Emergency Room For Fecal Impaction 1 Month After Surgery

[AllieB2011 0]

I tried finding this in other forums but had no success. Has anybody ever had to go to the ER for Constipation? I had surgery on December 28th and so far everything has been great (no stuck episodes, no vomiting, losing lots of weight, abundant energy). Unfortunately yesterday I ended up in the ER. I had diarrhea the first week after surgery then was normal until about a week ago. I took milk of magnesia and thought I was having diarrhea (it ends up it was going around the "fecal mass"). Yesterday afternoon I was in terrible pain and almost passed out trying to have a BM. The ER took an x-ray and it showed a huge fecal impaction near the rectum and I was severely backed up almost all the way to the top of my intestines. They gave me a magnesium citrate laxative by mouth and a HUGE soap enema. Three hours later I was fine. The ER doc told me to take Miralax on a daily basis.

I was wondering if this is a common (or somewhat common) problem with others. Also, does anyone else take Miralax on a daily basis? Is it safe? I hate to think I have to take a laxative everyday for the rest of my life

[xavier 153]

I wonder if you were getting enough Water all along and if you had a barium drink in this process? The Barium is basically liquid concrete which turns to solid concrete in you bowels if you dont get it out in the first couple of days...sorry for your experience! Also all the narcs are extrememly constipating and a lot of times the docs dont tell you that!

[AllieB2011 0]

I am struggling to get in 64 ounces. I think that played a big part in the whole thing. I haven't been on pain meds since the first week after surgery and don't drink Barium until Feb 2nd for my first fill. Thanks for telling me about that though. I will make sure to take laxatives the day of and after the barium drink!

[Jess55 97]

I have had Constipation issues for many years, going once, twice per week if I was lucky, and I drink PLENTY of Water, over 100 oz per day. Months before my surgery I mentioned it to my doctor and she recommended miralax, I've been taking it mostly everyday for like 1.5 years and haven't had a problem. I really wish I knew why I can't go normally, it's annoying to take everyday, but luckily dissolves tasteless, so I can easily drink it.

[lorena st 33]

Sorry to hear about your problems, but I am glad that you got it sorted out. I had the same thing happen to me! I never had a problem with Constipation in the past, but once I went on the pre-surgery diet, I became constipated. I wrongly assumed because I wasn't eating much that I wouldn't have regular BM's, especially when I was on the liquid phases of the diet. About a week post-surgery, I ended up at my doctors office and had to have the obstruction removed (yuch...it was as bad as it sounds). I now take Benefibre whenever I don't have a BM in a day and haven't had any problems since then.

[honk 780]

I add flavorless benefiber to my greek yoghurt every morning and take chewable Gummy Fiber both in the morning and at night.

[soccermonster31 8]

I have the same issue. The Dr told my upfront that I would need benefiber everyday to combat the problem. I also try and get in a fiber bar everyday as well. My problem.....it makes me gassy, so embarrasing!

[Mom23boys 3]

If it makes you feel any better, my 5 year old has been on miralax daily for several months now with no ill effects (except he is no longer constipated!). His pediatrician prescribed it and has no plans to stop it. It's not a laxative in the traditional sense. It just attracts more Water into the colon, making the stools much easier to pass.

[DELETE THIS ACCOUNT! 12,703]

Wow I'm so sorry.

I didn't have that happen after Lap-Band surgery, however I did have similar happen a couple years ago after another surgery. I remember crying in the bathroom my tummy hurt so bad. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

Of course this part won't help you now, but whenever I have to have general anesthetic and/or narcotic pain kills, I start taking Collace daily until I have have a BM after. It's a softner, not a laxative, but enough to keep you from getting in that miserable state.

[AllieB2011 0]

I took 2 fiber tablets today and am going to start the miralax this evening. I will do ANYTHING to never have this happen again!

[horsegirl315 114]

fecal impactions are a HUGE problem with my horses in the winter...horses can be picky about Water temp and if it is too cold, they don't drink enough. couple that with eating pure roughage and you have an impaction. make sure you drink a lot of water!

[ElizabethAnne 40]

IAlso, does anyone else take Miralax on a daily basis? Is it safe? I hate to think I have to take a laxative everyday for the rest of my life

I haven't had WLS yet, but I used to have this issue due to the medication I was taking. My doctor told me to take Miralax daily. I took it most days and never had a problem.

[Cazzy 725]

I drink prune juice or eat a few prunes every day .. best natural laxative u can get tbh... 3 of the nurses when i had surgery told me they were banded and all drink prune juice so i took their advice , never had a problem since

[Wendy Marie Torquato 0]

help im trying to get on chat

[Wendy Marie Torquato 0]

i had lapband surgey a year had it removed 3 months e questionhav