Let's talk Poop

I have been having issues, like so many on here, with constipation. Here are some things that are helping me get things moving...
I drink grape juice- small glasses through the day, then a big one a couple of hours before bed.
I take a stool softener twice daily
I eat whole grain bread (which I have always done)
and I am eating apples by the bag.
I also try and cut down on pain meds which are so binding!

These things have all helped, and if I skip one thing, then I am backed up again.
I have also noticed that when I do go, it causes less swelling and pain, then I can take less pain meds.
I hope this helps some of you- it can be sooooo frustrating!

Great Suggestions!!! We share the same surgery date and you are sooo right, being able to go helps with the pain a TON!!

Thanks for the tips! I'm still struggling with pain (3.5 weeks post-op), so it is good to know that working for a BM will help with the pain.

Constipation has been a huge, daily struggle for me. I take prune juice every morning, two fiber pills and acidophilus after every meal, one Activia yogurt every morning, stool softeners twice a day (full dose), and dried apricots as snacks throughout the day. I have corn or salad with every meal, and lots of fruit and vegetables, and avoid binding foods like cheese. And even with all of this, I still can't have a single BM all day unless I also use a suppository (and sometimes Milk of Magnesia). And even though I drink a ton of water and take all of this fiber, they are hard and painful too.

I am so frustrated!!! Before my surgery, I always had 3-4 BMs every day, and I never got constipation.

I guess the ultimate remedy will be to get off the vicodin pain killers. I'm trying to move to just Aleve, but I still have a lot of pain that wakes me up in the night.

I am already eating so much fiber I barely have room for food, so the only other thing I can think of to do is increase my exercise. I do laps around the house 2-3 times a day (which is hard because I don't have much clear floor space). But as soon as the rain lets up (I live in Seattle), I'm going to try to walk up and down on the sidewalk in front of my house.

Wish me luck!