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Post by sherbearmama on Dec 30, 2011 11:33:14 GMT -5
So I'm 3.5 weeks out from my surgery and am doing great. I'm careful what I eat and I'm drinking lots and eating high protein and almost zero carbs and I don't watch the fat. I have one bowel movement a day--first thing in the morning. It's a solid movement and the loosest it gets is more like a thick soft serve (TMI I know). I haven't had diarrhea since my very first bowel movement post op. Each morning I wake up with very painful intestinal cramping, it feels like I have to poop but when I run to the toilet, nothing happens. This happens for about a half hour until finally I sit down and I have a bowel movement. Once it passes, the cramping is gone. It's very distressing because I have no idea when I'm actually going to go since the cramps always feel like pooping cramps. I'm not passing much gas at all. Taking my daughter to school next week is going to be really hard since I won't know if the cramps indicate that I need to go immediately or if it'll pass. I know that I'm still a baby DSr so I need to be patient with my new configuration, but it would make me feel so much better if i thought that this will eventually get better where at least I don't have much pain prior to pooping and to know if I'll ever be able to actually feel like I could hold it and not feel the urgency when I need to go--though it's not loose stool so i don't know why I feel I need to run to the toilet. So, on to my question: Does or did this happen to many of you? If so, did it ever get better? I hate to think that I'll have mornings like this for the rest of my life! But if so, I'll just have to suck it up (not literally of course), quit bitching, and just deal. Thanks in advance for your answers!!! Sheri
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Post by Joanne on Dec 30, 2011 12:03:43 GMT -5
What are you eating?
You're so new, things will level off. In the beginning I had lots of urgency and cramps, but it did go away. It was also related to some of the things I was eating, which I didn't tolerate well then, but that changed too, in time.
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Post by hoosiermama on Dec 30, 2011 12:11:58 GMT -5
I cramp pretty bad before I go. I was actually going to post and ask if I would ever produce a real turd again or if I would always have khacki fluff with oil floating in my toilet. I often have an easy movement then about a half an hour later, the cramps come and that is not so great LOL. I do think some of what I eat is probably effecting that but I can't really tell what it is yet. I'll figure it out
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huskerchad
Full Member
Gentleman. Scholar. DS'er.
Posts: 194
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Post by huskerchad on Dec 30, 2011 12:21:43 GMT -5
It's safe to say that NOTHING will always be like it is at 3.5 weeks out. In 2+ years I have gone through phases where I pooped a dozen times a day (early out) and phases of constipation (no more, thankfully). On a typical day, I go once in the morning, and it's soft-servish or a bit firmer. I sometimes feel the cramps you are talking about but they are nowhere near as severe, and I don't need to wait a half hour before it comes out.
Do look carefully at what you are eating and see if you can change the outcome by changing the intake.
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Post by Seeking Healthy on Dec 30, 2011 12:29:56 GMT -5
I have the same thing in the morning. I have a strong urge with some cramping when I get up. Like you, until I move around a bit, I just can't have a BM. I think it is the getting up and moving a bit for me. Frequency and consistency does change with time and is very dependent on what you eat. If I eat to many carbs I will go several times a day and the cramps will worsen. If I stick to mostly protein then not so much. Frequency also changes. Your body is adjusting and what is your norm today will probably change in a few months. If you are worried about going outside the house (many have had this same concern) then maybe get up a half hour to an hour earlier then when you need to leave so that the bathroom issue is done by this time. BTW love your new AVI! Way to ROCK your DS.
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Post by baileymouse on Dec 30, 2011 12:34:08 GMT -5
If I eat wheat, I get a lot of stop-start bathroom trips. It's horrid. If I completely stay away from gluten, I go once or twice in the morning, and it's slightly on the soft side of regular.
