constipation help.....please - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

sbjim5755 · 04-10-2008, 02:50 PM

Hey everyone,

I am 8 days post belt lipectomy/tummy tuck and need some advice from someone. I had a hard time going after surgery and ended up using an enema after 6 days. I was able to go a little bit but got really dehydrated. So no more hard core laxatives. The antibiotic that I'm on won't let me take anything with magnesium in it so milk of magnesia is out too..
I think that the binders that I am wearing around my chest and stomach are making it worse. I don't want to go another 6 days and I have a real hard time pushing hard becasue of the incisions. Back in the day after my bypass I used a tea called Smooth Move....its a natural senna based laxatixe. Does anyone have any experience with this....maybe you went through the same thing after your TT, etc. Any advice and help would be appreciated.
My doc says that its pretty common after anesthesia and to drink prune juice...which makes me really want to vomit...so that is out. I have started eating more fruits and veges but if push comes to shove...so to speak...I want options that wont dehydrate me too much. Thanks

OsoDelDesierto · 04-10-2008, 04:24 PM

You might want to check out psyllium husks (one of the ingredients used in Metamucil - you can get them in health food stores, Whole Foods market, etc.) or something like Benefiber - you can mix them in water or a protein drink. A bit gritty, but definitely better than constipation. I'm not sure if they'll dehydrate you, but you'll need to drink a lot of water with them because the fiber will absorb water. Apart from that, I don't think either is particularly harsh. Good luck!

Mavisavis · 04-10-2008, 04:45 PM

This is by no means a medical answer...or meant to encourage you to eat something your pouch is touchy about....BUT, corn kinda does it for me.

Other than that, lots of liquids.

Corrine · 04-10-2008, 07:57 PM

Jim - I invented constipation!

At it's worse, Miralax was the solution for me. I'd been down the road of Benefiber, Psyllium, Senna and countless other things.

Milk of Magnesia was the first thing the doc suggested and that was at just over a week out of WLS. That worked well too.

Fortunately, I'm pretty much weaned off of most things. I still take 2tsp of Benefiber a day but that combined with Sunsweet prunes has gotten me back on track. I'm taking a good dose of iron at the moment because of a low count at my 6 month check-up. So far, I'm not having a problem.

MiladyB · 04-10-2008, 08:32 PM

Jim, I used Senna and it worked pretty good. If you are taking a fair amount of Vicodan for pain that will constipate you. I would suggest taking something that not only is a mild laxative but something that will also soften the stool like Colace. Also make sure you are getting your water in as much as possible.

C_Garcia · 04-11-2008, 12:33 PM

I haven't had any plastics, but after my bypass I was constipated for over a week. Miralax was what my doctor suggested and it's now available OTC; it's both a laxative and stool softener. Mix it with anything liquid - it's tastless and doesn't make anything gritty like some others I've had.

sbjim5755 · 04-11-2008, 01:39 PM

Thanks for all of the tips....fortunetely I was able to go today and feel much better. I took senna tea and a stool softener.

rappaport · 04-11-2008, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sbjim5755

Thanks for all of the tips....fortunetely I was able to go today and feel much better. I took senna tea and a stool softener.

so, you're saying everything came out good in the end?

Godsblessedme · 04-11-2008, 08:43 PM

david! haaa

glad everything came out well

Omaha Jim · 04-15-2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsoDelDesierto

You might want to check out psyllium husks (one of the ingredients used in Metamucil - you can get them in health food stores, Whole Foods market, etc.) or something like Benefiber - you can mix them in water or a protein drink. A bit gritty, but definitely better than constipation. I'm not sure if they'll dehydrate you, but you'll need to drink a lot of water with them because the fiber will absorb water. Apart from that, I don't think either is particularly harsh. Good luck!

With psyllium you have to increase your daily water - or they too will constipate. They are great as long as you get enough water. I take flax seed daily with my protein shake.