Stool Softener

Another question! When I was reading random surgeon's FAQ pages yesterday I found the recommendation for Colace/stool softener post-op. Is that a thing I should get?

Yes, and take it before surgery. And then keep taking it. Particularly with the LBL, you do NOT want to have to strain.

I didn't take it but should have. I was going to take it after but because I only had opiates for 24 hours (had to stop due to nausea which even Zofran wasn't completely eliminating), I didn't think I needed to (didn't take it after WLS). Bad decision! About day 5-6 I thought I was going to die - basically impacted. I searched OH for what to do and luckily it worked.

Yes, take it! You might have to experiment a bit as to the best time of day. I didn't and ended up with a fissure. Believe me you don't want that, I'm still trying to heal.

Only took it after my thigh surgery since I was very dependent on the pain pills after that & those can cause you to get backed up. After my LBL & arms only took the pain pills at night after 3 days so no issues w/ getting backed up.

Pain killers can make you constipated. If you aren't already :) For me Colace doesn't work as well as Miralax and I get more gas/cramps/bloating from it. With Miralax, except for the intended result I never knew I took it ...I put it in my coffee in AM

I cannot stress enough the wisdom in taking colace or some other strong laxative from Day 1 post-op. Especially until you have that first post-op bowel movement. OTC laxative like Restoralax is likely not enough to combat the pain killer related constipation no matter what your water/fiber consumption.

My doctor did not tell me this and after my first surgery (breast lift, abdominoplasty) I ended up in Urgent Care on day 6 so impacted I needed 2 enemas along with 'digital' involvement from the doctor to deal with the 'baseballs' inside me. (And I've always been very regular). I'd been taking Restoralax daily starting Day 3. Not fun at the best of times but when you are dealing with incisions and drains while lying in Urgent Care trying to assume the 'enema position' it's excruciating, not to mention when everything kicks in. Do yourself a favor and take the strong laxative. Save yourself from the difficult straining and a potentially more difficult situation.

Once I had the first BM I only needed the colace once or twice more in that first 10 days as I was tapering off pain killers. Restoralax and water/fiber was able to carry me through the rest.