I rarely use the bathroom anymore?

[Comfy_Blue 285]

I've been on soft foods for two days but found even when i was on the full liquids diet i hardly ever use the bathroom. I used to poop 2 - 3 times a day. Now i go once every 3 - 4 days. The same thing happens when i pee. I used to wake up in the morning bursting.

Now it feels like the slightest bit of pressure to the point i've often laid in bed an hour or so reading/enjoying bed before getting up to pee. In the past i couldn't do that because I would wake up and need to relieve myself right away or it would start to hurt.

Before surgery i never drank plain Water because it'd go right through me and i'd have to pee within 20 minutes. Now i drink 17oz of Water and wait an hour and don't have to pee. I probably urinate 3 times a day when i used to go 6 - 10 times a day.

I am only drinking water at this point. No more sodas, coffee, juice, or Powerade. Occassionally i drink Crystal Light but i really just like water best.

My pee isn't clear, but it's light yellow. I think that means I'm not dehydrated, or does the infrequent urination mean i am? What's going on?

Edited January 7, 2014 by Comfy_Blue

[RJ'S/beginning 5,358]

Please drink some G2 Gatorade and some Vitamin Water....After a year out I still drink 1/2 Water and 1/2 G2 every day.

Don't forget what goes in must come out and you are not putting a lot in there so you won't go as much...You can use a stool softener and it will help..Use a mild one....Once you are on solids or even mushy food that will increase.....

The reason you went so much before was because your body was pushing out what it could not use.....

In the future you might want to look into a bran something..I eat bran every day now and it has helped me a lot....Some would say not a good idea because it is a carb...But I hate not being regular..And i am now!!!!

[gomekast 559]

Try upping your fluids. I know its difficult tho. I lived off of propel zero for weeks until Water was tolerable.

I used to be like u...up a few times a night to potty..and I guzzled Water. Post op...not at all. sleep all night..which is blissful! Im recently up to 2 24 oz things of water...and I feel like I'm really pushing myself to drink drink drink all the time. Doesn't come natural so much anymore.

Im 11 weeks today and water became my bff again 3-4days ago. No easy task. Ive noticed this too....the higher my Protein for the day the more dehydrated I start to become if I forget to drink drink drink.

Tea was a secret weapon for me in the beginning...along with a Protein broth.

Just do your best hitting minimum of 48 oz of calorie free beverages and you'll be fine.

[2Big2Skate 328]

You used to also get a lot of Water out of the food you ate. Now there's less coming in on all fronts. You're very early in so I wouldn't go to any extremes to cause movements just yet. I drink enough to have clear pee (finally) but I still only pee maybe twice a day. Everyone's different.

As for the other end of the *cough* discussion, I think I went once the first week I was home. The doc told me that I'd be messed up as the body 'wakes up' from anesthesia. Then I went about every third day for a while. Once I got on purees it picked up a bit. But I didn't get back to daily until like 2 months out. RJs spot on correct. Your intestines are very long and your body is in no rush to pass the vital nutrients out. Remember you're kinda starving your body so its going to be very possessive of every little bit of food and Water you give it!

If when you do go, its painful or problematic, call the doc. I had to take a softener and laxative at the beginning of solids. And at that time I introduced a SF Fiber chewie and now I'd say things are "normal-ish".

[Bigbeaz 91]

I would say it is "normal" for you to produce less stool. I know in my situation I was kinda like you in that it was a given that I would go at least two times a day. And that was because of the amount and type of food I was eating. But it isn't normal to go more than two days for sure. Like others have said try drinking more fluids and call your Dr. if you have the slightest discomfort and they will tell exactly what to do.

[cprince1975 62]

Just spoke to my doc abt this today. He said key is Water but I can add Fiber such as fiber one or Miralax to help. I went 12 days this last time and after several doses laxative finally got a fleets enema. Gonna try the miralax. Good luck!

[socalfosh 17]

I added 1 tsp of metimucil to 6 ounces of Water 3 times a day. It helped. Good luck....no fun!

[cprince1975 62]

Just an update. Adding 2 tsp benefiber to coffee twice daily has worked for me!!!! I am feeling hopeful it continues to work.

[cprince1975 62]

Well I am back to nothing works. 2000cc Water day, couple hrs on treadmill 4 days a week, fiber added... Even enemas no longer work. Miserable

[2Big2Skate 328]

Call your doc again and let him know. Are you stressed out? Stress is another trigger that can bring me to a screeching halt.

[cprince1975 62]

Nope, no stress. I'm not sure what's up. I talked to doctor last week, I have an enlarged uterus so possibly fibroid. And if it is, they can cause Constipation. Fingers crossed I get answers Friday. Going for testing. I have been having to -tmi warning- manually remove stool for weeks now.

[Seela 1,187]

Nope, no stress. I'm not sure what's up. I talked to doctor last week, I have an enlarged uterus so possibly fibroid. And if it is, they can cause Constipation. Fingers crossed I get answers Friday. Going for testing. I have been having to -tmi warning- manually remove stool for weeks now.

Oh miserable, you poor thing. I have dealt with constipation my whole life so this was nothing new for me but it has definitely gotten worse since wls. Staying hydrated enough is still a problem almost 5 months out. Drinking enough Water is a full time job that I'm failing at.

[irockedthe80s 11]

Nope, no stress. I'm not sure what's up. I talked to doctor last week, I have an enlarged uterus so possibly fibroid. And if it is, they can cause Constipation. Fingers crossed I get answers Friday. Going for testing. I have been having to -tmi warning- manually remove stool for weeks now.

I've really been struggling with this since surgery. Nurse had me try milk of magnesia last week; it worked within 2 hours. Might be worth a shot!! It's miserable. Good luck!!

[cprince1975 62]

I do fiber twice a day in coffee. Milk of magnesia 3 days a week and then an enema if I go past 7 days. I'm out of ideas!

[irockedthe80s 11]

I do fiber twice a day in coffee. Milk of magnesia 3 days a week and then an enema if I go past 7 days. I'm out of ideas!

I'm so sorry!! The only other thing I've done that works is Smooth Moves tea. Drink it before bed and works every time the next morning. I found it in the laxative section.