Constipation

I need advise...I am about 1 month post op and I am very constipated...Can someone suggest a stool softener that I can purchase? I need to buy this ASAP...I have to go and when i just tried I was bleeding PLEASE HELP

Welcome to my world....it sucks!

For immediate relief, I found the best thing to be Dulcolax Suppositories.  Works within 15 mins to 1 hour.  I was told my by suregon NOT to take the dulcolax by mouth tablets, but the suppositories were OK. Uncomfortable to say the least - but just pu**** on up there.  The trick is to wait as long as possible to go - you want it staying up there to soften as much stool as possible.  There was some mild cramping invovled. This didn't work for a friend of mine, but the following did.

I moved on after that to Peri-Colace (you can also buy the store brand.  You want to look for docusate sodium with senna laxataive)  You can take, per the bottle, 2-4 tablets a day.  I started with two tabs in the morning and two tabs at night.  I slowly weaned myself down, as it caused cramping often for me and I didn't like it, but it DID help me go.

Now I only take it as needed, and have found I don't need it as long as I eat 4 "Sunsweet One Dried Plumbs" a day.  There's something to be said about old fashioned prune therapy!  You will probably need to wait a little bit before you can have them, though. The bleeding is probably due to irritation from the hard stool, and possibly from irritation/rupture of hemmorroids from pushing.  I had that same exact problem as well.  Expect to be sore down there for awhile.  I used Prep H pads and cream to help with the irritation. If the bleeding is really significant, I would let your doc know.  Also let your doc know about the constipation.  It is common after surgery, but they should know about it.  Make sure you are getting in AT LEAST 64 ounces of decaf sf liquids a day, but more is better.  Also, if you are allowed fruits and veggies at this point, start incorporating them - it's hard to fit it all in, but you'll get there. Best of luck! Pam

Hello:

I too had a bad constipation problem following surgery ... probably the worst part of the whole experience ... but not too bad considering all of the good things that came from my surgery. One of the biggest things that made a difference was drinking LOTS and LOTS of WATER!! The more water that I had the less constipation I ended up with. I tried Metamucil but had a hard time drinking it. One of the better things was chewing on dried prunes and eating LOTS of them over time and it seemed to help me the most.

I hope that this helps you a little bit ... but it WILL go away soon and you will do much better. I wish you luck and to feel good.

Michael Rosen

Hi Ninny02, All you have to do is drink a glass of ho****er, and you will feel better.  It works for me everytime.  This is an old home remedy, and it works real fast.  Hope my suggestion was helpful.  I hope you feel better.

Thank you! Im trying this now...Hopefully it works...Cause Im still hurting here... :-(

Hi Ninny02, Let me know if it worked.

Hi,  I was just wondering did my suggestion work??

I drank the ho****er but nothing happened...Then after an hour or so I took Ducolax and Milk of Magnesia again...thanks for your suggestion though

It always worked for everyone in my family.  I would talk to your doctor if the constipation continues.  Sorry it didn't help.  I hope you feel better.

early out we did the milk of magnesia -- but we also take 2 stool softeners every day with our vitamins -- per dr suggestion -- i make sure i get in all my water -- dont have a problem and i'm almost 16 months out -- good luck :)  roberta