A frank queston.

So, I'm less than a week out of surgery...5 days to be exact. But I haven't "gone" yet. Like #2...I'm taking stool softeners everyday and drinking apple juice. I'm still on a full liquid diet but I've had potato and homemade chicken noodle-less soups. I know it took a little while after my RNY but I also remember it being aweful because I wasn't on softeners. So I guess my question is how long did it take and was it dramatic the first time you "went" after a TT? I am passing gass, but I don't have good control over my abdominal muscles that help in that department yet, and i'm a little scared to be honest.

It was about a week.  And the doc was not concerned as long as I was passing gas - that meant everything was working.  And it wasn't dramatic at all - I was on the stool softeners - no straining required at all.  You'll be fine.
L.

My surgeon instructed me to take a laxative the day after surgery and to take the stool softeners as long as I was still taking the pain meds. I never had any problems at all. If you still haven't gone I would definitely take a laxative.

If stool softeners are too harsh for you (they cramp me terribly), you can try femdolphilus from Whole Foods.  It is a combination of Lactobacillus and Acidolpholus and it works very well.  It is a probiotic combination.  Robin

Constipation after surgery can be a real nuisance, and quite uncomfortable.  It is caused by narcotic pain meds that have a serious slowing effect on the bowels.  Abdominal pain and diffculty straining add to the misery !

In addition to stool softeners and maintaining good hydration, I rec. either a glycerine suppository, or Duclolax suppository if there has been no BM for 36 hours. After that a Fleets enema can be used.

It's important to "work from below" as laxatives taken by mouth can cause cramping and don't really address the issue of the "sleepy colon." 

Yes, I did all 5 years of general surgery and an interns first duty was to do manual disimpactions at all hours.  I'm big on prevention !

" an interns first duty was to do manual disimpactions at all hours."

My butt puckered just reading that...LOL  I'm trying to decide who it's actually worse on,  you or the patient!!! LOLOL

MIRALAX from Walmart ...Mix it in about 1/3 cup of coffee for me or water or whatever you choose.  Just has surgery 2 weeks ago and my doc said to do one capful at first and see .
Works like a charm as I have problems in that area anyway being an RNY .
Hope this helps ,,,oh no gas or cramping from it either and isnt habit forming .
He actually told me to continue to see if it helps with the usual day to day problems I have.
IT WORKS :) 

I didn't go for 9 days, by then I was really backed up. Like Dr. L said, I ended (no pun intended) up using suppositories and enemas. You might want to double up on your stool softeners. I had surgery in 2/09 and I still use stool softeners everyday. Good luck!!!!

no one seems to have mentioned the fact that you are not consuming any roughage. you need some fiber to begin to go.