Week one down

I am officially one week post-op today! While I am thrilled to be on this side of surgery, I know I still have so much to learn and accomplish. I am fighting a bit of head hunger and am still really swollen.  I guess the swelling could be gas because I've not been walking as much as I should (and haven't had a BM). The head hunger abated a bit today since I was able to start on puréed foods.  I have been experiencing a lot of tension (not painful) in my belly in the evenings and the pain meds help that to relax. I hate that I am still taking them but c'est la vie.  The best part is that I lost the 8 lbs of water gain from the hospital within a couple of days and then another 11.8 lbs this week. I am sure that will slow down now that I am off full liquids, though. Anyway, I appreciate any tips you all can share!

I'm so glad you are doing so well.  Welcome to the loser's bench! 

Just one thought.  A week without a BM seems long to me.  I found that after surgery, I had terrible constipation, so I started taking miralax regularly, and I still do so even now.  You might want to ask your surgeon or NP or Nutritionist about how long its been without a BM and whether you might need a laxative.   Its worth asking, just to be on the safe side. 

best of luck,

Carol

The pain meds will also keep you from having a BM.  I had to take them this summer and was over two weeks without a BM in spite of taking laxatives.

Pain medicine is very risky to take as a means of relaxing.  It is very addictive.  I hope you find another way to deal with the tension and get off the pain pills.

Congrats!

Reading your post was almost like reading my life.  lol.  I am one week down as well.  I didn't have a BM until yesterday, and apparently had torn something on the inside because it was so hard and I pushed so hard.  I know that is way too much info.  Try a stool softener and and Miralax, as suggested.  I talked to my surgeon yesterday and that is what I was told to do because a week is way too long.  I too suffer with pain in the evening and swelling in my stomach.  I haven't been taking any pain meds the last couple of days though.  And I also probably need to get out and walk more.  I am down 14.8 pounds and expect that to slow down as well.

One more thing, make sure you are getting in a lot of fluids!  It's hard to do on the pureed food stage.  

Best of luck to you!

Please speak with your doctor about that BM. After back surgery I didn't go for over a week and became impacted. Even a laxative didn't help at that point. The stool had to be manually removed. Please call your doctor now!

Welcome to the loser's bench, Lola!