Question:
Brusing and constipation

How do I stop the burning pain from where they completed most of the work for my bypass and how long before I should be able to have a BM. I had surgery Tuesday.    — djank66 (posted on February 2, 2008)

February 1, 2008
There's nothing you can do for the pain except take the pain meds your doctor prescribed. Sometimes a heating pad can help, but don't keep it on the area more than 20 minutes at a time. As far as BM's I had my surgery on a Wednesday and didn't have one of those until Saturday. Maybe this is TMI, but don't be surprised by the color (it will probably be black). This is normal. Good luck, rest, make sure you get all your fluids and protein, and I wish you a speedy recovery. Welcome to a new world!
   — Shirley D.

February 1, 2008
Some patients experience pain and some do not. If you had an open RNY, then I can understand pain. I had the LAP RNY and had minimal pain, only using the morphine pump 1/2 day past surgery. No other pains at all. When you had surgery, you're system was cleaned out in the pre surgery stage. You've only been on clear liquids, and this has done little to build up solid waste. After surgery, many patients will not have a BM for a few days, becuase of nothing but clear liquids. I think it was 3 days post op before my first. Then every couple of days. After I began semi soft foods, they came every 2 days. I'd recommend getting some stool softeners, as they will help the constipation that probably happen in the next few weeks. Almost 100% of the people I see at 3 monthly support groups use stool softeners every day.
   — Dave Chambers

February 1, 2008
If you are having burning pain still from your surgery once released from the hospital I would call your doctor. Not sure how long you were in the hospital, but burning pain to me suggests maybe an infection, but I didn't have burning pain. If it just uncomfortable pain then that is normal and that should subside each day. I would also put some heat to it. But again if it is burning pain I would call your doctor. As far as bowel movements I didn't not move mine probably five six days from surgery. It was pure liquid for about two three days.
   — iwilllose

February 2, 2008
THEY HAD ME ON STOOL SOFTNERS FOR THE FRIST 3 MO.I HAD1ST BMI THE DAY I LEFT HOSPITAL.MAKE SURE YOU GET ON THEM CASUSE YOU WILL BE SORRY IF YOU DON'T.AS FAR AS THE BURNING I DIDN'T HAVE THAT CALL YOUR DR. TO MAKE SURE YOU DON'T HAVE AN INFECTION. GOOD LUCK ON LOSING!!!!!!!!! LEHIGH
   — lehigh

February 2, 2008
You should ask your doctor for some Liquid Loratab for the pain. It helped me for the first week I was home. Try to get some rest and that helps the healing. If you do not have a small BM by Monday, call your surgeon for direction. I was in the hospital for 5 days and had one before the would relase me, but not all doctors have the same rules.
   — William (Bill) wmil

February 2, 2008
I'm not sure about burning pain because I didn't experience that. Lack of bowel movement is normal; basically because you don't have anything of substance in your stomach at the moment. Don't worry, they will come --just keep drinking your fluids so you don't get constipated.
   — the7thdean

February 2, 2008
My RNY was in October and constipation has been a problem since the beginning. From the people I know who have had the surgery it is a continuous problem. You have to use stool softeners or laxatives, that is one of the things they don't tell you before hand. I'm still glad I had the surgery though.
   — t_roxus