ugh..trip to ER - constipation/dehydration - this is long

so since surgery i've had MINOR issues with going to the bathroom - nothing that was unbearable. yesterday at work i had to go to the bathroom all day, and couldn't. felt lousy. tried when i got home for 45 minutes, nothing.

was SO uncomfortable i had my dad take me over to the ER. WORST experience of my LIFE. I will NEVER go there again - I would rather go to a vets office then go back to my local hospital.

So I went in, the waiting room was full - which is nothing new. an hour went by, started getting a little impatient because it hurt to sit, and i was uncomfortable. but i work at a doctors office and i know that things get crazy. there were also several babies in the ER that were there before me and still hadn't been called in. one lady went up screaming that shes been there with her 13 month old for 3 hours and hasn't been called in yet. then 2 people came in much later after us, 1 had a tick bite, the other had a tick still on him.....BOTH of them got in before any of us. 3.5 hours went by, still nothing, everyone who was there before me had been called in by now, and everyone who came in after me except 3 or 4 people had been called in. my mom finally went up and said something. 20 minutes later i was called in. finally got back there, took a doctor 20 minutes to come see me(again I know they are busy so I wasn't complaining finally that i got back there)  they administered an IV cause i said I may be dehydrated(i hadn't been drinking much recently, 32-40 ounces) so they took 2 blood samples, and put in an IV. by this point ic ould barely sit on the bed. they wanted a urine sample before they ran an abdomen xray. i said i couldn't pee, please to take a blood sample to run a pregnancy test and that i've had that  done before with no issues, and that there was absolutely NO way I could be pregnant. i had also told them i had gastric bypass on 4/12. so she went and asked the doctor he said no if i couldn't give a urine sample they would cath me. i flipped out and i was just so uncomfortable and miserable. he was being a total ass to me when he came in and seen me too. she said wait 25 minutes see if the IV helps with being able to pee. i still couldn't. she went back to the doctor and he called my surgeon. on call surgeon said DO the xray and give me a CT scan. xray came back fine, had to drink contrast for the ct scan, 2 hours later after contract took CT scan and nothing was wrong with any organs. finally by 630am(12 hours and 15 minutes LATER) he said everything was normal i was just dehydrated and to take milk of mag, and start taking miralax later.

got home by 645, finally had a BM by 730am. felt 100% better. moral of the story DRINK YOUR LIQUIDS!!!!

also anyone who has constipation issues how often do you take miralax. the bottle says no more than 7 days so i'm not sure how long i should continue to take it

How horrid for you, constipation im afriad is something we have to deal with. before surgery I went fine after no hope lol I cried one time as it was like giving birth to a huge baby. I take colace and benefibre every single day and it keeps me regular, no way will I go without them as I dont want to go threw birthing baby heads from my bottom lol Most posts I have read on here say they take 2 stool softners , Miralax and MOM so im sure it is only 7 days for those who do not have RNY.... Good Luck

Glad you feel better.  ER is not the best situation.  There are lots of over the counter stool softenters that you can take every day to help with constipation.  Colace is the ingredient to look for.  The store brands are the same as the name brands.  It comes in various doses, so start with a lower dose.

Man, that sucks, I hate going to the ER. Im glad you're feeling better.

 i had a similar ER situation due to constipation..internal hemrrhoids...fun..but on a lighter note your new avatar looks so good!!! =)

thanks =)

I am so sorry you had to deal with that. I have been horribly constipated too, and it is no fun!!!

I have been taking 2 stool softeners every day and 3 servings of benefiber EVERY DAY.... just to be safe.  I have been doing this for years before my WLS as I have to take extra iron and it binds me up something fierce.  My first question to my doc when I had my consult with him was "can I continue to take the stool softeners and benefiber post op?"  and he said to absolutely keep taking it post op.

 I take Miralax daily sometimes twice a day if things get rough.  I also take Fiber Choice 2 three times a day.  If I still have a problem I take MOM.  Think the doctor will have me doing this forever!  I don't care if it works.  I take lots of iron and calcium.
Good luck.

I take fiber and magnesium as supplement. we need magnesium. Calcium without magnesium will constipate me. Like there is no tomorrow.
If you are really constipated - taking warm water enema works great.

 I follow Vitalady's protocol, which is Miralax daily, 500 mg magnesium oxide twice a day, fiber and lots of water.  She may have something else in there, don't remember, but it works for me.  I was just thinking about how I haven't had to use milk of magnesia for a while, since I started doing this.
My doctor gives me a prescription for the Miralax, saves a lot of money.  It is supposed to be safe to use daily.