Is this a side effect of coffee?

At one year out I resumed 2 cups of coffee in the morning.  It seems when I started drinking coffee again my bathroom problems just disappeared.  Pre surgery I drank coffee every morning and went to the bathroom every morning.  Post surgery I stopped coffee and had to take colace, smooth move, mirilax ect. and struggle daily with the bathroom.  I even kept a chart of when I went so I would be sure to take something to help it along.  Now, after resuming coffee for one month, everything seems back to normal.  Is this just my imagination?  I hope it keeps up.  Mirilax is expensive.   Doing the Happy Dance.  Did this happen to anyone else?

Coffee has a similar effect on me hope it continues to work for you. 

I've been drinking coffee since surgery. I've had some bathroom problems along the way, but for the most part I'm regular.  I rarely have to take anything other than the benefiber I use every day. I have heard through the years about "coffee kicking in", but have no clue if coffee helps or not.

Glad you are having an easier time. The few times I have been constipated, I was completely miserable. 

Coffee does, indeed, help things move along. It is recommended to a variety of people including those who have had a spinal cord injury because their system works differently after injury. 

Why does it help? Well, being warm stimulates the GI tract, as does the caffeine. Contrary to inaccurate information that has been touted for years (and is still being spewed out by many physicians), caffeine does NOT dehydrate you, so it is also a liquid that is moving things along your GI tract. Another great thing about caffeine is it actually HELPS with memory (that is based on neuroscience, not just my opinion). 

So drink up and enjoy your coffee! 

I find sugar free or near free hot chocolate does the same thing for me. I was warned by my surgery team that coffee may increase the chance of developing and ulcer. I am having acid reflex problems now in the evening and that is the only problem I am having now almost two years out. Life is good and my weight is stable up a couple of pounds and then down a couple. I am so happy I  had the surgery. 

Same warning...we were told the acid in coffee can thin the stoma lining risking an ulcer to form.  I would love to hear someone dispute that claim cause I like to drink coffee.

So interesting...my surgeon has no problem with us drinking caffeine and he is the current Director of the American Board of Surgery, past President of Society of Gastrointestinal and Endsocopic Surgeons (SAGES), American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA), and Society of Clinical Surgery and he is also the current President of Fellowship Council, SAGES Foundation. Additionally, he is a Professor of Surgery, Vice-Chair, Department of Surgery, and Residency Training Program Director, Surgery. I don't give that information to say "ohhh, look at my surgeon," rather to say, I trust his opinion. training, and medical knowledge, so if he says caffeine is ok, I'm going with that.

As always, everyone needs to follow their own plan and do what is best for them. I can see if you were drinking a lot of coffee all day long the acid might be problematic and increase a risk in ulcer formation, especially if you were prone to ulcers before surgery. 

My surgeon does not have these amazing credentials (though I think he IS amazing) and also says tha the has no issues with caffeine and/or coffee. My husband was given it on his first tray post op. I was not in the hospital long enough to get a tray, but it is standard at the hospital I used for bariatric patients as well. 

This morning we've already had two pots (12 cups each) of coffee and I'll turn my espresso machine on in a few minutes to have a double and then I am done for the day. My husband will drink another pot between now and bedtime. 

No issues for either of us, but he's 18 months and I am 10 months, so take that into account. 

Larry

I've had severe GERD for 16 years and take Nexium. Losing 125 lbs has decreased my reflux, but not cured it. I also used to elevate the head of my bed 45 degrees and now it is down to 15 degrees. Caffeine and peppermint are irritants to the gastric sphincter. I avoid both after 4pm. Chocolate also contains caffeine. This seems to help, since I don't wake up with a sore throat any more.

I love coffee ... I LOVE my coffee and prolly drink a bit too much of it ... we grew up picking coffee beans and helping grandma drying, shelling and roasting back in Panamá... it does not affect my bathroom habits though however if it works for you in that department I would be doing the Happy Dance too.... It seems that my bowels forgot what peristalsis is since surgery ... I have to resort to good ole MOM on occasion as nothing else seems to work as well for me ... but then again every body is different...