TMI Question - I have to ask because it's starting to freak me out!

I love my mom and I know she means well, but her constantly asking me if I've had a bowel movement is really starting to freak me out.  I haven't had one since I went in for surgery on 2/29.  The nurses and doctors didn't bring it up at all while I was in the hospital and there's nothing listed in either my discharge papers or any papers I got from the surgeon's office.  Should I be concerned?  I mean I'm drinking everything just fine and am able to go #1.  It's just not being able to go #2.

I don't want to scare you but I WISH someone had asked
me that after surgery. I had one loose stool afterwards
and kinda lost trac****IL I was two weeks post surgery
and severely constipated. I had never experienced this before. I wish
I had been told to take some stool softeners and I also wish someone
had told me to take miralax the MOMENT I could no go. I ended up in Urgent
Care the night before I was to return to work and it took two days until I got
through it all. So, your mom is being well meaning....you may not at all be
constipated but if you do not go soon I would start taking something.

Good luck!!!

~~Jennifer

Thanks for the advice, Jennifer.

Let me ask you a few questions.  Did you have to do a bowel prep before your surgery?  And how much food have you eating since your surgery?
If you did do a prep and haven't had any solid food since then of course you won't go.  Nothing in, nothing out.
My surgeon said it would be OK for me to take Milk of Magnesia after surgery if needed.  If you are uncomfortable then ask your doctor.
I did have issues with constipation after surgery and I finally found a plan that works for me, at least about 95% of the time.  I take Miralax daily.  I found that taking it occasionally did nothing, I have to have it regularly.  My doctor prescribed it so my insurance will cover it and I don't have to pay as much.  I also take magnesium oxide 500 mg twice a day and I have a lot of fiber.  I can get it from my food now but before I used Fiber Choice to get it in.  I used to take stool softeners but I found that it didn't make such a difference.  I wouldn't worry about that right now unless it becomes a problem. 
About 2 weeks after my surgery I had terrible diarrhea, very watery.  I heard this was common because the intestines were flushed with some kind of solution during the surgery and then all I consumed was liquid.  After that I started getting constipated.

No bowel prep prior to surgery and I've been on all liquids since I came home.  I've been drinking my protein shakes (a little at a time), water and Crystal Light.  But no solid food.

 I think it took me a week to go.  Some surgeons restrict what we use post op.  if you still haven't gone in a day or so call your surgeons nurse and ask what they recommend.

I'll probably give the surgeon's nurse a call tomorrow just to be on the safe side.  Thanks!

Yes, please do not let this go! I could take MOM after surgery, and I was constipated after I got home. BUT, like others said, no one mentioned Metamucil or stool softeners to take daily. I had such a horrible Sunday about 3-4 weeks after surgery I was miserable. So, now I take Metamucil daily, lots and lots of fluids and stool softeners daily. Sometimes I take some senokot. Drinking low sodium V8 helps as well.

That was my only complaint about my surgery. I never realized how bad it could get. Now, it is at least manageable.

I'm glad you are calling tomorrow!

Lynn

 I was prescribed a stool softener as part of my discharge medications.( unfortunately they were huge pills that I wasn't supposed to swallow with the suggestion that I pierce them to get the inner medicine--bitter, blech, not recommended)   Stool softeners are often prescribed when patients are taking pain medication because pain medications such as Vicodin and Percocet can be constipating. Everyone is different, but it's something worth watching out for. 

I had no bowel prep either.  I had my surgery on a Monday and went home on  Friday and still hadn't gone and he was fine - he said with all liquids it would take a while for the bowels to wake up.  He said if after 5 days, I hadnt' gone which would be Saturday, I get some Milk of Magnesia and use that for 2 days and if that didnt' work to get some dulcolax suppositories.  If worst came to worst to get an enema but he really didnt' want that after surgery.  I used the 2 doses of Milk of magnesia and nothing but the dulcolax worked.  After that, I went.

After other surgery I had, he suggested I keep stool softeners and senokot in the house to prevent from getting constipated and I could take 2 colace and 2 or 3 senikot if needed per night but havent' needed since the summer.

I wish you the best and dont' worry right now, you only have liquids in you  - it will also be soft at frst