Question:
5 days post op--passing very little gas-no bm yet. Is this normal?

   — Joanne S. (posted on January 7, 2002)

January 7, 2002
I had that problem as well, its important that you have a bm after surgery but in this case we have such a limited intake of food its not surprising that one cannot have a bm...you should have one here shortly and if you dont i would contact your dr...if you dont have one, there could be problems and you want to get that taken care of right away..... my nurse told me to try a stool softner (not a laxative) to help.....
   — Deanna Wise

January 7, 2002
It was 5 days post-op for me before I had a BM and then it wasn't much to speak of. You are passing gas and that means your intestines are working, so be patient, you'll have one soon. Like the first poster said, there is very little in there to work with right now, but as you begin to drink fluids, especially the full liquids, you will start havine regular BM's. Regular could be every other day or every day, everyone seems to be different. Me, I'm an every other dayer.
   — Susan M.

January 7, 2002
I had one solid BM after getting home from the hospital within a day or two. Then, I started the Carnation Instant Breakfast shakes with skim milk, then I added yogurt...then I had diarrhea everyday for 3 weeks until I found out it was too much milk-sugar. Gas will really get "good" (pfew)after you start drinking protein. For a year now I won't have a BM for several days and then I'll be have a huge one. You sound "normal" to me.
   — Betty Todd

January 7, 2002
I was in the hospital for 4 days....once home I finally had a BM on day number 7. My doc was not worried about it as he said there was soo little food and it had a ways to travel. I did have bowel tones before I left the hospital. You sound normal to me! Good Luck!
   — Pamela W.