New Band= Constipation

[bandaide 1]

:confused:This is a TMI subject, so please forgive me. I had surgery 3 days ago and since being home haven't had a bowel movement. It wouldn't be a problem, but the urge is there and so was the substance, but no production. I had not had a bowel movement since before surgery, so I was due. I called my dr and he asked me to take the max dose of Miralax and if no production a teaspoon of mineral oil the next morning. The Miralax worked- per say....it gave me diarrhea. =( Literally like explosive type (once again I'm sorry). I'm consuming as much liquids as I can and I haven't taken any of the pain meds since I left the hospital. Not that I'm trying to be brave, but the pain from the actual surgery isn't a bad as the gas and built up BM. I walk serveral times a day, in and out of my home, but I still have this feeling of abdominal fullness. I have the gurlgling sounds in my tummy like things are awake, but should I have had a normal passage and not diarrhea? Also, it's not easy to take those really deep breaths- is this "normal"? :crying:Please help, any contribitions are appreciated. Oh and by the way I was banded on Feb 26, 2010. Thanks everyone~

[dees-only-girl 0]

Wow...sounds like it is me talking. Everything is identical except the answer that your MD office gave you. I did not call my MD office yet, but I did get some benefiber today. No results yet and I have taken it 3 times in diluted apple juice, but.....I will be looking to see if you have found the magic fix, and I will let you know if I do. I do need a fix now, but I would like to know if this is going to be a forever thing to be concerned about.

[Northern Mist 2]

I didn't go until day 6......and then I bounced back and forth between can't go and then can't stop! Fun.

My doctor said Metamucil (sp?) will help but drinking and moving is a must too.

Breathing deep was very hard for the first few days and then it got a little better each day but it did take a while to feel normal again.

Good luck.

[chinchilla mom 0]

I helped things along on day 5 with some milk of magnesia - which worked like a charm but was so foul tasting - so gross.

Water and walking was also a big help for me. Good luck.

[giggles&curls 0]

Try getting some gas-x strips for the gas pain. That has helped me a ton. I've had the opposite problem of you though! But I've read that it can go both ways after surgery. I think it was 4 days after surgery that I finally was able to go. I couldn't take really deep breaths either for the first few days as well. I remember in the post op anesthesia room I was doing shallow breathing because my shoulders hurt so bad when I did regular breathing.

[robin32470 0]

I got banded on 2/15/10 and it was 6 days before I had a bowel movement. I think a lot of it is caused by the pain meds you are on. Once I came off of that no more problems.

[LollyMoe 1]

Okay, I'll tell my gross story...so forgive the bluntness. I took the pre-op Miralax and it didn't do a thing. Not one drop of poop! Five days post-op, I still hadn't gone. I've been drinking my liquids, walking everyday, using Gas-X strips.Finally, late one night, I felt the urge. So, here I sit on the potty, feeling like I have to past poop but I have a rip roaring blockage. I yell for hubby (b/c he's asleep) to come help me. By this time, I'm in so much pain that I think my rectum has stretched to the size of a vollyball. Poor hubby has to manually try to get the first part of the dry stool to come out. He got one tiny little pat of stool to past. While he was checking the medicine cabinet to see if I had any mineral oil or something that would help, I strained to the point of almost fainting. FINALLY, the stool started coming out and then I thought it wasn't going to ever end! The old saying " she's full of s**t" was very apt that night. I'd rather have all four of my babies at once than to experience something like that again. It was terrible. Thank goodness hubby & I were in the medical field for many years and this didn't embrass us a bit.

The next day, hubby purchased some colace pills and some MOM. I'll never take MIRALAX again! My body doesn't like it. Once I got on regular foods my nut suggested that I eat a peeled apple each day, a bowl of Fiber One Cereal, and if needed, I could still take a colace at night. Everything works fine now as long as I do the above.

Now, you have to understand something. I am almost 68 years old and have NEVER EVER had problems with my bowels. I was always as regular as clockwork at least once a day. However, now I have to take the measures I mentioned in order for everything to work properly. So, in closing, I just think that some people have problems and others don't. We are all different...even with our bowl habits.

[bandaide 1]

I am beginning to find relief in apple juice and warm tea- my mom who isn't a band patient reminded me that when we were kids that she use to give us a sippy full of apple juice and whatever warm liquid we would accept. I spoke to my dietician who reminded me that everything does take time. She was disappointed that my Dr. didn't allow for "natural" remedies (ie coffee, warm tea etc) before resorting to a supplement. I am NEVER taking the Miralax ever ever again- not that it tasted badly, but the result as you all know was not what I wanted. I'm still feeling "full" alot even though I've not really taken in that much- but it is getting better. I find that I am sleeping more through the night on my side and not having as many abdominal pains....thank gosh- However, what I have noticed is that the pain now rests in my lower back and left shoulder. =( I trade one thing for another....when will the "pain" end? I hope all who replied to my post know how thankful I am for your help. I love that everyone here is so generous and willing to sit and take the time to answer my questions. One day perhaps I'll have the experience needed to reply to someone with wisdom! Thanks again everyone!~