HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

3 and a half months post NF and problems with constipation

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/31/2016 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I had surgery on the 10th of December 2015. Everything went fine and i healed up in the upcoming weeks, i had some burn and irritation in my esophagus but that went away. However, since February i had issues with bloating, gas and constipation. I have taken stool softeners sometimes but eventually my bowel will not work normally if im addicted to them. Some days i can go to the toilets like 4-5 times and then other like 2 times and still feel like that i did not let it all out. Yesterday i went to the toilet in the morning and then 1 hour after breakfast and then an hour later. But i still had so much gas that i could not eat until like 4 hours later when it became better.

Many times i go to the toilet and still feel like there is something stuck in my bowel. And that can be very frustrating even though there are days when i go to the toilet a couple of times.

I exercise 4 times a week, i take supplements as D3, zinc, magnesium and so on.. and also i take extra fibre supplements, i drink a lot of water and i take triphala (Ayurvedic medicine) Im considering getting massage in the bowel but im sceptical of whether that would be a good solution in the long run.

I find it very strange that in the first almost 2 months post surgery i had absolutely no problems with constipation, gas and bloating but now since February it has become quite a big problem.

Any experiences on it?
Posted 3/31/2016 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
Have you contacted your surgeon with your concerns?
Posted 3/31/2016 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
I did he just advised me to drink more water and take fibre supplements but that was in february.
Posted 3/31/2016 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
I too was concerned about taking laxatives for too long and was very inconsistent in my BM's as well as having constipation and straining.

My surgeons office was of little/no help (long story) but what I ended up doing that has helped a lot - especially with the constipation and straining - was as follows [pls consult your Dr BEFORE trying]:

1) when I wake up I eat 4-5 prunes as well as a probiotic (Align) with some OJ or water.
2) about 30 min - 1 hr later have coffee and breakfast (high fiber cereal).
3) about 30 min - 1 hour later I usually have a BM.
4) 1.5-2hrs after #1 I take a teaspoon of Metamucil with water.
5) about an hr after lunch I take a teaspoon of Metamucil with water.
6) I always have 2 snacks during the day & one in the evening that are high in fiber (i.e. nuts, apple).
7) During the course of the day I try to consume about 130 oz of fluid (juice, water, coffee).

FYI - while I was getting off of the Miralax I was @ double the does of Metamucil for a week.

Most days now I have a single BM after breakfast. Some days I will have 2 during the day. At least the straining is greatly reduced and I am more regular.

My gas & bloating is now mostly in the late afternoon/evening.

I just got a referral for a GI specialist to discuss and to make sure that my repair & wrap is OK as well as to f/u on what might be damage to the vagus nerve. I had a large hiatal hernia, spent a week in the hospital (includes 2xER visits) and was told by my surgeon that I have at least a 30% chance of needing another repair in the future. I also developed bradycardia (had to have a PM installed) and have 'episodes' about every 6 days on average where I feel weak, slightly faint and break out into a hard sweat for about 30-40 minutes.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply