Do Not Read if poo talk grosses you out. haha.

Alright So I can't believe I'm going to publically talk about this issue but I do need some advice. I'm on day 16 of optifast. Drinking tonnnns of water but I'm not able to poo and when I do its bloody cause It's such a struggle to get it out. mega constipation. What can I take that would be allowed on Optifast? I'm thinking exlax is not the greatest idea. also, its pretty late so I can't call up HRRH. Anyone have any idea's I'd rather ask here than have the conversation with the people who work at my local shoppers drug mart.

 Some people have tried adding benefibre to optifast. Good luck.

 I think it is in your best interests to do a couple of things.  

Exlax or another drug of choice to get things moving.  It is only going to get worse if you don't act on it.

Get a suppository it will help get things moving and cause less bleeding.

Start by adding benefibre to  everything you drin****il you can talk to the nurse on Monday.  It will really help you.  Get the instant dissolving clear tasteless powder.  It really is tasteless and  you don't know it is in your drinks.

Good luck

CNC

In Ottawa, our materials provided siggested taking metamucil psyllium fibre pills with our Optifast. For immediate relief, go with a Ducolax suppository. That's what I was advised to use when faced with major post-surgical constipation. Half hour later...the earth moved and dawn broke. I think they are kept behind the counter at the pharmacy.

Yes I agree with all the other posts. I am proned to constipation so I have been adding benefibre to at least 2 drinks a day and I have been taking ducolax stool softeners. Once you are severely constipated though you need something at the site so I would go with either the Ducolax suppositories or perhaps even a fleet enema. I wish you luck there is nothing worse than severe constipation ;-(

OK well I know ALOT about this seeing I had the same issue 2 weeks ago after surgery. Benefibre did nothing for me...try Lax a Day. You can take it 2 x's a day until you go. Also the DUcolax suppository is a good idea. My stool was solid as a rock (not exaggerating) I ended up having a home enima (didn't work) then went to hospital to birth my blockage (worked in 10 mins) If your hospital is close and not a 8 hour event you could do that. I also had an xray to see how high the blockage was.
I was so afraid of the hospital enima because I too had bloody stool and it hurt from unsuccessful pushing.
Good luck....you can try any stool softener like colace or liquid lactulos (i take it and works)

I was told at the Ottawa clinic not to take any laxatives without approval.  They told me to take a stool softener (ducosate sodium) x2, daily and if there was no bowel movement for 2 days to add 30 ml of milk of magnesia; also to get in as much water as possible.  BTW, taking a fibre supplement can sometimes make the constipation worse (it does for me).

I had a slight problem when I was on optifast, and I took a dulcolax tablet - that's what they gave me for a bowel cleanse before my colonoscopy, so I figured it was okay.  And it worked.

i been on optifast for 20 days now and i went from being ok and goin on my own to diarherra and now back to having a hard time...tomorrow is my last day on optfast surgery is on monday...i used soft stool softer once while i was on it.....but really didnt have to bad of a time on it...i actually like the taste of it......lol....best of luck with your journey

Someone mentioned on here before to try the herbal tea from the balkbarn, So I tried it last night and within a couple of hours things were moving very smooth again !!!! I hope things start moving soon, I think we all have been through some sort of bowel birthing issue at one time or another....lol