Question about BMs.

I have been struggling with constipation and recently started taking a stool softener. It didn't appear to actually do anything for several days. Then on Tuesday of this week I had to go home from work for the afternoon because I had completely liquid BM. No cramps, no pain just like peeing out my butt. It was worse than when I was on clear fluids and a laxitive before my surgery. Then yesterday I was bound up solid again. This morning I had another hard solid and then less than 2 hours later I am back to complete liquid. I'm afraid to fart.  Is this normal? If so, how do other people cope?

I am working really hard to get in my fluids everyday but was still finding myself constipated and now I alternate between completely bound up to being chained to my toilet:(

Of course, the standard advice is to talk to your doctor...

One thing to keep in mind is that you aren't eating very much.  If you aren't eating much, you aren't going to poop much. 

Give your body some time to adjust to the new intake levels.  It'll probably adjust and you'll eventually land on your new "normal"  (which will NOT be like your bowel habits before surgery because your intake has changed significantly).  

I started taking a probiotic capsule and it has really seemed to help. I occasionally still have to take a dose of Miralax but not near as much.

Oh boy. I'm about to WAY over share, but if this will help someone, I'll do it...

Okay, I don't want to scare you, but I will tell you my experience before and after VSG.

Note: Talk to your doctor. You could just be having other issues that are NOT this, but I want to mention it.

About 2 years ago, I developed an anal fissure. An anal fissure is a tear in your, well, anus. It was from diarrhea during my period and then bouts of constipation. I ended up unable to heal it on my own and had surgery for it. No more problems. I was warned about the threat of impacted feces and other beautiful things, but it's life.

I was taking Miralax once per day at that point.

After the VSG, things went wonky. I stopped taking it and then went back to every other day. Everything was normal until a few weeks ago when all of a sudden something was very wrong. I'm back up to taking it once per day, I've had an impaction (which I removed myself since I was way too mortified to go to the ER for). You SHOULD NOT DO WHAT I DID. There, covered my butt (oy) there. Seriously though. I used a glove and a lot of lube and well... it was nasty.

The reason I tell you this is because impacted feces signs are that you have a large mass (the size of a baseball sometimes is NOT uncommon) that can NOT pass through. It's too big. If you do force it, it could cause another fissure (I now have a new one because I didn't follow the rules). BUT the other big sign is that because the mass cannot move is that the material behind it will liquify and work it's way around the mass and out - making it seem like you have diarrhea.

I'm NOT saying this is what is wrong with you, but you might want to pay attention.

Again, oversharing, but you can also push/prod the mass from your vaginal wall to coax it out if it's not too hard. Mine was WAY past that point last week.

Again, this could be totally unreleated, but I wanted to encourage you to do some research and pay attention and talk to your doctor. ((HUGS))

I want to thank you so very much for your oversharing!
Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you!

I called telecare and the nurse told me that I probably had exactly what you described. I Am on the waiting list to see my doctor. I am drinking lots of fluids and continuing to take my stoll softener and I have had some "movement."

I would probably be just suffering through it if it wasn't for your response.

Thanks again!

Oh good. It's embarassing and mortifying to tell people about the fissure experience (much less the latest fun thing - impaction)... BUT seriously, you do NOT want a fissure. It's hurts. I'm taking vicodin after using the bathroom now because of the pain. I'm hoping this one will heal on it's own, I have an appointment with my general surgeon about this issue next week and hope it's on it's way to healing at that point.

Seriously, you do NOT want a fissure. LOL.

Did she tell you to take Miralax? Can I seriously tell you to take it? It's the best stuff on the market, it's not habit forming, it's an amazing product. If you have caught it in time, it will help to soften that mass and you hopefully won't have to go through having it manually removed. I put a capful in my water bottle every single morning. It keeps things soft, but is NOT a laxative.

Also a mineral oil enema can help, although I've never had luch with enemas or suppositories, but YMMV.

Hang in there. Again, do everything you can to avoid a fissure. I would rather go through childbirth - the one without meds - than deal with this. LOL!