Lack of BM....do I REALLY need to worry?

Yoda · April 27, 2006

Okay....I just don't get it. I took y'all advice and yesterday I had some of that devil drink "Milk of Magnesia" (I have't had a BM since my surgery 6 days ago). Then, before bed I took two "Sennoside" (sp?) tablets (prescribed). It is now 10:00 am the fol day and nothing.....

Now....don't get me wrong, I don't "feel" constipated in the least....this is not something that is physically bothering me at all. I just figured since it has been awhile and after reading some of the threads in here that I should help things along. It is strange that neither of those things have done that.

BUT...then I ask myself...well...for the week preceeding surgery, all I had was yougurt (nooooo solids at all) and of course since the surgery all I've had is clear fluids. So.....does it not stand to reason that there is nothing actually "there" to come out? And that is why, despite the M of M and the pill that nothing has happened? Really....do I need to worry about this? If it ain't there, it ain't there? Am I missing something? If I'm not in any discomfort....is there a concern?

I dunno...I just figure "nothing in"/"nothing out" so why the worry if I don't have a BM at this stage??

JanetC · April 27, 2006

Surgery (anesthesia) dries out any fecal matter that's in your bowels. No matter how little you eat, there's always some fecal matter... it's a matter of waste products from living.

The longer you wait, the more impacted it gets. I was hoping the MOM would do the trick for you, but after 6 days... it most likely can't get through the barrier of dryness to get to the bottom of it all & really work.

I strongly recommend Ducolax suppositories. I know it sounds gross, but the longer you wait, the worse it will be. Suppositories work from the bottom up... so they'll be able to effect the impacted fecal matter.

I can tell you that from my personal experience, we did a Fleet treatment pre-op, so we were as empty as we could get. I had a BM about 36 hours after surgery. We stayed overnight, but as soon as I got home I had one. Small, but it was there. I continued to have at least a small one daily.

Benefiber added to my Water helped me to not have painful ones (it's tasteless & dissolves to be clear & is non-bulking).

Good luck, Yoda! I don't envy you the next 24 hours! But seriously, you'll feel better if you get things to moving again!

TrishS · April 27, 2006

I agree with Janet. I was hopeing the M of M would of worked for you too. but I would try a suppository that would be your best bet. good luck with everything hope it all comes out alright (pun intended lol)

Yoda · April 27, 2006

Okay...now that is CREEPY.....just an hour after my post I had a little visit to the royal throne and made a deposit!!

YAYYYYY!!!!

hehe...I wonder if this is the sort of sense of accomplishment I felt when I was going thru potty trg??!!! Look ma!!!!!!

tks for your advice all!

shellyj. · April 27, 2006

YAY!!!!!!! i would have suggested a call to your PCP. no matter how you slice 6 days and no bm is not good! but now we dont have to worry! YOU DID IT!

Spydr · April 27, 2006

Although your problem has been solved I just have to add my 2 cents. I did not have a BM until about 10 days after surgery. I was on liquids and my system had fluched itself out on the pre op diet. I was not constipated in the least. Once I began to add mushies, the bowels began moving again. My doc said it made perfect sense to him and I had no need to worry.

If you stuck to the Clear Liquids pre op and full liquids post op, there would be no solid waste to expell from your system. I'm glad things worked out for you but I don't think you were in any danger.

Now it's time to go flush!

FunnyDuddies · April 27, 2006

i usually give Andy a cookie for going on the potty! But i guess in this case that is not an option LOL Good job!!! *big pats on the back* you're a big kid now! Glad everything is moving again! :grouphug:

CCBSTX · April 27, 2006

Good girl! You did it!! Shawn

waterlily1072 · April 27, 2006

Yay :clap2:

I am so glad :grouphug:

kimmcneely · April 27, 2006

I am 9 months post op and still have had trouble with this. I take a colon cleanser from Arbonne now and it seems to help. One at night before bedtime and I am right on schedule for 10 am the next morning. Not like those exlax pills or suppositories. With those things I terrible cramping and didn't think I would ever make it to the bathroom. Good luck.

fiveholts714 · April 28, 2006

You'd better do something or you will be in a world of hurt soon. :omg:

PhotoNut · April 28, 2006

Yoda, I experienced the same thing. I also took MOM and it worked later the following day. I was going to make a joke along the lines of great minds think alike, but.. um.. I think I'll pass on that this time. *grins*