What is even happening right now??!?!

[SleeveToBypass2023 2,640]

In the last 3 weeks, I've been dealing with crazy weird Constipation. But my poop isn't hard, it's really soft. Just won't come out. TONS of gas. Bloated stomach. I was diagnosed with IBS-C about 7 months after my initial surgery (sleeve). I was on the 145mcg dose of Linzess for about a year and a half, and between that and Miralax (and every once in a blue moon, a combo laxative/stool softener) I was very regular. Pooped either every day or every other day for the most part. No bloated stomach. No real gas. Then 3 weeks ago, the constipation just went crazy and got really weird. Gas has been the most insane of my life. Stomach super bloated and uncomfortable. Linzess was increased to 290mcg and has done NOTHING. Miralax was increased. Added more Fiber to my diet and even a fiber supplement. Even started taking more laxative/stool softener meds. Added prune juice. And still, I've had a good poop exactly twice in 3 weeks and 3 small poops. That's it. Nothing is working. I drink 100 fl oz daily. I don't drink soda or anything with sugar. I honestly don't know what else to do. Any advice or suggestions? Oh, I've also added magnesium. I tried Colon Broom. Literally....nothing. I JUST WANNA POOP!!!!!

[SleeveToBypass2023 2,640]

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions???

[Arabesque 7,401]

The only thought I had was a blockage of some sort. I was told I had a small buildup like a speed bump that was causing my slightly strange pooping habits. Told to double up on coloxyl on one day & then again two days later. Didn’t really do anything to help so I just live with it now but it’s not like the extreme of what you’re experiencing. Maybe a colonoscopy &/or an ultrasound may help identify a cause. Certainly the Constipation will cause the bloating and bad gas.

I’m recovering from a coloxyl overload at the moment. Discharge nurse told me to take 2 when I got home on Wednesday, two that night and two more Thursday morning, (I hadn’t gone for 4 days by Wednesday & you’ll remember how important it is to keep everything soft after a hysterectomy.) Well pooped 4 times Thursday & twice yesterday. Of course nothing today. Don’t know whether to take one again tonight or leave it for another day.

[dewayna 1]

Have you tried Restoralax ? My nurse told me to drink that everyday from now on. And maybe contact your nurse or doctor.

Good luck !

[SleeveToBypass2023 2,640]

10 hours ago, Arabesque said:

The only thought I had was a blockage of some sort. I was told I had a small buildup like a speed bump that was causing my slightly strange pooping habits. Told to double up on coloxyl on one day & then again two days later. Didn’t really do anything to help so I just live with it now but it’s not like the extreme of what you’re experiencing. Maybe a colonoscopy &/or an ultrasound may help identify a cause. Certainly the Constipation will cause the bloating and bad gas.

I’m recovering from a coloxyl overload at the moment. Discharge nurse told me to take 2 when I got home on Wednesday, two that night and two more Thursday morning, (I hadn’t gone for 4 days by Wednesday & you’ll remember how important it is to keep everything soft after a hysterectomy.) Well pooped 4 times Thursday & twice yesterday. Of course nothing today. Don’t know whether to take one again tonight or leave it for another day.

I'm going to ask to have an ultrasound and see if they can see anything and if not, schedule another colonoscopy (just had one a year ago, not due for another 2 years). I'm going to look at what you mentioned (never heard of it) and see if I can get it here and if it helps. Also, if you've pooped 6x in the last 3 days, you could probably give your body a break for a day and if you don't go at all, take the medication again. After a hysterectomy, you want to make sure you go regularly and keep the poop soft and/or a bit runny for the first 2 weeks at least. Well, I had to be cut open, so maybe that was more for me. But I found it helped A LOT because the muscles really hurt. I imagine laparoscopic would be similar like with WLS since we needed to go easy with the pooping for a while after that, too. Definitely don't let yourself go too long without pooping, but if you're going more than twice per day, you might want to back off just a little to give your body a break and not get dehydrated.

[SleeveToBypass2023 2,640]

8 hours ago, dewayna said:

Have you tried Restoralax ? My nurse told me to drink that everyday from now on. And maybe contact your nurse or doctor.

Good luck !

I don't know what that is, but I'm going to look into it. Thanks!!

[ShoppGirl 4,983]

@SleeveToBypass2023 I don’t have any advice for you, but I hope they give you some answers with the ultrasound. @Arabesque what about a stool softener instead of a laxative. Won’t make you go, but will keep things soft for when you do?? Maybe ask your doctor about that. In the states we call it Colace.

[Spinoza 1,451]

15 hours ago, Arabesque said:

The only thought I had was a blockage of some sort. I was told I had a small buildup like a speed bump that was causing my slightly strange pooping habits. Told to double up on coloxyl on one day & then again two days later. Didn’t really do anything to help so I just live with it now but it’s not like the extreme of what you’re experiencing. Maybe a colonoscopy &/or an ultrasound may help identify a cause. Certainly the Constipation will cause the bloating and bad gas.

I’m recovering from a coloxyl overload at the moment. Discharge nurse told me to take 2 when I got home on Wednesday, two that night and two more Thursday morning, (I hadn’t gone for 4 days by Wednesday & you’ll remember how important it is to keep everything soft after a hysterectomy.) Well pooped 4 times Thursday & twice yesterday. Of course nothing today. Don’t know whether to take one again tonight or leave it for another day.

Oh no Arabesque! I didn't know you were having surgery. I'm so sorry, clearly there's a lead up to this that I have completely missed. I hope you are OK, taking things really easy and coming out the other side well now.

FWIW I *would* take another tonight. I think it might be better to keep ahead for a while. Feel free to berate me tomorrow when the inevitable happens...

[catwoman7 11,220]

12 hours ago, SleeveToBypass2023 said:

I don't know what that is, but I'm going to look into it. Thanks!!

it's the same as Miralax. I think it's a UK brand - maybe Canada, too.

[Arabesque 7,401]

11 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

@SleeveToBypass2023 I don’t have any advice for you, but I hope they give you some answers with the ultrasound. @Arabesque what about a stool softener instead of a laxative. Won’t make you go, but will keep things soft for when you do?? Maybe ask your doctor about that. In the states we call it Colace.

Coloxyl is a stool softener. A bottle has had a regular place in my bathroom cabinet since my sleeve - LOL!

I’m going to take another one (not doing two again 😱) tonight @Spinoza as there was nothing again today. I only took one in the past if I hadn’t gone for two or three days and that would be enough to get things soft and moving again but two is obviously too much and cleans me out. Probably why I haven’t been for two days - had nothing left.

[ShoppGirl 4,983]

33 minutes ago, Arabesque said:

Coloxyl is a stool softener. A bottle has had a regular place in my bathroom cabinet since my sleeve - LOL!

I’m going to take another one (not doing two again 😱) tonight @Spinoza as there was nothing again today. I only took one in the past if I hadn’t gone for two or three days and that would be enough to get things soft and moving again but two is obviously too much and cleans me out. Probably why I haven’t been for two days - had nothing left.

Ooh I just assumed it was a laxative. I was told that the colace doesn’t make you go it just makes it soft and easier to pass when you do go. I hope you’re change to the one per dose is a good solution. Another option would be to alternate between one and two (take one the first day and two the next, one the third and two the fourth and so on). This is how my NP told me to cut the Colace because I was on two a day (morning and night) and when I cut back to one i got constipated and needed milk of magnesia.

[eJean 7]

I’ve been having the same problem. I started putting 1 tsp of psyllium husk in my Protein Shake. It thickens it up a bit but after about three days I had relief. I stopped for a couple days and got plugged up again. Just a thought😊