kimvox66

I'm 7.5 months out and this is still an issue. I agree with everyone else though, the Water intake has to be as much as you can tolerate, plus multiple Colace and Miralax. I'd also look into getting a Squatty Potty - it's done wonders for me. I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I laughed UPROAREOUSLY reading your post!!! Especially since, this is EXACTLY what I went through and still do from time to time (Vaseline and surgical gloves always on hand). I ADORE your description! Not to make light of it, because it is VERY painful and FRUSTRATING, but holy shite, you made my day!! :D :D

So many "bests', but I think the best "best" is actually jogging for 3.5 miles without stopping. I NEVER would have or could have done that 7 months ago. It's crazy. OH! Also, wearing mediums. SERIOUSLY??? never thought that would EVER happen again.

This is a really bad but normal experience. I had no pain about 10 days post-op then BOOM! So bad I could barely breathe! It went slightly away then came back about 1 week later and stayed for almost 2 weeks. Then it just disappeared like it never was there. If you can get a stomach binder or even firm support hi-waisted spanks, that helps, plus a heating pad and using a pillow to put pressure on it also helps. I am so sorry you have to deal with this (I almost took myself to the Emergency Room, I thought something was torn). NO ONE warned me about this and I had a hard time finding anything on this sight about it as well but trust me, it's common. You will get through it and be alright in the long run, just hang in there!

I take 4 stool softeners a day plus 2 gummy fibers at night. I think water is also the key with all of this. I'm 6 months out and this is still a HUGE issue, especially if I don't get enough water. One thing that has really helped though is a Squatty Potty. Seriously. I was having to resort to using (and I'm sorry if this is clearly too much TMI) um...surgical gloves and Vasaline at times because I was in so much pain and nothing was moving out of the trap door so to speak. The SP has taken care of that.

Me too. I have a cocktail of stuff I take to avoid constipation per the direction of my Dr because apparently not going for a week is bad. Yup, me too! I'm 4.5 months post-op and if I don't take 4 Colace and fiber a day, it is an absolute NIGHTMARE that involves the required use of surgical gloves and Vasaline. I'll leave it at that.....

Pizza. Was a favorite go-to pre-op, cannot tolerate it post-op. Same thing with Pot roast. I'm fine with that, 4.5 months post and down 75 lbs. fine with it!

Hi Tracie! I'm almost 10 weeks post-op and have to take Colace twice a day as wel as Miralax every other day just to go once, maybe twice a week if I'm lucky. Everything else is fine though, so I'm not too worried. It's the new normal for now!

It happened to me. 10 days post-op I was doing great and it hit me like a ton of bricks. An abdominal binder helped and O was getting better, then it came back even worse. This was almost 4 weeks post-op. It got so bad, I could barely breathe and taking a shower was out of the question because I couldn't lift my left arm to do anything, it had to stay holding my side. The finally gave me Flexoril (muscle relaxer) to take along with the hydrocodone. Well, the long and the short of it is, I am 7 weeks post-op and haven't had any pain for about 3 weeks. It just vanished. Surgeon said it was pretty normal, some of us have a muscle structure that heals differently, especially if we amp up the activity right after surgery. While it was happening though, I scoured this site to see if anyone had a similar experience and couldn't find anyone that did. If it does happen to you, make sure you get in touch with your surgical center and tell them you need extra pain management help!

@@guyfrom315, I am so sorry you're having a rough time. I know you will get through this rough patch, but right now I know it seems impossible. Please use your pain meds if you can, and make sure your surgeon/team are on top of everything that's going on with you. Advocate for yourself, you are your best defender. I'll keep thinking really good, healing and strong thoughts for you as will everyone on this forum. Hang in there.

My Doc told me to use Milk Of Mag. Needless to say, it isn't working. Not sure where to go from here, although I'm not terribly uncomfortable or bloated or anything. I guess I'll just keep walking, watering and hope that it will eventually kick in.

