mylighthouse

Further down in the post I did mention that I am taking a probiotic. Also, that I am getting 2-1/2 quarts of water, but have gone to 3 and will work my way up to 4 quarts soon.

Hello friends, I would like to get some feedback from those of you who are several months out that are dealing with chronic constipation. Not the occasional episode of constipation, but severe cases. I have had chronic constipation since my sleeve surgery on November 14, 2016. Prior to surgery, my bowels were normal. I have tried prunes, prune juice, beefing up fiber intake, etc. For the past 4 Months I have tried two different prescriptions, Amitiza and Linzess. I have also had a colonoscopy and spent plenty of time with my gastro doctor. I would say that I have made at least 5 or 6 trips to the emergency room because of severe abdominal pain within the last 7 months. Each time resulting in x rays and/or scans that revealed severe constipation as the source of my pain. Currently, daily Miralax and Linzess are not helping me have a bowel movement. I feel like I am throwing away more than 60 bucks a month for no relief. The only thing that empties my bowels is a bottle of magnesium citrate, and I don't feel that it is safe to drink every week. My gastro doctor says just keep doing the Linzess and Miralax twice a day. Lots of constant pain and endless constipation. Can anyone else identify with me? Has severe ongoing constipation been a problem for anyone else? If so, what has helped you? Thanks for sharing.

Going to start the juices tomorrow. Trying a 4 ingredient one to start: spinach, cucumber, banana and a little water. Sounds like an easy recipe. Thank you for the good suggestion.

Thank you.

Puh-leeze.

Star Dust, From what my surgeon told me, and also from things that I've read, you can have surgery to remove adhesions. The problem is, that it won't take long before they come back. Doesn't sound like a good solution at all. When I had my open hernia surgery in June, my surgeon told me that he was able to break some of the adhesions apart. I had to have my wls so that I could lose 100 pounds and get my hernia taken care of. Plus I am 46 and at 334 pounds, the health problems were starting. I am glad I had the wls, even though I have the chronic constipation. Hop over to the thread that I started a few weeks ago, I believe it's titled "9 months out with severe costipation". Read through it and you will find some good suggestions for constipation, especially from my friend Berry78. I am going to do some of the things she suggested. They might help you.

Thank you for the suggestions, Berry. Good ideas for sure. I have cut back on my protein shake to 6oz a day, but as per your suggestion, I am cutting it altogether. I had been steadily losing weight by keeping my protein over 100 grams a day, but I am cutting back on that. I'm shooting for 80 grams a day. I get a good amount of fat, between 50-80 grams a day. I will add more. Another good idea. No where near 4 quarts water a day right now, maybe 2 and 1/2. Upping that and going to shoot for 3 starting tomorrow. Also don't do the enemas often enough. I buy them in a 2 pack, and have one leftover. Time for another one tomorrow. Spinach, have some in my fridge. Husband just bought bananas today. I have a blender, so I'm good to go. As far as the probiotic goes, I started Phillips Colon Health about 2 months ago. I really thought it was making a small difference after week 2, but that didn't last. Spent some time looking at different ones, I don't really think the one I am taking is the best. I believe it only has 3 strains and maybe not enough cfu's. I don't really understand all that and am trying to learn more about it so I can take a good probiotic. If you have one to suggest, I would appreciate it. Again, thank you and I am going to see what happens.

Thank you all for the suggestions, I believe I have tried everything suggested at this point. Unfortunately, we think my chronic constipation is related to all of my previous 5 abdominal surgeries and the fact that they cause adhesions. Apparenty, constipation and adhesions go hand in hand. I had a partially blocked bowel last week thanks to ongoing chronic constipation. Still searching for help and hoping that there is light at the end of the tunnel, as chronic constipation in combination with scar tssue, nerve pain and adhesions keeps me constantly in bed. Not enjoying life at this moment. Open to any other suggestions. Thanks, friends.

Hello, I feel your pain. I too, suffer with chronic constipation. I had my sleeve in November of last year. I had problems with constipation before, but not to this extent. I have tried so many things, fiber, miralax, tea, Fleet enemas, and 2 different prescriptions for constipation. I have been to the ER 4 times with severe abdominal pain over the past several months, with xrays and ct scans, only to find out that I am severly backed up. How embarrasing. I am currently taking 2 doses of Miralax daily and a probiotic called Phillip's colon health. I have been doing this for 2 months. The combination of the two might of helped a little a few weeks ago, but for the past few weeks I have been in severe pain with only a couple of bowel movements. I have drank 3 bottles of magnesium citrate, spaced a few days apart and the only one that worked was the 3rd bottle last week. Last week, the constipation was so bad that I had a partially blocked bowel. Horrible nausea and child bearing type pain. Now several days past that and I am having the same awful pain and constipation. My surgeon and gastroenterologist are well aware of my problems. Yes, constipation can be an issue for some people after the sleeve. Also, if you have had other abdominal surgeries like I have (hystertectomy, colon resection, Wls and my most recent, abdominal open hernia), they are known for causing adhesions. After much research, but also coming from my surgeon, adhesions are the likely cause for the constipation. If you haven't tried the enema, I suggest that and a bottle of magnesium citrate. If you think you may have adhesions from previous abdominal surgeries, then find out more info on that. Be sure and talk to your doctor about the constipation. I hope you find something that works for you.

You look super! Awesome job and cogratulations.

