Bowel Issues...Not a pretty story.. reader beware!!!!

I had my surgery (RNY)  1/10/13... yup 6 days ago...The surgery itself was a cake walk.

Took me about 2 yrs with some health issues to get to surgery. I researched the heck out of this people and read everything I could find...The only thing I never got was the major issue of the post op issues with bowels... Now I had 3 kids Natural childbirth, and this has been 100x worst than any of that... I came home from Hospt. late Sun, 1/13/13, after hours n hours attempting to have a bm, even after an ennema...... I made over 10 to 15 trips to the bathroom from 5 pm Sunday to Monday 11pmish..... I swear to god I though I was trying to pass a mack truck..... Finally some relief, in hospital I consumed mostly only water, as the broth gave me a headache, and the jello... which shocked the hell out of me was not sugar free.

I spent two weeks on the Optifast I was advised by my doctor to drink lots of water to assist the Optifast. I drank in excess of 2L of water a day, and am proud to say I never ate as much as a crumb of food. I even sat at the table New Years Day while my family ate dinner and I had my shake.

I weighed 284.8 on 27th Dec/12 first day of Opti, Jan10/13 surgery day I weighed 267.6 ... 17.3 lbs gone.. I felt like a million bucks.  I wish now that I had taken something ... to clean out my bowels before surgery.... I know the Optifast was shall we say ... stuck and hanging out in there just waiting lol.... I suffered like crazy... and am still not out of the woods.

Here at home I attempted some broth but it again gave me a headache not to mention burned like heck upon expel... so i have stuck to water and  SF Jello for now. 

Anyone have any input for me would greatly appreciate it... am considering a water only day to see if I can cleanse my system... the diarrhea is unreal and very uncomfortable to say the least. I am not sure if the prior eposide cause some internal issues for me thus making the diarrhea more painful. 

Thanks all for listening. Lil.

Miralax worked wonders for me since I've had a few constipation issues as of late. For me, it took a couple of days before things got moving again. I'm taking it a few times a week to encourage things along. LOL I also take Colace a few times a week to help out. 

It can take a few days(up to a week) for your bowels to wake up after surgery.  Trying to force it isnt good for you. Take MoM, fiber you add to water, Stool softeners (2 every day). If you do the MoM do a dose every few hours till you go.

Dont stress this is normal.

I had surgery on 9/25/12.  My last "normal" BM was on 9/24/12...until yesterday!  I've tried softeners (which my surgeon said to stop taking), hot drinks, increased fluids, increased activity, change of diet to include more fiber...all sorts of things!  My last surgeon visit, he recommended Metamucil daily, NUT consult to discuss diet, and MOM to "get things started".  I took 2 doses of MOM, skipping a day in between, started with Metamucil daily, talked with NUT about diet and started with more fibrous foods (you cannot do this until later) but I did FINALLY have a fairly "normal" BM. I will continue with the Metamucil daily, and MOM just as needed.  My NUT and surgeon both discouraged Miralax or any laxative to be taken routinely because it doesn't allow for normal peristalsis (or muscle movement of the bowels)...you may become dependent on them?  Benefiber is another daily fiber that they suggested.   
I've had some constipation, throughout the years, but NOTHING like this! 
Also, I read my surgical report on my insurance page after my surgery.  It said that the nursing staff reported good bowel movement activity...I only had a small amount of gas that wasn't passed but a few times.  No one asked about it, either.  I had no BM while in the hospital.  Unless I was asleep, no one listened to my bowel sounds, either. 


 

I had a bowel prep to do the day before surgery.  It was horrible and almost made me throw up multiple times having to drink a gallon of the nasty stuff.  I guess it must have worked, I have had minimal constipation issues.  I do take a stool softener daily and my protein shake has fiber in it, plus fiber from fruit, veggies and beans.

When you are further out from surgery it should improve.  I am 4 months out.

I'm just curious if you are able to drink a small amount of prune juice daily. I'm still waiting on approval for surgery but trying to find out all information beforehand.

I do understand that you have diarrhea and not constipation.   If that is the case - consider drinking something mild - like chicken broth... and if the runs continue for an additional day - call the doc, or go to ER if you feel you are getting dehydrated. Very important - since dehydration may need to potassium imbalance and that may kill you. 

If you can - call the doc or go to see him. Diarrhea after RNY is not typical.

My surgery was 12-21-12 and I have had diarrhea ever since.  Some days are more solid than others but still diarrhea.  I have been eating a lot of beans on the pureed diet so I am getting fiber.  I did end up dehydrated a week after the surgery and was able to work my way out of it on my own with out IV's so make sure you drink all the fluids that you can.

Beside beans - what else do you eat or drink? a lot of people become lactose intolerant after RNY and that may cause runs...

Even yogurt - that is suppose to be lactose free - may upset the very fine balance at the moment.

You may try just clean liquids - like herbal teas, or chicken stock. 1-2 days (beside making you hungry) should not affect you.  Also - check if any drinks your drink have any Sugar alcohol - or if the vitamins you take has that (some peopel get supper sensitive to sugar alcohols)

One way to make sure is to eliminate any traces of dairy from your diet. Try for a few days - and hope that was it. In a mean time - call your doc to schedule to be tested for C-dif bacteria, and blood work including potassium and other minerals.  

 

I feel your pain!
I had surgery on Dec 19, 2012 and can't seem to get things moving. I was on optifast for three weeks before surgery. Constipation started st the end of the second week of optifast. Have tried MoM, senekot with minimal effect. Neither was able to clean me out fully went to the hospital for an incision issue and they X-ray's my bowels. They said they were indeed full, but no blockage. The gave me golightly which provided a bit of relief but not enough. Now I'm trying daily collace, three days now .. Again minor results. Super frustrating. My Nut dies not want me to take a fire supplement yet. I'm back to work tomorrow so hoping my increased activity will get things moving! Luckily I have not had any cramping or abdominal pain.