Constipation- 5 Months

[KayLow42 28]

Hello all!

Hoping you can give some advice. I am 5 months post-op from gastric bypass. I regularly meet or exceed my Protein and Water goals (70 ounces protein and 50 ounces water) and am semi-active, but am still dealing with bad Constipation. I was taking Miralax daily and that was helping but I had right side pain constantly and when I stopped the miralax the side pain stopped as well. Welllllll- I definitely should have replaced the miralax with something because I landed in the ER today for fecal compaction. I’ve tried Smooth Move and love it but it gives me stomach cramping when going. Also have tried docusate.

My questions for you are:

1. Has anyone experienced right abdominal/side pain with consistently taking miralax? If so- any way to still take it without the pain?
2. Has anyone found success to help have normal bowel movements with anything other than above?

I meet with my PCP next week but she is so hesitant to do anything for me or offer any advice I want to go to the appointment with a plan of action.

Thank you in advance!

[NovaLuna 710]

I recently had a really bad bought of Constipation, which I thought was impossible given my surgery... hell, it even shocked the surgeons office, they said I was their first patient who had the Loop Duodenal Switch who had a constipation issue... -_-" Anyway, the doctor said to cut out banana's because I was eating one every day and those are known to cause constipation issues. I was also told that my Iron level was probably elevated and that also causes issues so they took me off iron for three days and then told me to take one less Multivitamin a day and add in one WITHOUT iron. It worked so... how are your iron levels? Do you eat banana's?

I started looking up foods that cause issues and I would suggest the same. Maybe increase foods that help you go. Also, I took Miralax, but it didn't really help. Took Milk of Magnesia and it worked better for me.

[WInston223322 160]

4 hours ago, KayLow42 said:

My questions for you are:

1. Has anyone experienced right abdominal/side pain with consistently taking miralax? If so- any way to still take it without the pain?
2. Has anyone found success to help have normal bowel movements with anything other than above?

I meet with my PCP next week but she is so hesitant to do anything for me or offer any advice I want to go to the appointment with a plan of action.

Thank you in advance!

seen this here a million times months back I saw a post to take a softening gell every other day. I have done that and never had a problem

[JessLess 1,163]

Try to up your Water to 64-100 oz. a day. You need water to do this. I use to take a Colace every morning. It's a stool softener with no cramping. Eventually I graduated to 3 prunes with Breakfast. That has worked great for me. I don't like taking laxatives or teas that give me cramps.

[catwoman7 11,211]

I haven't heard of that particular issue with Miralax. Hmm. Maybe try a stool softener (like Colace - or the generic equivalent)? Also, some people take magnesium tablets every day (start with about 300-400 mg - it's like taking an ultra-low dose of Milk of Magnesia every day). I've heard of people taking up to 800 mg or even higher, but I'd start low to see how you'll respond - plus 300-400 mg (the typical tablet) may be all you need.

[GreenTealael 25,330]

14 hours ago, KayLow42 said:

Hello all!

Hoping you can give some advice. I am 5 months post-op from gastric bypass. I regularly meet or exceed my Protein and Water goals (70 ounces Protein and 50 ounces water) and am semi-active, but am still dealing with bad constipation. I was taking Miralax daily and that was helping but I had right side pain constantly and when I stopped the miralax the side pain stopped as well. Welllllll- I definitely should have replaced the miralax with something because I landed in the ER today for fecal compaction. I’ve tried Smooth Move and love it but it gives me stomach cramping when going. Also have tried docusate.

My questions for you are:

1. Has anyone experienced right abdominal/side pain with consistently taking miralax? If so- any way to still take it without the pain?
2. Has anyone found success to help have normal bowel movements with anything other than above?

I meet with my PCP next week but she is so hesitant to do anything for me or offer any advice I want to go to the appointment with a plan of action.

Thank you in advance!

Try pure senna tea instead of Smooth Move and you may need a bit more Water

Good Luck 👍

[Darktowerdream 420]

I’m allergic to mirilax which is propylene glycol (I am allergic to glycols) I have chronic gut issues before surgery. I’m taking Linzess now which was helping albeit not always consistent but mind you I have neurological issues as well.

this is how linzess is described to work:

”It works by increasing Fluid in your intestines and helping speed up movement of food through the gut. Linaclotide may improve stool texture and lessen symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain/discomfort, straining, and feelings of incomplete bowel movements.”

I’m In a bit of a pickle myself because I was suggested I needed some Iron. I normally avoid multivitamin with iron though because it’s constipating. I bought a multi because it was a three month supply of chewables and didn’t contain added iodine but I didn’t notice the iron. Ugh.

i personally can’t do senna because it irritates the bladder and I have interstitial cystitis. Otherwise prune and senna is a good combination. .

if you do try magnesium as the above person suggested (my body despised the stuff even lowest dose) my mom relies on it. I highly recommend what I buy for my mom Natural Vitally Natural Calm and it’s magnesium in a powder form you mix in a drink (comes in flavors)

https://www.vitacost.com/natural-vitality-natural-calm-the-anti-stress-diertary-supplement-powder-orange

Also get a combination of soluble and insoluble Fiber. What works varies so much person to person

check this out for fiber: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SG12LP7/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A11CMR8X0KDKT4&psc=1

I normally can’t take things like milk of magnesia, talk about pain ... but there’s a new Dulcolax liquid that I take a little bit of when the linzess isn’t helping as much as I need. it says it’s stimulant free and works naturally with your body. It’s probably also magnesium based. So I only take very small amount but since it’s likely easier to find you might give that a try.

It is ridiculous how difficult it is to get doctors to talk about or advise about Constipation. Even a gastroenterologist. Though they love to push that horrid orange psyllium drink, that stuff is garbage. Fine milled golden Flaxseed is So much healthier than that. Or making chia pudding. Or hempseed.

I used to take Zelnorm and they took it off the market, this was years ago. And the gastroenterologist had the nerve to say, tell me if you find something that works! I had to ask my current dr. For Linzess since they didn’t even consider recommending it ... why aren’t doctors doctoring anymore?

ah well ... best of luck to you!

[suzyq7519 1]

Hello all!

Hoping you can give some advice. I am 5 months post-op from gastric bypass. I regularly meet or exceed my Protein and Water goals (70 ounces Protein and 50 ounces water) and am semi-active, but am still dealing with bad constipation. I was taking Miralax daily and that was helping but I had right side pain constantly and when I stopped the miralax the side pain stopped as well. Welllllll- I definitely should have replaced the miralax with something because I landed in the ER today for fecal compaction. I’ve tried Smooth Move and love it but it gives me stomach cramping when going. Also have tried docusate.

My questions for you are:

1. Has anyone experienced right abdominal/side pain with consistently taking miralax? If so- any way to still take it without the pain?
2. Has anyone found success to help have normal bowel movements with anything other than above?

I meet with my PCP next week but she is so hesitant to do anything for me or offer any advice I want to go to the appointment with a plan of action.

Thank you in advance!

I as well suffer Constipation. I'm 1 year post o.o.
My dr has put me on miralax and now bisocodyl suppositories.

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