Post Surgery Bowel Movement

Hi everyone,

So, I'm 9 days post-op and have only had one very SMALL movement since 4 or 5 days before my surgery. (and that was with having taken a stool softener the night before) My question is, how long before things get kinda back to normal? I had my surgery in Guelph so I was on clear fluids for a week and just started full fluids yesterday. I know everyone is different, but I'm curious about your experience!

Thanks,

Sarah

You need to start taking a laxative now. Don't let it go on too long! I used Senokot S and it worked finally after a couple of doses. I took 3 at night and then 3 again in the morning. Good luck.

stool softener and laxative. You will by nature be constipated due to the protein and calcium pills. I added magnesium citrate which helped, but I got bad I was prescribed an oral enema. I had extremely large hard and painful to pass stools. It could take the better part of an hour in the bathroom. Dont be like me. lol so not fun.

I was suffering similar problems (painful all the time, days between poops) and my physician recommended a stool softener that is for babies. It mixes with water / anything and you cannot taste it - best of all it's not anything that will give problems down the road. since then, it's been heaven in the bathroom and it worked within a day - if I forget to take it at night, I know in the morning :)

Good luck!

Bob

what was it called? i might ask my Doctor to prescribe for me. i have had issues and ended up with internal bleeding hemmroids as a result and i use 3 senekot in the morning, 3 at night and restrolax daily and i still go up to 3 days before i have a bowel movement. I've tried all kinds of stuff and still having issues.

Hi There, sorry for the delayed answer, I was out of town. The magic potion (for me) is called ClearLax (Life Brand) and it can be bought off the shelf without a prescription at Shoppers Drugmart. It's been my savior and has no flavor, I mix it with old water and you cannot tell it's in there.

Milk of Magnesia seems to work for me. Had my surgery mid Aug. and have been suffering with constipation since. Took Senokot, generic Colace (softener) -- ate prunes and so on.

Every 3rd day - the pain of passing stool was like passing a pineapple! Found words in my vocabulary that I never hyphenated before. Sailors would blush! I think dehydration and insufficient exercise have contributed. Dehydration makes me lose my balance and oddly since surgery I am feeling some old broken foot war wounds -- so walks down our hilly forest road have been limited.

HI Sarah

I assumed because I wasn't eating anything early on...I somehow wasn't accumulating ...that's why I wasn't going. WOW.. WRONG!!!!!

I believe I had my first BM 5 days post op, it was the next month or so after that I had the worst time with it. I has terrible bouts, so bad in fact I NEVER wanted to go through it again!!! I bought every product I could get my hands on. It took lots of trial and error and combinations before I found relief. Now I will not let myself go more than 2 days without a BM because I know what can happen.

Clinics will likely suggest softeners, senekot, small amts of prune juice followed by hot liquids ( none of which seemed to work for me at that time). I would take excessive amts of softeners and it would still remain like "cement" !! Restoralax and Milk of Magnesia seem to work the best for me.

Everyone I have spoke to has had this problem to some degree. Liquids are definitely your friend in combating constipation but it is so hard to get the liquids in at the first stages. Now I'm 12weeks and the situation has improved greatly, but I do keep a close eye on it and record it.

Did your clinic not have you in for a 1wk post apt???? This is where they would typically address a problem like this.

My best advice is to contact your clinic or GP. We can only tell you our experiences.... but we aren't doctors. This can be a serious thing so you should go straight to the pros !!!! Let me know how it goes

You have been given some good advice. I would like to stress getting enough water in or some of these remedies will actually make it worse. Water is our friend

Hi,

I am almost 3 weeks post op and didn't have my first BM until 5 days out and then developed issues with loose stools for about a week. Since I started the full liquid stage things have been fairly regular. Take these words to hear****er... Water.. Water. 2 Litres a day, not including the amount you get with your protein shakes. Try to get it in ya... I know it's hard but if your dehydrated your bowels will suffer. You could also try a fiber supplement like benefiber to bulk up your BM's. Hope this helps

Chanti