Question:
Wondering about having a BM

I was on liquid diet for only 3 days pre op and the week before I chose to eat only one light meal a day and Ensure for the other two meals for @ weeks. My Last BM was on the night before surgery and it was really tiny almost non existant. I was operated on Feb 11th 2010 and thus far being only a week out I still have not had a BM. I don't even have the feeling to go. How long on average does it take to get going?? I started Protein shakes on Feb 16th.I thought that I should have had something by now. Is this typical???    — OntarioSilk (posted on February 17, 2010)

February 17, 2010
I get very constipated from the anesthesia. You should talk to your doctor about it. It is usual to have a reduced volume of output, but there should be some.
   — beccay10

February 17, 2010
Since my surgery I have constant constipation. I take a lot of products to go to the bathroom, it is a hit and miss operation finding the product that works.
   — FSUMom

February 17, 2010
It is quite common, and I had a similar problem. At 8 days out from surgery I contacted my surgeon as I hadn't had a BM yet either. He had me take double the dose of Milk of Magnesia recommended and if no BM in 6 hours to do it again, and that did it. Now, I take Miralax (actually WalMart's generic version called ClearLax) - I take a dose every other day and it makes my stools soft and regular. I have tried several other products, but this works best for me. Be sure you are drinking plenty of water, too! Need to keep flushing things through our system. I know it is hard right after surgery, but as you can drink more, be sure to do so.
   — Wendy M.