What implications might bariatric surgery have on my bowel function?

This is a question that is often asked of me. Constipation is most likely to occur in the case of the three most common bariatric operations; Rou en-Y gastric bypass, adjustable gastric band and gastric sleeve operations. This is most likely to happen early after surgery for 2 reasons. First, taking pain meds that contain narcotics such as Percocet or codeine causes the bowel to slow down and stool to become hard and dry. Secondly, soon after surgery you are consuming very little fiber. Treatment is relatively simple.
1). Stop all narcotics if possible
2). Take Miralax for immediate relief
3). Take Benefiber, which can be added to all of your fluids since it is dissoluble. Your goal is to take 25 grams of fiber each day. This may seem to be a truck load of Benefiber but eventually some of your fiber will come from other sources of food.
4). You may want to add over-the-counter Colase 100 mg twice daily.
If you follow this plan you should not have further problems with constipation.
Some other operations such as BPD with or without duodenal swith, long limb gastric bypass and the antiquated JI bypass are much more malabsoptive and will cause chronic diarhea.