I need some perspective please....

Hello!

I am almost 8 weeks out since VSG Jan 8.  Weight loss has been great, eating all different types of foods, getting in LOTS of water, fluids, etc.  I've been posting lately about major constipation issues, rather, impaction issues.  I have tried a variety of "remedies" over the past 7 weeks.  Saturday (tomorrow), once again, will be 4 days since my last "movement", this, after taking MOM 3 times in 3 days, and taking full doses of stool softener for 3 days.  If this combination of medication doesn't "move me", then what on  earth is wrong???  It is very anxiety-provoking, because I DO NOT want to endure disimpacting myself ONE MORE TIME!!  This is not healthy or right.  I have an appointment with my doctor - soonest one is March 12.  But really, what is he going to do or say to help with this issue??

Recovery and everything has been lovely so far, but this particular issue is making me go crazy!  I worry that there is something seriously wrong inside and I really have no idea, at this point, how to make it better.  I had NO physical health issues pre-op, so now I'm getting very frustrated that I have a health issue, NOW, post-op. At times, it makes me think "what have I done to myself".

Help?!

I definitely hear what your saying ..been there myself... someone else posted on here about a product called Cleanse More from shoppers drug mart. I think it may be something you may want to try. 

best of luck 

TC Donna

Hi Donna:

Is it a drink or pills or what type of a thing is it?  Did you try it?

Kerry

If you are taking 1500 mg of calcium like most places recommend you are going to be bound up and if you didn't take it pre-op that is likely the culprit.  A lot of calcium supplements add in magnesium so it helps with not being so constipated. You may want to check your calcium supplements and see if there is any magnesium and if not, then add some in.  I believ e the ratio is 2 parts calcium to one part magnesium.  Taking MOM once a day is not going to work if you are backed up, you are to take 1 tbsp every hour on the hour until you go.  Stool softeners have never helped me with constipation long before wls.  My sister has serious constipation issues that no GI doc can help her with so they have suggested she take Restoralax daily. Her GI specialist told her it's the only thing that will keep her moving without creating lazy bowel.  I'd get cleaned out first with whatever way works for you then add in a dose of that daily and see. 

These are the ones that I bought.  They are large pills but you can chew them as they have no real taste just chalky texture.

Funny you should say this.  When I talked to the Nut/Nurse last week, I said exactly the same thing.  Even though they both told me to cut my calcium back, I actually have already stopped taking it altogether, for the interim at least.  I knew calcium did this, and I know Iron does it too...so I stopped taking vits with iron in them as well....

I didn't know I could keep on taking MOM until I go - this will be my project today...and then I will look at getting Restoralax...

Thanks so much for hearing my repeated vents on this!...lol

You can check with your pharmacist about the MOM but it seems we have all been told by our centres to take 1 tbsp every hour until we go.  Not exactly sure if there is a maximum as usually after a few doses you start going.  You really need to get cleaned out well and then stay regular as can be and that may not be going every day.  Sometimes early out normal for us is every few days but you are not constipated, just don't go that often, huge difference.  Once you are back to going regularly, I'd add in the calcium with magnesium and not sure which iron you are taking but I avoid iron in my multi since we won't absorb it anyway since there is calcium in the multi as well, and take Feramax instead as it doesn't constipate me.

Oh no! 

Like Tracey indicated, for me personally, taking the calcium supplement is what hardens things for me.  I am able to solve that by eating a serving of prunes as my evening snack. 

Good luck in finding that combination that works for you.

Judy

Also, in your present state, I would really suggest a gylcerin suppository.  It will help when you are bound up. 

you need to add some fibre to your diet. use a couple of tablespoons of bran (not bran buds or bran flakes, but the bran you buy to make bran muffins, in the baking aisle) to your yogurt or applesauce or whatever.

take lactulose on a daily basis.

prunes

I actually discussed this with my own GP Wednesday.

I'm not having the issues you are but I do have my own issues with it (just not enough to post)... Too dry, and too much bulk even keeping my fat a touch higher. Becoming less frequent and going longer between (up to 4 days) unless I keep the fat at 30-35 g a day and that's not always possible. I am not comfortable boosting my fat over that amount but have a couple just to make things... Move.

The good news is the scale drops drastically when things... Move.

I am a bit frustrated with my lack of options because of my reaction to certain forms of sugar and artificial sweeteners, etc. and most of the products have too much for my system to handle. Not to mention the brand names (benefibre and metamucil) caused extremely uncomfortable gas when I used them in the past.

She suggested going to the bulk barn and getting the Psyllium fiber and starting with a teaspoon in water, and then when my body has adjusted to that moving it up from there as it is what is used in metamucil without the amount of sugar, etc. and of course she appealed to my inner frugal girl by saying it is much less expensive this way.

Shell