Glad for your success. Your last line says it very well…it requires patience !! I had similar surgery and took it very gently with diet, sometimes used colace for gentle help….introduced new foods very carefully….eventually am eating most healthy, fresh, unprocessed foods…eat 1 dried apricot every afternoon and go normally the next morning, no need for laxatives…we learn to listen to our own bodies ever better to survive as well as possible.best of health to all !