Doctors operating on a patient.
Image Credit: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images Gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of the stomach in people living with obesity and reroutes the digestive system to block some calorie absorption, according to MedlinePlus. Patients often complain of constipation in the first three months after surgery due to reduced intake of food and water, as well as side effects of iron supplements, pain relieving narcotics and other medications, according to Sinai Hospital. Increasing dietary fiber and water, exercising and stool softeners should help to prevent and treat postoperative constipation, but patients should consult their surgeons if symptoms persist.
Advertisement
Step 1
Medical professional pouring medicine into a spoon.
Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Contact your bariatric surgeon for instructions if you had surgery less than one month ago. Some surgeons advise patients to try a dose of Milk of Magnesia for constipation during the early postoperative period, while others prefer that contact the office before taking any laxatives, says Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Advertisement
Video of the Day
Step 2
Close up of water being poured into a glass.
Image Credit: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images Drink at least 64 oz. of water or other sugar-free, caffeine-free fluids daily to prevent and treat constipation, says Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. In hot weather and during physical exertion, increase fluid intake to replace fluids lost through sweating. Drink fluids between meals since fluid intake during meals can cause you to feel over-full, reducing the amount of nutrient-rich foods you can take in, advises MedlinePlus.
Advertisement
Step 3
Powder mix being poured into glass of water.
Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images Drink water mixed with an over-the-counter fiber supplement powder every day to treat and prevent constipation, says Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Advertisement
Step 4
Oats with a metal scoop.
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Add dietary fiber if you are eating soft or regular foods. Increase fiber slowly to avoid bloating and intestinal gas. Try adding unprocessed bran to ground meat, salads or yogurt, or use dried peas and beans to provide protein plus fiber, suggests Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Eat oatmeal, sugar-free applesauce, a baked potato with skin, bran cereal, whole grain bread or unsweetened pureed prunes every day to increase fiber and treat constipation, says Sinai Hospital.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Step 5
2 bananas.
Image Credit: John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images Avoid foods that tend to increase constipation, including bananas, cheese, rice, potatoes without the skin and peanut butter, says Eastern Idaho Medical Center.
Advertisement
Step 6
Woman stretching outdoors.
Image Credit: Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images Exercise daily to increase bowel motility. Walking and core exercises that improve abdominal strength help to prevent and treat constipation.
Advertisement
Step 7
A box of pills on a table.
Image Credit: Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images Choose your supplements wisely. Take calcium citrate instead of calcium carbonate, which is not digested well after gastric bypass and may cause constipation, says Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. Taking a compound supplement with a 2-to-1 ratio of calcium to magnesium produces softer and more frequent bowel movements. Ferrous fumerate or ferrous gluconate iron supplements cause less constipation after gastric bypass surgery than other forms of iron.
Advertisement
Step 8
Surgeon talking to patient.
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images Consult your bariatric surgeon about stool softeners such as docusate sodium if other measures do not relieve your constipation within five days, says Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.
Things You'll Need
High-fiber foods Fiber supplements Water Laxatives, if permitted Tip Always follow your bariatric surgeon’s instructions exactly. Warning Do not mistake a bowel obstruction – blockage of the small or large intestine – for constipation. A bowel obstruction causes intense cramping and abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distention and dehydration, says Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. If you suspect a bowel obstruction, stop eating and drinking, and contact your bariatric surgeon for instructions. Do not take laxatives unless instructed to do so. Bowel obstructions may require surgery so do not treat the condition lightly.
Advertisement
Advertisement
references
Sinai Hospital: Problems Following GBP Surgery
MedlinePlus: Gastric Bypass Diet
references
Sinai Hospital: Problems Following GBP Surgery
MedlinePlus: Gastric Bypass Diet
Doctors operating on a patient.
Image Credit: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
Image Credit: Pixland/Pixland/Getty Images
Medical professional pouring medicine into a spoon.
Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Close up of water being poured into a glass.
Image Credit: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
Image Credit: Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
Powder mix being poured into glass of water.
Image Credit: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Oats with a metal scoop.
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
2 bananas.
Image Credit: John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Image Credit: John Foxx/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Woman stretching outdoors.
Image Credit: Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
Image Credit: Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
A box of pills on a table.
Image Credit: Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Image Credit: Visage/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Surgeon talking to patient.
Image Credit: Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
- High-fiber foods
- Fiber supplements
- Water
- Laxatives, if permitted
Always follow your bariatric surgeon’s instructions exactly.
Do not mistake a bowel obstruction – blockage of the small or large intestine – for constipation. A bowel obstruction causes intense cramping and abdominal pain, vomiting, abdominal distention and dehydration, says Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. If you suspect a bowel obstruction, stop eating and drinking, and contact your bariatric surgeon for instructions. Do not take laxatives unless instructed to do so. Bowel obstructions may require surgery so do not treat the condition lightly.
Sinai Hospital: Problems Following GBP Surgery
MedlinePlus: Gastric Bypass Diet
