Constipation, gas and cramping year after reversal surgery: Normal?

I did the Metamucil fiber bars for a few months and they seemed to help. My Dr. suggested I use them

@lindadiane, welcome. I added your question to the Ostomy support group and the Digestive Heath support group. I hope you saw the helpful post from @alicevondall. I'm also tagging a few members like @cgrogers @barbwith3cats @mary6787 @rhs @timt293 @blinken @jvitanza1 who have had a reversal and can share more about their experiences.

Linda, have you had the issues with IBS, constipation, gas, etc. since the reversal or are these recent symptoms? When did you have the reversal done?

My surgeon advised me to get enough fiber in the food I eat, and to drink plenty of water to avoid constipation. I found that after my reversal surgery, that if I didn't drink enough water, I would have problems with constipation the next day. Try to keep track of the number of glasses of water you have in a day. Most people are surprised at how little they are actually drinking. Hope this helps.

Yes, drinking plenty of fluids and getting enough fiber is so important. Don’t limit yourself to just water. You should also be including soups , teas and prune juice in your diet as well as fruits and vegetables. Warm fluids are advised as they help with gastric motility, as well as getting enough daily exercise such as walking. All these measures will help move things along.

It will be 4 years since my reversal and I followed my surgeon's instructions by continuing on with Guar Gum fiber powder in my coffee in the morning which usually resulted in a bowel movement within an hour. I also ride a stationary bike after the coffee and bathroom visit, then ear 1/2 boiled egg and a small bowl of raisin bran to which I add chunks of apple and about 1/2 c. 2% milk. I was fairly successful with this regimen unless I deviated from it. Leaving the house before 10 a.m. upsets the routine. I learned this early and I also drink a LOT of water during the day so I make sure that I go only where there is a restroom nearby. In the past month or so I started eating a prune and Activia before bedtime. I started including more prunes during the day without much success. So I visited my primary care physician who asked me to use Miralax every day. He said I should start with one capful in the morning. He also said that I could adjust the dosage as I found an amount that was adequate but not too much. Also, he said that if this has not resolved within 3 months, he would like me to have a colonoscopy to make sure there are no physical issues causing the change in my bowel habits. I am still in the adjustment stage and am thinking that I might use it before bed instead of in the morning. I wish you luck in your journey.

I drink green tea twice a day. Eat a couple prunes. I ride my stationary bike every day. I'll try more water. Thank you for your reply

I have tried miralax many times. It aggravated my IBS. Sometimes the prunes or raisin bran help. Sometimes not. I did try the Activia for awhile which also aggravated my IBS. I will try to be more conscious about the amount of water I drink. I do eat fruit a few times a day. Thank you for your reply.

I will definitely start keeping track of my water intake. Probably don't drink enough. Thank you for your response

My sigmoid and part of the descending colon was removed 5 mths ago. I battled with constipation since the surgery. With trial and error, what works for me is taking senacot every evening, drinking lots of water through the day and walking around the block daily. My Dr stressed that stools need to be soft and daily, as the healing inside takes time.

I will look into senacort. Thank you