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Post by sherbearmama on Dec 30, 2011 12:44:41 GMT -5
What are you eating? You're so new, things will level off. In the beginning I had lots of urgency and cramps, but it did go away. It was also related to some of the things I was eating, which I didn't tolerate well then, but that changed too, in time. Eating egg salad, cheese, cottage cheese, I tried bacon the other day--just a half of a piece, that's pretty much my diet. I tried refried beans yesterday and they didn't seem to have any affect on me. I've pretty much been pooping like this since the beginning--poops once a day in the AM, cramps first, then poop in about a half hour. Varying my diet doesn't seem to alter the pooping. I have trouble drinking water and the sugar free drinks like Vitamin Water Zero or Crystal Light. So, I take a HUGE cup of water each day and add a little GatorAid to it to sweeten it up a bit--not much though. The doc said this was ok because it kept me drinking nearly 64 oz a day. But prior to the GatorAid I was drinking Apple Juice (per my doctor's orders) because I needed the sugar (it was dropping too low) and because it was all I could tolerate. But I switched to water for about 4-5 days and the poop was the same. I don't have any gas or cramps all day or night--so I don't think it's lactose intolerance or anything like that. The cramps are limited to the morning time.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2011 12:55:29 GMT -5
Sounds like grouchy healing guts to me. Don't give up hope for good changes. Think of your guts as being like those of a baby. They will mature and things will be very different. (There are exceptions, yes, but they're pretty rare.)
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Post by sherbearmama on Dec 30, 2011 13:35:19 GMT -5
Sounds like grouchy healing guts to me. Don't give up hope for good changes. Think of your guts as being like those of a baby. They will mature and things will be very different. (There are exceptions, yes, but they're pretty rare.) Thanks EN. I was hoping someone would say that! Exalt! (not like you care but I thought I'd do it anyway) Sheri
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YeahItsCase
Junior Member
DS 12/7/11, Dr. Stewart
Posts: 65
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Post by YeahItsCase on Dec 30, 2011 14:37:59 GMT -5
Mine is very similar! The worst is when it hurts so bad and then nothing happens for a bit. I feel like I spend 30 mins on the toilet every morning because it comes in 'waves' (tmi again!).. I go..then i'm good for a few..then I go again, etc. I usually only go in the morning too and am also 3 weeks out We are basically switch triplets (me, you and nicole/renegadeorange) cause we are all 2 days apart It is nice cause we are all on the same page at the same time!!
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huskerchad
Full Member
Gentleman. Scholar. DS'er.
Posts: 194
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Post by huskerchad on Dec 30, 2011 15:03:09 GMT -5
Eating egg salad, cheese, cottage cheese, I tried bacon the other day--just a half of a piece, that's pretty much my diet. Could be the dairy.
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Post by sherbearmama on Dec 30, 2011 15:59:44 GMT -5
Mine is very similar! The worst is when it hurts so bad and then nothing happens for a bit. I feel like I spend 30 mins on the toilet every morning because it comes in 'waves' (tmi again!).. I go..then i'm good for a few..then I go again, etc. I usually only go in the morning too and am also 3 weeks out We are basically switch triplets (me, you and nicole/renegadeorange) cause we are all 2 days apart It is nice cause we are all on the same page at the same time!! I've always thought of you two as my switch sisters!!!! ;D And an exaltation for my little sister!
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Post by Sandra C. on Dec 30, 2011 16:12:44 GMT -5
Sheri, I still have the same pattern as you, once a day in the AM, with less cramping than when I was at your stage. With a Hypothyroid condition, I tend to be constipated, and may have taken Milk of Magnesia as my nurse suggested to help smooth things out. Not suggesting you need to take it, but all of us have to find ways to be comfortable. Call your surgeons nurse and run your symptoms by her, she may have a good solution for you. Hope you feel back on track soon. ;-) Sandra
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Post by sherbearmama on Dec 30, 2011 16:17:29 GMT -5
Sheri, I still have the same pattern as you, once a day in the AM, with less cramping than when I was at your stage. With a Hypothyroid condition, I tend to be constipated, and may have taken Milk of Magnesia as my nurse suggested to help smooth things out. Not suggesting you need to take it, but all of us have to find ways to be comfortable. Call your surgeons nurse and run your symptoms by her, she may have a good solution for you. Hope you feel back on track soon. ;-) Sandra Thanks Sandra. I'm going to take your advice and email him right away! :-)
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Post by Sandra C. on Dec 30, 2011 16:21:43 GMT -5
Great Sheri, that's what they are there for. No question is too insignificant !! good luck, keep us posted about the outcome. ;-)
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Post by Paula on Dec 30, 2011 16:27:55 GMT -5
Id suggest keeping a a combination food and poo journal. Man, there are two things I never thought Id see in the same sentence! That way you can see if there is a correlation between something you are eating and what's coming out the other side. It very well also could be like EN was saying and your baby DS gut is just working its way towards getting settled down.
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Post by sherbearmama on Dec 30, 2011 16:36:39 GMT -5
"Id suggest keeping a a combination food and poo journal. Man, there are two things I never thought Id see in the same sentence!"