Also, if you are just craving the flavor of a good cup of coffee, you can go with decaf. That is what I did for the first couple of months before going to regular coffee.

I was cleared to drink caffeinated coffee at 3 months. I started with 1 cup a day at the 3 month mark, did fine with it. Now at over 10 months out, I drink 2-3 cups a day with no problems.

I'm 10 months post op. During the first several months, everytime I tried scrambled eggs, they made me feel very sick. Hard boiled and fried eggs go down without a problem. Chicken breast meat does not work well for me, chicken thighs go down great. Baked or grilled hamburger patties make me feel sick, can't handle but 1 bite. As far as meats go, the easiest and my favorite is homemade meatloaf.

I am 10 months post op and have lost 100 pounds since surgery date. I have never worried about the fat intake. I get anywhere from 60-80 grams of fat a day. Good fats. I eat quite a bit of almonds which are high in fat. It has worked for me.

Yes, so very common not to have a BM for a week or sometimes longer after surgery. I didn't have my first one until post op day 10. The fleet enema is a good idea, and I checked with my surgeon, and he told me that I could also safely take MOM and Miralax, which I did.

Holy cow! So your doctor expects you to have lost 111 pounds in a 6 month period. I haven't heard of a doctor expecting such a massive amoùnt of weight to be lost in such a short amount of time. I honestly think that is ridiculous. It sounds like you are doing everything to follow the plan. I would not pay too much attention to trying to lose 60 more pounds over the next 3 months. Just keep doing what you are doing. You have already lost quite a good chunk of weight in the first 3 months and you should not be surprised if weight loss slows down a little, or if you have stalls along the way. Cogratulations on the weight you've already lost.

Thank you and I wish you the best and hope that you will find relief soon from the pain in your knees.

Hello, I have arthritis in both of my knees and my left knee, more than my right was always giving me severe pain before my surgery. The last time I saw the doctor for my knees was about a year ago. I used to go in and get a cortizone shot every few months in my left knee. My doctor told me that at 46 years, I am too young, but will eventually need a knee replacement. The xrays I had on my knees a couple of years ago showed that most of the cartilage was gone. My doctor told me that dropping some weight would help with knee pain. So, last summer I was weighing in at my all time high weight of 334 pounds. I had my sleeve surgery in November. I started to notice that the pain in my knees was not as bad after I lost about 30 pounds. Then after that, the more and more I lost, the pain got less and less. Now at 208 pounds, I can tell you that I no longer have knee pain AT ALL! Losing weight helps take the pressure off of your knees, it's amazing.

Hello, My weight on Nov 14, 2016 (the day of surgery) was 306. I am currently at 209 pounds and it's been 10 months since my sleeve surgery. Last month I lost almost 15 pounds. I am 5'7" and 46 years old. My doctor says he expects me to reach 160 pounds at around the 2 year mark. So I sould continue to lose weight even though the rate at which I lose it will slow. I am thrilled with the weight loss and if I didn't lose anymore, I would actually be okay with that.

Wow. Surprised at all of the people that can handle the spicy food. I am the opposite of all of you. I am a longtime lover of spicy food. I am the person who had to have sriacha AND fresh jalepenos with everything. It was crazy. Well, i had my sleeve surgery over 9 months ago, and I am here to tell you that I can no longer eat spicy foods. I find that it burns my mouth/tongue like crazy, that it burns in the stomach and chest. Please take it slowly. Also, give your tummy time to heal.

Yes, I am 9 months post op and I have had chronic constipation since surgery. I have rushed to the ER at least 4 times over the past several months because of severe abdominal pain. Scans, xrays, etc. They always find that I am severely backed up and that is the root of my ongoing pain. My surgeon told me that some people do experience ongoing costipation after sleeve surgery. I am currently taking Linzess, which my gastro doctor has me on. It is a strong dosage and it is not heping. I was also told to take 2 full doses of Miralax a day, so I am doing that. Nothing is really heping me. I just started taking a probiotic called Phillip's Colon Health. Many people who are taking it say that it helps keep them regular. I hope it will help. Sorry to hear that you are struggling with this too. I hope it gets better for you. If you haven't told your doctor about it, then please do.

Hello, I am just over 9 months out and i get severe nausea everday, several times a day. I vomit a couple of times a week, especially if i haven't taken a Zofran soon enough after the nausea sets in. My surgeon is aware of the nausea problem and he told me that it can be a problem for some people after the sleeve. I have been dealing with it since about the 3rd month post op. Anything can trigger mine, sometimes food, sometimes water, and sometimes it just comes on suddenly without drinking or eating. I just hope it goes away soon. Sorry to hear that you are dealing with it too, and hope it gets better for you.

HW (end August 2016): 334 lbs SW: 312 lbs CW: 211 lbs Surg date: 11/14/16 51 more pounds to go! High protein, low carb. Finally worked my daily calorie intake to 1,200 a day, and it is really making the weight drop off the past two months. For a couple of months prior to that, I couldn't get my calories above 900 a day, and as a result, I was not losing any weight. Congratulations to everyone!

Thank you temislady, I have never heard of the teas, I am going to seek them out.

Thank you for the good idea with the meal plan change. I think I am going to give it a go. I think the addition of beans would definitely be good too. No, I have not mentioned to my surgeon that many times I am only able to get in 2 oz. of protein.... I should let him know.