Question about Miralax & stool softeners

Mahalo F.
on 12/10/16 12:28 pm, edited 12/10/16 2:14 pm

Hello everyone!

25 days to RNY. 

Just a few questions...

Do you take stool softeners regularly?

If so when do you start them?

Do you take a laxative regularly?

I know that the Americans take Miralax?

I guess we Canadians would take Restoralax?

When do they start? 

Would adequate abouts of fluids be enough?

A friend of mine recommended doing a bowel prep 48 hours prior to surgery. He said the narcotics made him constipated and straining to have a bowel movement made his life a living hell.

What are your thoughts?

Thank you

Sandra

Mahalo

peachpie
on 12/10/16 2:04 pm - Philadelphia, PA
RNY on 04/28/15

You'll see many here *****ly of miralax, stool softeners etc. earliest I'd suggest taking them is 3rd post op day-- but ask your doc. 

I luckily don't need any. I'm regular without any aids- but I seem to be the exception not the norm. I can count on one hand the # of times I was woefully constipated. Not enough to dictate a daily aid.

5'6.5" High weight:337 Lowest weight:193/31 BMI: Goal: 195-205/31-32 BMI

Karen9849
on 12/10/16 2:31 pm

Hi I'm  3 months post op and take 1/2to a full cap of Miralx daily in a glass of crystal light.  I started about a month post op but would suggest you start right away when you get home.  it takes a few days to work into your system and will then keep you regular. after I got home (6 days in the hospital, due to open surgery) my doctor gave me colace, tasted horrific  so I did not take it as I should.  I became constipated  and the vets told me to take the mirolax.  I've  never has a problem since. Good luck with your surgery.  I'm down 50 lbs in 3 months.

RNY 9/14/16  - Start Weight 192, Goal Weight 125

wannabesupermomm
y

on 12/10/16 2:45 pm, edited 12/10/16 6:45 am - New York, NY
RNY on 10/25/16 with

I too have not needed to take it everyday, but I'm just shy of 2 months out, maybe I haven't done the time yet :P Anyway, I did drink like a 1/3 of a capful of miralax during one terrible bout of constipation I had right after coming home from the hospital, but have been good and regular since. Water and eating appropriately for me is key! 

conazza
on 12/10/16 4:16 pm
RNY on 09/23/16

They gave me miralax in the hospital and told me to take it everyday until I went and then just as needed. I don't ttake it every day but usually every two or three days works. Everyone is different! Good luck to you. 

Lap band: 2006. Revision to RNY 9/23/2016

8/2/17: Goal Reached: 135lbs. & 115lbs lost (5'3")

Pre-op: 250, SW 242, CW 125, GW 135

Pre-op: 9lb M1: 20lb M2: 11.5lb M3: 11.9 M4: 13.4 M5: 10.8 M6: 10.2 M7: 8.1 M8: 8.4 M9: 6.5 M10: 5.7 M11: 3.5 M12: 4.3

NYMom222
on 12/10/16 10:25 pm
RNY on 07/23/14

I really had no problem until about 5 months out...and then had some of the worst constipation of my life a couple of times, so decided to join the daily Miralax club. Every morning in my coffee. Sometimes twice a day. I tried colace type stools softeners but found they did work as well, and had unwanted side effects like gas and cramping.... I get none of that with Miralax.

I would not do a bowel prep unless recommended by your surgeon...

Cynthia 5'11" RNY 7/23/2014

Goal reached 17 months. 220lb Weight Loss
Plastic Surgery Dr. Joseph Michaels - LBL and Hernia Repair 2/29/16, Arm Lift, BL, 5/2/16, Leg Lift 7/25/16

#lifeisanadventure #fightthegoodfight #noregrets

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aesposito
on 12/11/16 6:33 am

Thankfully I am one of the rare patients who was almost never constipated post rny.... Then again, the opposite is not always fun either. That is because of a combination of things... the fistfuls of magnesium citrate I have to take daily because I always run a deficit is a main reason though.

Many surgeons require a bowel prep prior to surgery (mine did not).  ask him or her what they want you to do.

My daughter does take Miralax every few days for an unrelated condition.... A capful in G2... keeps her moving fine.

 

audrey

Highest weight: 340
Surgery weight: 313
Surgery date: 10/24/11
Current weight 170... 170 pounds lost!!!!

I am not a doctor, but I play one at work.

catwoman7
on 12/11/16 7:12 am
RNY on 06/03/15

yes - Restoralax is the Canadian version of Miralax.  Same thing.

 

most people do seem to have constipation problems.  Stool softeners weren't that effective for me, but they are for some.  I take magnesium every day.   Until a week or so ago,  I also took Benefiber every day, plus Miralax 2-3 times a week.  But I switched over to Metamucil (instead of Benefiber) last week, and it works much better than Benefiber (at least for me...), so I may not even need the Miralax anymore.  But we'll see..    (I was told not to take Metamucil after surgery - to take Benefiber instead because it doesn't expand in your stomach like Metamucil does.  But I checked with the surgeon's office before I made the switch last week, and the PA said it was fine this far out (18 months post-op).  It's evidently more of a risk when you're healing....)

RNY 06/03/15 by Michael Garren (Madison, WI)

HW: 373 SW: 316 GW: 150 LW: 138 CW: 163

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