Hi Erin : ) ! Yeah, I stopped everything immediately. BUT - I have to emphasize that I never had constipation in my life. I always went to the bathroom 1 or 2 times a day. Because of that when I started with softeners I went 5 times a day which caused me to drop 20 pounds in 4 months - and I ended being 116 pounds before surgery (I am 5 feet 6", so it was really not good). Since my diet had a lot of fiber anyway too, adding Metamucile was all that was needed for me. I tried other "fibers" but Metamucil works for me the best. I drink it WITH food, so it mixes up with it and makes it nice and fluffy. We are all different, so you must find what works for you , but I strongly believe that what my CRS said is true. As any other muscle - you use it -or you loose it...
I wish you all the best and I am sure that you will heal just fine : ))) !!!