Guest guest Posted May 31, 2001 Report Share Posted May 31, 2001 , this was something I was worried about also and I really worried about how I would deal with this problem at work as I work in a law office and share a bathroom with 10 other women. I can tell you now that I am 10 weeks post-op that it has been an absolute non- issue. I poop once in the morning when I first wake up and sometimes have to go once more during the mid-morning. I took a can of ozium to the office and spray it before I go and flush before I get up and there is no problem. My poop smells no worse now than it did before, just different. Whose poop smells good anyway? I also am more regular now than I was before and don't have gas or diahrea or any bowel problems at all. I think some people might have problems with this if they eat a large amount of fat in their diet. I eat a little bit of fat in my diet, but not huge amounts. I think the bowel problems people refer to could be changed if they changed their eating habits. Being thin and healthy is a much better trade off than the possibility of having stinky bm's. > All, > > I am a 43 y/o M, BMI=58, trying to have Lap DS with Dr. Elariny > in Fairfax VA. I have read a great deal about the procedure, but there > is a specific topic I'd like to seek some frank discussion on: bowell > function side effects of the DS procedure. I realise this is not the > kind of thing that people usually like to chat about, but it is a > major concern I have, and an issue specific to the DS procedure. > > I have read that frequent movements and foul-smelling stool are a side > efect of this operation. It makes sense that fecal volume would > increase if much of the food eaten is not fully digested. But aside > from the clinical discussions, I was hoping those with longer-term > experience with the DS procedure could share some real-world, > practical observations on this topic. Perhaps some problems > encountered and solutions found. For example, I was thinking about > having a contractor install a super high volume exhaust fan right next > to the commode. What other sort of things can I expect? How have you > integrated these side effects with work? > > Thanks in advance to those willing to share about this somewhat > ticklish topic. > > Best Regards, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2001 Report Share Posted May 31, 2001 , You will hear many different answers here! I am 2 months post-op. I dont really have any issues with my BMs. This is the deal. The first week they smelled so bad it made me nauseous! Now they smell bad, but did they ever smell good? NO. They just smell different. Kind of like dirt and broccoli. Earthy smelling. I have NEVER had to go to the bathroom (BM) at work since post-op. I do not eat much fat at breakfast or lunch though. When I eat a lot of fat, like say a rib or two, I get diarrhea for a little bit. So I only eat these foods at home. It starts about an hour at least from time ingested and lasts for maybe an hour. I usually have to go to the bathroom like 3 times in that hour. It's not too bad. Other than that, I only have a BM or two when I first wake up, and then one or two after dinner. Occasionally I have to go in the middle of the night. I'm kind of a priss and I can deal with it completely. As for the smell, you can take Devrom and that lessens the odor. And as for gas, well, I dont have gas in terms of *farting*. My problem is I get gas pain and pressure. Which I take GasX, acidopholus and phazyme for. But now I think it may be a gluten reaction. Good Luck! JILL K in NY 8 weeks post-op -49.5 __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2001 Report Share Posted May 31, 2001 .....bowell function side effects of the DS procedure. What other sort of things can I expect? How have you > integrated these side effects with work? - it hasn't been an issue or what I consider a problem for me at all. I am 3.5 months post op, and yes - I did have loose stools off and on for the first two weeks or so after surgery. But I was drinking a lot of diluted fruit juice to get my liquids in, and that has always given me peoblems in the past. It got better when I was able to replace juice with water and other drinks, and started adding more solid food. After that - no problems. I have two, maybe 3 BM's every morning within the space of about an hour. Once in a while they feel urgent, but otherwise the body sensation is the same as before. They are less in volume and looser in consistency then before, though, and they do smell more than before - I just open the window - I don't mess around with matches or sprays, but i guess I have a tolerant husband - LOL! Once in awhile I need to go in the afternoon, also. I have been back at work since the beginning of the month, and I have not had any problems, nor do I think that i have casued any distress for my co-workers. I rarely have to go at work, but when I do I just do it and don't worry about it. I have had a real gassy day at work last week - but they were all wind and no odor. Luckily I have an office, so I just shut the door and let 'em rip, not to be indelicate. Of course you can't predict what your experiences will be - everyone is different - I've been very lucky. There are lots of helpful suggestions on these websites to help with problems that do come up, though. I decided that this was something that i did not want to worry about pre-surgery, but then I was open not lap, and had a lot of time at home for things to sort themselves out. Good luck! Ellen DS 2/14/01 310 Dr. Anthone 5/31/01 251 -59! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 31, 2001 Report Share Posted May 31, 2001 : I am 6 months post-op. I have found that the regular variety of air freshener is definitely inadequate to the task. However, Ozium brand of air freshener, which is available in Kmart and Walmart, in the automotive section, is a miracle worker. It really eliminates the odor. So I don't think you need to have your house remodeled to combat the situation LOL. Personally, I have one BM every morning upon waking. It's funny, if I turn over in the morning while in bed, it makes me have to go. I guess I am changing the internal pressurization or something! Then I will sometimes have one in the late afternoon or evening, but sometimes I won't even have another one. Then on other days, like today in fact, I will have diarrhea which means I had my regular morning BM, and then around 10am and 11am I had two bouts with diarrhea while at work. I hate that because it is embarrassing to be spraying ozium around the communal bathroom while lurking in the stall. But I used to have diarrhea like that pre-op anyway, so it is not different. I posted earlier that my diarrhea situation was pretty brutal the first 6 weeks after surgery, and that only my doctor prescribing Cholysteramine (RX for high cholesterol which I don't have, but it's side effect is constipation in people with regular GI tracts. So for me it was a miracle cure.) I still take a half dose every night before bed and I am usually A-OK. I have been lurking hear since October, and I think the majority consensus is that the diarrhea/smelly gas situation is an annoyance, but not a major one. I also know that if you limit your greasy food intake, you will have less diarrhea. Since your body can't absorb the fat, it has to go somewhere, so out it comes. Good luck and best regards, Janice Drew 386/268 BPD/DS 11/29/00 Dr. Pomp, Mt Sinai in NYC > All, > > I am a 43 y/o M, BMI=58, trying to have Lap DS with Dr. Elariny > in Fairfax VA. I have read a great deal about the procedure, but there > is a specific topic I'd like to seek some frank discussion on: bowell > function side effects of the DS procedure. I realise this is not the > kind of thing that people usually like to chat about, but it is a > major concern I have, and an issue specific to the DS procedure. > > I have read that frequent movements and foul-smelling stool are a side > efect of this operation. It makes sense that fecal volume would > increase if much of the food eaten is not fully digested. But aside > from the clinical discussions, I was hoping those with longer-term > experience with the DS procedure could share some real-world, > practical observations on this topic. Perhaps some problems > encountered and solutions found. For example, I was thinking about > having a contractor install a super high volume exhaust fan right next > to the commode. What other sort of things can I expect? How have you > integrated these side effects with work? > > Thanks in advance to those willing to share about this somewhat > ticklish topic. > > Best Regards, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 1, 2001 Report Share Posted June 1, 2001 Thanks all for your comments and experience! I am relieved to hear that this is not a nightmare issue to deal with for most. > All, > > I am a 43 y/o M, BMI=58, trying to have Lap DS with Dr. Elariny > in Fairfax VA. I have read a great deal about the procedure, but there > is a specific topic I'd like to seek some frank discussion on: bowell > function side effects of the DS procedure. I realise this is not the > kind of thing that people usually like to chat about, but it is a > major concern I have, and an issue specific to the DS procedure. > > I have read that frequent movements and foul-smelling stool are a side > efect of this operation. It makes sense that fecal volume would > increase if much of the food eaten is not fully digested. But aside > from the clinical discussions, I was hoping those with longer-term > experience with the DS procedure could share some real-world, > practical observations on this topic. Perhaps some problems > encountered and solutions found. For example, I was thinking about > having a contractor install a super high volume exhaust fan right next > to the commode. What other sort of things can I expect? How have you > integrated these side effects with work? > > Thanks in advance to those willing to share about this somewhat > ticklish topic. > > Best Regards, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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