I had surgery on Tuesday and have been on pain pills since. But, I've also taken 2 stool softners (they have an added laxative in them) a day since Surgery. AFter the other 3 surgeries I've had (all within a year of each other), I've never had a problem not going. But now, I cannot go. My stomach hurts, part of it is from the incisions and the other part is from not going to the bathroom. As gross as it sounds, I can't pass gas either.
I've been eating high fiber things, I also crashed and ate a big juicy greasy cheese burger tonight. I'm not sure what else to do. I've never had a problem not going before. I don't need any other problems or complications. I told my mom that if I still cannot go tomorrow, I will go to the ER tomorrow night.
What are your suggestions???
Edited: I had a robotic hysterectomy, the hospital started me on Sentikol (I probably spelled that wrong) on tuesday & wednesday and I've been taking generic stool softners w/ a laxative in them at home.
Thanks for the suggestions! I know with narcotics that it can cause constipation, but it's just weird because I've never had this happen with the other 3 surgeries. Even after I had my daughter I could go to the bathroom within a couple of days after delievering, even though it hurt.
Before leaving the hospital, they told me not to strain or push, because I could rip my stitches that are up in the vagina and that really scares me. I have the generic stool softners, I have ducolax, and I have mirolax. I also have a box of enemas (I had to do a bowel prep before surgery). I've been taking the stool softners as directed on the box. It says don't take more then 3 a day for longer then 7 days.
I haven't been taking the pain pills as much as I was in the hospital, just because I have my daughter here with me and I don't want to be to out of it with her. I was able to pass gas in the hospital a few times, it hurt beyond belief, but since I've been home, I haven't been able too. The only reason I ate a greasy cheeseburger is because grease typically makes me go.
I have no hubby (sometimes it could be a good thing, but times like this its also a bad thing), so it's just my daughter and I. I will call my doctors answering service in the morning and see what they suggest. And I will see if someone will get me something from the store, since I am unable to drive for 2 weeks. I just don't need/want any other complications.
I've also been drinking a TON of water. I think if i drink anymore, I might blow up.
Drink plenty of water. Also, hot water with lemon, or hot tea would work as well.
If you can, walk as much as possible as that will get things moving too.
Ir is miserable when you can't have a BM.
Hope you feel better.
I remember that, after having #2 baby, just afraid to go. You might try large glasses of prune juice. Coffee works too.
Little advise I seen on Doctor OZ's show and it worked for me. All Natural..
Take a real lemmon, a quarter slice, (pucker up) eat it, get all the juices and eat the pulp too,(not the rind) then follow it down with a very small glass of warm yes warm water, only about 1/2 cup. It works... remember you may have some blockage built up since you have not went in awhile, It may hurt to go, and it may feel like you are passing a base ball, but that is a mussel down there and it will pass. Relax and read in the bathroom or do a puzzle. Hope everything passes soon. Good Luck.
Move. Walk, walk, walk. Drink lots of fluids and move some more. That will allow the gas to exit your system and should fix the problem.
Just went thru this a few months ago. You need to use laxatives plus stool softeners then when this immediate blockage is resolved, be faithful with the stool softeners for a long while. Drink tons of liquids too and keep up the fiber. You'll get through this. Warm prune juice is wonderful - a nurse friend told me that.
Hi ~
I know this is a little later than others, but...
I've had a daVinci hysterectomy also, plus I'm an OB nurse :)
so, from experience:
~ lots of fluids
~ walk around some
~ stool softeners are fine
~ hot tea
~ try to lay on your stomach...I know it's not the most comfortable, but try..and put a pillow under your stomach..it kinda eases the pain and helps the gas move
~ if you can't lay on your stomach, lay on your left side and bring your top leg up to your stomach
~ enema if you have to (even just half of one might be enough)
~ prune juice
Feel better!
D.
Hi K.---I have a couple of books on healing foods and one of the most delicious combinations for constipation is banana and kiwi. Yes, I know most will tell you that bananas constipate, but according to more than one source, bananas help to relieve constipation. My hasband had a mountain biking accident, breaking his collarbone and 3 of the 5 bones in his hand. So, of course, he needed help after the side-effect of painkillers kicked in. Worked like a charm.
Another great fiber additive is ground flax seeds. Not only are they high fiber, they contain nice amounts of protein, vitamins and minerals and omega 3 fatty acids. A compound in flax called lignans also has huge cancer fighting properties. Sprinkle it on salads, put it in cereal, smoothies, muffins, pancakes and waffles. Let you imagination run wild. It is best ground fresh as the oils start to deteriorate as soon as exposed to the air.
Then, drink water, water and more water. One last thing is that you can get a tea by Yogi called Get Regular. I think I got mine at Whole Foods, but I also think I've seen Yogi teas at Kroger as well. Good luck, hope things start improving soon. D.
I had a problem with this after my c-sections but that isn't unusaul from what I've head. It always resolved within 3-4 days. I'd call your doctor first, even if you have to go through the answering service, before going to the ER. I don't know what surgery you had so it is hard to say what you might expect after.
The side affects of pain pills is often constipation, as I am sure you are aware. Try squeezing half a lemon in your water, that can help with a gentle cleanse.
I once had a problem and the doctor told me to drink a cup of hot chocolate. It worked. Good Luck!
