I need some advice.......   The past week, I've had the worst constipation and I need to know the best advice for us WLS folks to deal with this. I know dehydration plays a part in hard stools, but I am definitely staying hydrated.   And, I take a stool softener (Colace) every morning with my supplements - but, I've had a HORRIBLE time today and my last BM a couple days ago.    Anyway, I don't eat many veggies at all and I know that may be a factor - and, I eat a LOT of cheese (cottage cheese for bfast, string cheese for snacks, and shredded cheddar/jack on many things).    I've tried the chewable fiber tablets, thinking they might help - but, they are the foulest tasting things I've ever had, and I am looking for another solution. I have my 6 month post-op visit with my surgeon next week, and this is on my list to talk to him about - but, any advice you guys have would be great......     Thanks in advance, Chuck

More Veggies, more Fiber, more Water, more (mono-unsaturated) Fats, Less Cheese. It truly is a case of Ounce of Prevention worth a Pound of Cure. Once your pipes are "clogged" Milk of Magnesia seems to work. If they are totally locked, Fleet enema. Hope you are moving along fine soon. Best Wishes- Dx

Thanks Dx - i'm sure it's the combo of lots of cheese, and almost no veggies or fat....    I've been doing the "protein first, then veggies" thing to the extreme, and usually just leaving veggies out altogether.   Any thoughts on fiber supplement?   I'll get some MoM and keep on hand..... Chuck

I get mine from Foods- apples, celery, squash, beans, etc… And some cereal- Special K High Protein, all-bran, oatmeal, etc… But, a lot of folks swear by Bene-Fiber. (and Dave may be on to something with the coffee… It’s how I start every morning) Best Wishes- Dx

Chuck,

In addition to what Dx recommended:

1. Coffee upon arising

2. (with or followed by) Protein shake

3. Resistance training (really makes you go)

4. Bouncing exercise such as running, if your joints and back are well

Dave

Thanks Dave - i'm a coffee FREAK, so i'm already doing that.  My doc doesn't have me on protein shakes, but I'll ask him about it next week.  I'm doing a lot of walking, but no running - i'm still 375 and have horrible knee and back pain still.......   Chuck

MOM or fleets...or maybe 2...once you are clear...try to stay that....now you see why old folks obcess on their BM's...it's misserable/// I guess your gonna have to blow it out this time... fleets phopho soda works good too,,,,but these things are harsh best of luck Russ

ChuckNut, It happened to me too at about 6 months. Scared the sh*t out of me--wait, no it didn't! But boy was I scared that I had a serious post-op problem. Went to my pcp and was told it was just garden variety constipation. And I never did really figure out exactly what caused it. I had to take drastic measures . . . Do not wait to try some stool softener or even an enema. You don't want to end up with "internal concrete." After I got going again, our program nurse advised me to take a flax oil cap every morning and evening, drink lots of water, etc. I no longer take the flax oil because I've not had the problem since. I do like notdave suggests and start my day with coffee and later a protein shake. I sometimes add Benefiber to a couple cups of coffee but mostly try to eat some beans and a few nuts and very little cheese. The nurse told me we may never know exactly what affected me. I just hope whatever it was is gone for good!

hey guys - thanks for the great suggestions....  i wasn't as clear in my initial post (i was trying to avoid going into detail about my LOVELY experience this afternoon) - but, i "got things going" again today....   Let's just say i work in health care (and, have worked with the elderly), so i know a few tricks............... My BM's have just been getting more and more difficult the past couple weeks, so I'm looking for ideas to try and stay regular.   I added Benefiber to my shopping list and will pick some up tomorrow - i'm already doing the stool softener - so, hopefully the extra fiber will help keep things going regularly..... Thanks again guys,   Chuck

From my understanding Colace is very gentle and is not habit forming...you can take it several times a day if necessary.  Try taking it 2 or 3 times a day (breakfast, sometime at night and just before you go to bed)..and see if that helps.  If I don't eat enough fat, I start getting "sharp" BMs.....so on those rare occassions...I pop 2 colaces about 12 hours before I get up in the morning (if you read the label it should produce a BM wihtin 12 hours)  If you wake up at 7 am ..take 2 at 7 pm.  At the least this will help until you see your doctor. Scott