Re: : Post-op Bowel movements- I NEED The absolute truth!!!!!!!!!!!

August 22, 2001

In a message dated 8/22/01 9:50:25 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<<

I am really worried about loose bowel movements after surgery. When

I went in for my inital consult, my Doc wanted to let me know about

the hardships of liquid gas and the lose of bowel movement after the

DS? I am getting nervous and need to hear the God's honest truth

about it so I can make an informed discission.

>>

God's truth: I haven't had many problems with loose bowels. THey were

totally liquid the first three weeks, but never uncontrollable. I had bms in

the early am (like around 2-3 am) and some colon gas preceeding the bm so I

could always wake up and go to the bathroom. Then, I'd have 1-2 more when I

woke up. In the first three weeks or so, I'd have one in the middle of the

day or evening, but the big ones were usually in the early a.m. and a.m. upon

waking.

After the first three weeks, the early am bm disappeared (thank GOD for that!

LOL). I had it mainly when I woke up. Every now and then I'd feel the need

to go during the day or in the evening (usually based on something I ate) and

sometimes the bms were foul-smelling, gassy and/or loose. BUT, I've not had

uncontrollable diahhrea or oil leaks, etc. I mainly have 1-2 bms upon waking

--- and that's it!

Now, I know that I may not be the norm but I know there are some other people

out there who honestly have had a similar experience. I've been so

pleasantly surprised by how regular I am and how little bowel problems I've

experienced (I'm now 6 months post-op). I eat whatever I want (focusing on

protein) and haven't had any severe bad reactions to anything (yet? LOL). I

even was diagnosed with spastic colon/IBS (but was constipated, not having

diahhrea) as a pre-op. I had lots of problems with my gallbladder, even

though it wasn't diseased (thank God it got taken out with the surgery). My

system seems to have adjusted much better to the new arrangement - I think

it's because it takes less energy to process food (i.e. the entire intestinal

tract isn't absorbing, etc.) and there is less blood required for these

processes now going to the abdomen. I just feel so much more 'relaxed' in my

intestines and abdomen!

I get bouts of spastic colon sometimes still but not severe (about same as

pre-op but perhaps a little less frequent).

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

january 25, 2001

Dr. GAgner/Mt. Sinai/nYC

pre-op: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 225

August 22, 2001