I take a Premier protein (vanilla - 30 g protein) add a scoop of protein powder (I found a flavorless one at GNC threat has 28g per scoop), half of a banana, dash of cinnamon, vanilla extract, a couple of ice cubes and Nutra-Ninja. It's AMAZING and packs 58grams of protein. BAM! You can do the same with a chocolate protein shake those folks still on full liquid/purée can sip on it all day if they want just keep in the fridge and stir when you take it out.

Thanks so much, @edie091371. I think I'm turning a corner but still really stopped up, even after Milk Of Magnesia and Colace (doesn't work). Hopefully it'll work itself out though. I wish you continued forward progress in your recovery as well!

Thanks @julbel721. The binder they gave me takes 2 of us to put on me so I'm using Spanx-like undergarments which do help. I'm wearing them basically 24/7 and do feel like I may be turning a corner on this! It's just frustrating to be doing so well one week post op then hitting a wall in the second week, but no matter. It's all in the process. Now if I could just get my plumbing to turn that same corner, I'd be one happy camper...

I'm 15 days post-op. The first week I sailed through. Pain was barely there and I was out walking 1-2 miles every day. The day after my post-op follow up, I had the absolute worst case of, well I don't even know how to put it except to say I went to do number 2 after taking dr. Recommended laxative and the trap door wouldn't open. That went on for hours. Everything was ready to come out and it wouldn't open. Horrible. Then starting about Tuesday, I got a sharp, burning pain to the left of my navel that steadily got worse as the week went on. By Thursday, I could barely move. I called the center and they said it wasn't anything to worry about and to use a stomach binder or Spanx which has helped somewhat. Idk, I feel like I went backward from my first week post-op and it's been frustrating and sad. I'm still in a good deal of pain, still constipated (in fairness, that's getting slowly better), and am hoping that I turn this corner soon.

Hey guys - was wondering if anyone has experienced a sharp, burning pain a little left of the navel around 10-12 days post-op? I was doing great, very little pain and becoming extremely mobile,then about Monday mid-day I started to feel this pain to the left of my navel and by last night it was pretty bad. It's not consistent but if I bend over too far, it really kicks in. I have a call in to my clinic, but just wondered if anyone has or has heard of this.

@nervousnana, I can't begin to imagine what you must be feeling. All I can say is, keep looking forward and know we are all here to support you. As devastating as this may seem, you will get to the next level and you will move into,your new life. Hang in there ❤️❤️

Thanks so much for the suggestions! This has actually been the worst issue I've faced at 11 days post op.

My problem is weird. It's not so much that I'm constipated, it's the the um, "trap door" isn't opening enough to empty. In other words, I'm ready to go, my body is ready to release, everything is in place but the valve won't open wide enough. I've NEVER had this problem. Can anyone relate and if so, any suggestions?

@@395Ron, I KNOW at some point you are going to be well enough to read this. You will get through this. You will conquer this. You will heal completely and you will thrive. You have so many people pulling for you, praying for you, treating for you, and holding you up. We've got you.

Edie and 60 you have this!!! We'll see you on the other side very soon!!!

You'll do fantastic for sure! Sending all good, recovery healing your way and will be thinking about you Thursday!

Best of luck to everyone making their old/new transition today! I was released yesterday and with the exception of some pain (totally manageable) and a leaky drain sight, I'm great! I haven't been able to keep up with everyone this weekend as I had my phone and the app kept crashing so I'm playing catchup. I LOVE reading all the posts of those of us about to start this leg of the journey. If you are about to have your surgery, trust me, it's over in a flash. There is some discomfort but I can tell you, if you get up ASAP and walk, it'll make all the difference. Even if you let out a howl (like I did) when you get up out of that bed, DO IT. The sooner you are up and moving, the quicker you will recover. You can't wait to read about everyone's progress!!!

Hi all thanks for your good thoughts! On the other side, pain is manageable, walked/sat once today and about to do it again. Throat sore from the tube but not killer. So far, so good!!

Thank you so much!

GREAT. Thanks so much, @@395Ron! I copies and pasted it in a word doc, so I can have it handy. @@guyfrom315 and @@covarrubia911 here's to you being on the other side of surgery now and on your way to smooth, easy healing!