Question:
Is it normal for you not to have a bowel movement for 2 days
My mother just had rny surgery lap on last Wednesday and she is extremely weak all over. She just told me that she hasn't had a boo boo in 2 days, Is this normal. Her doctor at the hospital sent her home on insulin and she was on the diabetic pills for almost 2 years. The insulin dropped her sugar level to 23, which is really low. Could that be a reason. Help!!! By the way, her sugar level is back to normal since she stopped the insulin shots, but its going down again. Her doctor won't be in until Monday. Please help — tina T. (posted on November 20, 2002)
November 20, 2002
I didn't have my first bowel movement until 2 weeks after my open RNY on
7/17. Of course, being on a liquid diet and bowel prep two days before
and being on nothing but liquids afterwards, I didn't have anything to poop
*G*.
<p>
As far as the insulin and blood sugars go, is your mother a Type I or a
Type II diabetic? Most, if not all, Type II diabetic are usually taken
off their diabetic medications post-op, from what I have seen (I was a Type
II diabetic and my PCP stopped my Glucotrol XL 2 days prior to surgery and
I have not taken it since). The amount of caloric intake post-surgery is
going to wreak havoc with your mother's blood sugars if she is on insulin
or other diabetic medicine.
<p>
Which doctor won't be in until Monday - her surgeon (who shouldn't have
anything to do with regulating her diabetes anyhow) or her primary (who
should be treating her diabetes)?? Most doctors have someone who covers
their patients when they are out - call the doctor's service and find out
who's on call...JR
— John Rushton
November 20, 2002
Hi! I had Lap RNY on Monday, Nov 11th. I didn't have any BM until Thursday.
It was mostly diarhea like but it was a BM non the less. Apple juice seemed
to be the key for me to get things going again!
— Colleen S.
November 20, 2002
I had to wait 5 days before I had a BM. Don't wait until Monday for your
mom to be seen. Contact the doctor's office and arrange to see the
physician covering him. She should be re=evaluated ASAP.
— Marian B.
November 20, 2002
I had the opposite problem: I drank milk and it gave me the runs every day
for about 4 weeks. After I found out what was causing it I stopped and
after that I would go 2-4 days without having a BM, then it would come all
at once and I felt like I had lost about 5-7 lbs. in one swoop. Drink lots
of water to better BMs.
— Betty Todd
November 20, 2002
hi there :) when i first came home from the hospital, 6 days had gone by
with nothing. this really freaked me out and i had fears of obstruction
running through my head. well, now at 9 months out im an every four days
person with usually 2 days in a row then waits four days again. im used to
it now and all is well, no obstructions. she could talk to doc if shes
really scared but i think its pretty common for the toilet routines to
change after wls. best of luck :)
— carrie M.
November 20, 2002
I think I must have had the all time record for not having a "boo
boo" as you call it. I went an astonishing 13 days after my surgery
without having a bowel movement. I did have a couple trips to the bathroom
in high hopes but it never produced anything to even count as a bowel
movement. I am talking maybe 2 tablespoons total. Sorry to be so graphic.
I never did have a blockage or anything. In fact I wasn't even
constipated from that. I guess because I was on the clear liquids for a
couple of weeks I just wasn't producing that much waste. I don't know.
Anyway, it's normal for me to go 2 or 3 days between bowel movements now
and I am almost 4 months out. Since she is so newly post-op though I would
keep on top of the water intake. That helps a lot. Any pain killers she
might be on could cause constipation as well. I would keep the
suppositories on hand just in case.
— Laurel C.
November 20, 2002
LITTLE IN
LITTLE OUT
— Kathleen M.
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