No BM for WEEKS! HELP!

[nashiemmom 4]

I can go weeks without a BM. I actually have to take a laxative to go. I don't want to depend on laxatives to have a BM. I have increased my Water intake. Is there anything else I can try?

[jatherley 126]

Try added benefiber to your daily routine. It will help. I've had problems too. I mix some benefiber with my morning shake and it has helped.

[magtart 603]

Miralax daily in one of your shakes.< /p>

[Sydney Susan 333]

You have to get serious about this as it can stretch your rectum (particularly if you over 40). Try any/all of the following:

- stool softeners without laxatives (eg: coloxyl... and you might need quite a bit)

- small enemas to get things "started" (eg: Microlax or if you r in US I've heard others mention Fleet Enema). You may need several if you have a hard stool blocking your rectum, and the longer it sits there the harder it gets

- If you have a rectocele already, "splinting" the wall between your vagina and rectum with fingers inserted in v can reduce the size of the rectocele and help you pass a BM). Some people find their perineum bulges as the rectocele forces down but not out, so pressure there can help

- Fibre is good as a preventive (though Benefibre doesn't seem to work for many), but once you get constipated fibre can actually make things worse, so use it with caution.

- Lots of Water is good and essential!

- A Lactulose solution (Lac-dol or Dulcolax) with Water can be great - technically it's a sort of laxative but less dependency forming than laxative tablets - I have a bowel surgeon who advised me this as I have l/t problems since a major cancer op 7 years ago.

TMI I know (sorry) but GPs are often clueless about all this stuff and many people make themselves worse because they just don't know how to deal with this v common problem - we don't talk about it enough.

I hope something here helps. Good luck.

Edited October 13, 2013 by Sydney Susan

[Kennedy 100]

I'm 2 months out and have had a terrible time with Constipation. I know use Mirakax and a stool softner daily and don't have any further problems.

[steffranco 45]

I put a capful of miralax in my chamomile tea every night and I go poopie every day. Good luck!

[erp 2,016]

I find eating a serving of high Fiber Cereal helps keep me regular. I stir All Bran into my Greek yogurt. I also use fiber gummies as well.

[nashiemmom 4]

Oh wow! You guys are so helpful. I know miralax doesn't have a taste but I was afraid to add it my water...silly I know. Thanks for giving me the idea to add the miralax to my shake. My friend who also had the surgery told me about the fiber gummies. I will give that a try too. I had problems with going regularly after I had my twins. I defiantly going to apply some of these suggestions. Thank you so much!

[JanetPRN 496]

This might sound a little silly, but baby food prunes are helpful for some people. They are pureed and easy to eat at any stage for a sleeved person.

[Fixerupper 335]

I have been eating Activia Greek yogurt for a week now and it really helps. I have also found that eating slow cooked collard greens for one meal gets me going pretty quickly.

Edited October 14, 2013 by Fixerupper

[JulieJ 24]

I can go weeks without a BM. I actually have to take a laxative to go. I don't want to depend on laxatives to have a BM. I have increased my Water intake. Is there anything else I can try?

I went like clockwork before my surgery in July. Now, I drink Smooth Move herbal tea two- three times a week and it works wonders! I had the same problem and someone on here told me about the tea. Good luck!