Pain killers are notorious for constipation. I think over the counter metamusil should do the trick. Give it a try and drink it quickly! It doesn't taste bad (sort of like orange jello) but sort of turns jello-like if you take more than a 5 minutes or so to drink it. Most grocery stores carry it.
Good luck and feel better soon:)
Many pain medications can be constipating. That could be part of the problem. Also, are you taking the stool softeners as you're supposed to?
Are you saying you only took two since Tuesday?
Maybe you haven't taken quite enough.
I was told to drink warm prune juice along with the softener after my hysterectomy.
I can't advise this because you're on pain medication and the two don't mix, but if I drink a glass of dark beer, I'm clean as a whistle afterwards.
That's why I don't ever drink it. It goes right through me.
It could be a wive's tale, but I know women who swear by warm chocolate chip cookies if they're having trouble when they are pregnant.
You don't say what type of surgery it is. Was it laparoscopic where they inflate your abdomen with air? Strangely enough, moving around as much as possible helps get rid of that.
Can you comfortably lay on your tummy on pillows with your tushy propped up in the air? Air rises to the highest point. It might help you get rid of some of it.
I've had a million surgeries and I work at a hospital so there's nothing I haven't either been through or seen and heard.
Because you just had a procedure so recently, your doctor or an associate should be on call if you need help with this. And, don't hesitate to go to the ER if you have to.
I want to add that they had a really hard time getting my hormones straightened out after my hysterectomy. I only had part of an ovary to begin with but I still produced some hormones prior. Anyway, I wasn't all that emotional, but I had terrible migraines that I could not stand and I felt like I was burning up all the time. They kept raising my hormones but it turned out I needed a much lower dose because my body wasn't used to producing so much by itself.
They got me straightened out and I felt AWESOME!
I had suffered a long time and my hysterectomy was the best thing that ever happened for me. I was able to gain weight, I could be active again. I was out of pain for the first time in years.
Your body just went through something traumatic. It will take some time to adjust. I honestly believe you really will feel better once you get healed and your body gets back on track again. And it will.
I hope you will be feeling better soon.
Thoughts are with you!
The hospital should not have allowed you to leave until you passed a lot of gas or had your first bm. You may have a blockage or impaction... so going to the ER is a good idea, since it's been almost 4 days.
Maybe some hot tea? That helped me after delivering my baby.
I had my gallbladder taken out a couple months ago and had a little trouble going. My doc said if I had trouble to take some Milk of Magnesia. It worked like a charm! I know our surgeries are technically different but it all pretty much works the same. Good luck! Hope you feel better. :)
Eat prunes and take metamucil and drink lots and lots and lots of water. Also drink prune juice and peach and white grape juice actually after going through something so dramatic it may take your body about 3 to 4 days to get back into things..... I would not trip out till monday if you don't go by than. There is something you can try i do this quit often and it works for me i don't go but once a week. I take whitegrape and peach juice half glass and half prune or all 8 oz prune. Take it! like at night before bed. In the morning make sure you drink coffee tea won't work Coffee hot not to where you burn your self but more warmer than you maybe able to do it. Wait within two hrs you should be on the toilet. Make sure you still take the stool softners and Metamucil before the prune and grape stuff. Regular Purple grape doesn't work it has to be whitegrape. Good luck I would give it till monday and also I would check your pain killers maybe thers something in ther thats sonstipating you or the way your taking them. Check out that sentikol pill too! Good luck!
Did you pass gas in the hospital? You should have done that before coming home.
I was/am kind of in your boat, having surgery and having pain killers. The pain killers really do cause constipation. It is important to handle this, M. Have your husband go get a box of Fleet enemas. They come two to a box. You need to try using one to help you loosen things up. It says to hold it for several minutes - hold the water in as much as you can stand, even if it's not as long as the box says. Blow as you try to push - that will help you keep from lowering your blood pressure and pushing out a hemorhoid. Getting something out is good.
Look at your stool softener box. Does it say that you can take 3 a day? Do that. Also start eating 4 - 7 prunes a day - 3 in the morning and 4 in the late afternoon. Eating high fiber stuff is good too - but no more burgers! It's important to eat healthy and drink lots of fluid after surgery.
This is what I am doing. (I'm 2 weeks post-op.) But I had already passed gas in the hospital, and plenty at home. I'm concerned that you haven't passed gas.
At the hospital, I'm sure they will give you an enema.
Good luck - let us know how you do, okay?
Dawn
Hey Momma of One,
I had two procedures for a kidney stone in the past month, both involving general anesthesia, pain pills, and antibiotics - so boy oh boy, do I know how you feel. The second procedure I was smarter and started Miralax the same day. I also added a laxative one a day for two days. I was very careful with what I ate - no starchy things, but no really greasy things either. Just things that were easy for me to digest. Oh, and prunes - they really do help. Also yogurt - I swear by Actvia, really I do. And soy helps me a lot.
The drugs and pain killers have just kinda' shut your system down. It took me about week the first time to get working again, just in time for the 2nd procedure. Then about a week after that one.
I think it just takes patience and lots of help from the right combination of meds and "additives" that work for your system. So Tuesday to Friday, really, compared to my experience, is not abnormal. You also may want to call your doctor and see if they can prescribe something stronger than over the counter things.
Good luck and I hope you feel better soon sweetie.
