Anyone find balance between constipation & loose stools after RNY?

Hi, @dolphinpoo - I'd like to tag a few Mayo Clinic Connect members who may know about experiencing constipation or loose stools after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery and trying to get a a healthy balance @bborth @nova1976 @cheeky123 @misssuezq @joysmiley64 @nova1976.

Thinking of you, dolphinpoo, and wondering how things have gone for you in the past few months post-Roux-en-Y gastric bypass?

Just horrible.........this seems like a bad trade off. They got rid of the reflux after 20 years of suffering, and traded for horrible constipation and distension of stomach and pain. Unfortunately Mayo clinic dropped the ball!!!! Left me suffering for weeks and now I'm waiting for appointments and this is my the quality of life now. I've made food logs. Several appointments with diaticians. changed diet several times. Tried Miralx, Collace, Metamucil. It appears it doesnt matter what I eat or my physical activities. I am going a bit nuts over this.....

Sorry........I am just upset. And hurting.. I was thrilled that Dr. Bowers fixed 25 years of suffering from GERDS. And also the Baretts esophogus. But I have been hurting for a long time. Trying to gain weight after this surgery has been a damn chore. I have been working diligently at that. I been going to gym and have been physically active. I have changed my diet several times. I have tried to find GI doctor near my home 2.5 hours from Jacksonville but they say my case is too complicated for them. ok back to Mayo clinic.......????

Hello. I had my surgery done in 2005. Recently I was diagnosed with BAM. it was awful, continuous, unpredictable diarrhea. Went to an Gastro Dr. for a year, who blamed my issues on what I was eating. At that time I stopped sugar, dairy, coffee, white bread, and artificial sweeteners (diet drinks). Went to see a new dr. Within an hour I was diagnosed, put on one medication and I haven’t looked bad. I understand this has been a relatively new issue.

What medication?

Hi, @dlc1953 - I agree with @dolphinpoo that it would be great if you could share what medication helped you with the post-surgery awful and unpredictable diarrhea.

I have had chronic diarrhea since my roux-n-y in 2018. It is very distressing. I also just learned I have pancreatic insufficency,also likely due to thebypass surgery. I am taking pancreatic enzymes. I hope they work to control the diarrhea.

Hi, @tslayden - you talked about having chronic diarrheas since your 2018 roux-n-y in 2018. That is a long time to deal with diarrhea. I had basically chronic diarrhea when taking semaglutide (Wegovy), and it was miserable. I had to clean the toilet at least daily.

You said you hoped the pancreatic enzymes worked to control the diarrhea. How are they working so far?

So far, I can see no real difference with the new enzymes. I think the diarrhea is due to having a gastric bypass in 2018, but I don’t remember the diarrhea starting until later, after I had been on antibiotics for something else. They thought I had SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and treated that with a specific antibiotic (xifaxin?) which worked but cost $2000 for two weeks. I was able to get samples to cover it that time. Now I am on Medicare which actually said they would pay for but at that point they were trying me on a different antibiotic (which did not work). I have an upcoming phone call with digestive disease nurse practitioner but I doubt she will try anything new before I have a colonoscopy in three weeks. I had been using a lot of immodium daily and she also prescribed Lomotil which helps. Thank you for your question and concern. Are you still taking Wegovy?

I am not taking the Wegovy anymore due to the really harsh GI symptoms. Problem is, I've now having similar challenges with the Zepbound since reaching the 7.5 dose and have not yet lost weight from it.

How did your results differ taking diphenoxylate and atropine (lomotil) compared with loperamide (Imodium)?