Paula, you crack me up! ;-)
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Post by Paula on Dec 30, 2011 16:44:13 GMT -5
Ill be honest...I was chuckling as I typed it
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Post by hoosiermama on Dec 30, 2011 16:45:33 GMT -5
LOL. I am not carrying a poo journal to my doc hehehhe he'd die laughing.
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Post by sherbearmama on Dec 30, 2011 16:51:56 GMT -5
LOL. I am not carrying a poo journal to my doc hehehhe he'd die laughing. Not a Poo Journal. A Poo FOOD Journal. Now that's even funnier!!!
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Post by Paula on Dec 30, 2011 16:53:59 GMT -5
lol...now I never said anything about sharing of the poo journal. It was more like a "for your eyes only" type of thing.
Think of it like Vegas...what happens in the journal, stays in the journal.
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Post by hoosiermama on Dec 30, 2011 17:06:34 GMT -5
Thank goodness. I'd, of course have to log the poo and the food on different pages to prevent cross-contamination.....Oh, what the hell....I'll live dangerously but what happens in my toilet, stays there !!!
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Post by Paula on Dec 30, 2011 17:11:29 GMT -5
You could always just use codes that only you would know. That way if anyone picked up your food journal and saw something like "MOAAB" 3 or 4 or whatever hours after you ate something, they'd be none the wiser All joking aside, food journaling was honestly the way I figured out back after I had my RNY that I developed lactose intolerance. My cousin also used food journaling to discover that she had a problem as far as gluten went.
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anewmii
New Member
DS 4/6/2011 HW 445 CW 174
Posts: 42
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Post by anewmii on Dec 30, 2011 17:22:04 GMT -5
You guys CRACK ME UP!!!!
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Post by annaleigh on Dec 30, 2011 20:13:05 GMT -5
I dealt with morning intestinal cramps off and on for the first year. I still get them on occasion, but they lessened with frequency and intensity over time.
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Post by renegadeorange on Dec 30, 2011 20:40:36 GMT -5
I have the exact same issue. It sucks! I am starting my probiotics on Sunday. I hope it will help some. I'm sure it's just because we're so new, but it's been waking me up at night... I feel like I need to go, run to the bathroom, and nada. Then, I have to walk around all crampy for 30 min to an hour when I wake up to finally go. I only have 1 more week out of work, I hope this probiotic deal will help me normalize somehow.
I can't wait til I'm 6 months out! :-p
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Post by Seeking Healthy on Dec 30, 2011 20:46:15 GMT -5
I have the exact same issue. It sucks! I am starting my probiotics on Sunday. I hope it will help some. I'm sure it's just because we're so new, but it's been waking me up at night... I feel like I need to go, run to the bathroom, and nada. Then, I have to walk around all crampy for 30 min to an hour when I wake up to finally go. I only have 1 more week out of work, I hope this probiotic deal will help me normalize somehow. I can't wait til I'm 6 months out! :-p Ease into the probiotics…. they can cause havoc of their own until you body becomes accustomed to them. I went through a week of sheer hell when I started them. Felt like I had 10 aliens from outer space doing battle in my gut!
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Post by renegadeorange on Dec 30, 2011 20:51:30 GMT -5
Ease into the probiotics…. they can cause havoc of their own until you body becomes accustomed to them. I went through a week of sheer hell when I started them. Felt like I had 10 aliens from outer space doing battle in my gut! Oh yeah, definitely! This is my last week before going back to work, though. I figure if I am ever going to have some time to feel awful and be near the bathroom, this is it! I'll probably just do 1 cap every other day and work up from there. It was really helpful for me pre-op.
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Post by abright0 on Dec 31, 2011 1:08:30 GMT -5
I am almost 5 months out and I go 4-5 times between 5am - 8am. Then again 2-4 times after dinner. And sometimes all day in between. It was always liquid until I started regular calcium supplements, and now I have regular poop a couple of times a day. Not sure if this is normal, but I have just chalked it up to normal since I have no other negative symptoms and have already lost 120lbs. Kinda the 'don't fix what isn't broke' philosophy.
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Post by sarahanne on Dec 31, 2011 5:05:28 GMT -5
Had the same problem and so I can commiserate. It was very very painful. I eliminated everything but it did not matter.
A year out and I am 100% fine. Just hang in there. Still to this day when I poop and there is not pain I am so grateful!
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