OPTI and lack of a BM

My apologies if this is TMI - especially for a Monday morning. I've been on OPTI fast for 10 days (day 11 starting today) and I have barely had a BM. The only thing my surgeon says I can take is Benefibre. I've been taking it and it's not working. I'm not gasy or in pain but I can't imagine this is good for my body! The OPTI + an iron supplement + multi vitamin w/ iron....UGH! Any suggestions?

If you don't feel constipated then I'd not worry about it.  When I did Opti 8 years ago, I had diarrhea on day 3-4 then I think I likely only went 3 times in the next 18 days.  You sure  you are supposed to keep taking your vitamins?  I was told to stop mine when on Opti as they have vitamins in them.  I was allowed metamucil, the unflavoured kind, instead of benefibre.  They make metamucil pills nowadays and lots of the centres recommend them.

Iron supplements can make you constipated. I would not go into surgery backed up. This could cause you problems after.

Call your center.  I know Humber is open today. They may want you to try some milk of magnesia or something else. I agree with Pat you definitely do not want to be backed up going into surgery

Call your centre, but I was allowed to take a Senekot tablet to help with constipation - make sure you are drinking lots and lots and lots of water. 

I'm on day 14 of opti and I would almost take some constipation right about now.

Words of wisdom based on personal experience---be sure that you have had a bowel movement before surgery or it will be awful afterwards!! I didn't realize in all the hustle & bustle pre-op that I hadn't gone for 3-4 days before surgery day & then with the affect of the anisthetic on my body after surgery, I ended up being 11 days & a trip to ER for help before I got things moving again. And it wasn't an easy situation for a few days after that either :( A very unpleasant experience overall :(

Do whatever you have to, to go before surgery!! (Milk of Magnesia, suppository, whatever!!)

 

Here in Ottawa, they tell us straight up: take 2 Metamucil capsules with every Opti shake. We can take up to 5 capsules per shake (there were days when I had 10-15 capsules per day!).

By doing so, we help alleviate the symptoms of either Opti-trots or constipation as Metamucil helps both ways!

And please do not go into surgery without having a BM; the anaesthesia will definitely cause you a problem! Check with your centre, to see what they recommend. But I would suspect the iron is certainly contributing to this problem too. Good luck!