Totally TMI -Post-Op Constipation

[SunnyinSD 0]

Hi there, I'm about 5 days out from surgery and I haven't pooped since the day before surgery. Now I know that I haven't really eaten anything (I'm still on clear/creamy liquids and no Protein Shakes yet) since before surgery... but I'm getting worried about being constipated. I've been taking the Lortab liquid and I was warned that it causes Constipation, so I guess I'm wondering if either I am constipated because of the Lortab or if I'm totally overreacting and I shouldn't expect to poop at all until I go onto the Protein shakes (at the very earliest). What do you think?

[TijuanaPlication 87]

Do you feel like you need to go? Were you on liquids only pre-op? If you feel like you're constipated then Miralax should help. Otherwise you just may not need to go.

When I had ops in my teens I wouldn't go until a week post op and that was far from normal for me, but post op I just had liquids mainly so there wasn't much need to go. Also anesthetic can make your bowels a little sluggish.

BTW these were ops I had on my legs.

[PdxMan 4,292]

Had the same thing here. Milk of Magnesia was (and sometimes still is) my friend. Got things moving right along. Trust in MOM.

[Heatherr 149]

I had the same thing. I'm sure it was the narcotics and the anesthesia. I took milk of magnesia about 6-7 days post op and it worked. I felt much better.

[TijuanaPlication 87]

I used MOM and it was fine for the first week, but I found it to be 'unpredictable' after that time, ie I urgently had to use the bathroom on a couple of occasions (no accidents thankfully though).

Had the same thing here. Milk of Magnesia was (and sometimes still is) my friend. Got things moving right along. Trust in MOM.

[PdxMan 4,292]

Yes, you don't want to take it, then jump on a plane, bus, boat ... you want to have a plan, for sure.

[TijuanaPlication 87]

You have to be carefull Miralax too, but for me that only started after taking it twice a day for a month (I have ongoing Constipation issues). I now take between one and sachets a day depending on how things are.

[SunnyinSD 0]

Yes, I was on a liquid diet for 2 weeks before the surgery and I had a bowel prep the day before surgery (NASTY). I don't feel like I have to go, but it is making me nervous that I haven't gone in 5 days. I'll pick up some Milk of Magnesia just in case, but I think I'll wait it out for now. I guess the bowel prep really did clean me out and since I haven't had anything other than clear fluids in the last 5 days, there's nothing for me to "go". I know my insides are working (Ehem... farting and peeing just fine) but I was just worried about the lack of #2.

Thanks everyone!

[PdxMan 4,292]

I would just take it when you get it. I was the exact same as you. 2 week pre-op ... I didn't put anything but Water in me the day before to ensure I was cleared out. I was. Even being on just liquids now, your body is still extracting the nutrients out leaving solids in your tract. The longer it stays in there, the more moisture is removed and the harder it will get. Do yourself a favor. Just take some. It won't hurt you.

BTW, your whole digestive system is a little confused right now. It is going to fluctuate between Constipation and explosive diarhea. MOM balanced things out for me.

[kellyw74 258]

You MUST remember that simply not going does NOT mean that you are constipated.

Constipation is needing to go, but can't, bloating, cramping, pain, pressure and sometimes bleeding. You should not be taking laxatives simply because you have not gone in a few days. I use to be a 2-3 time a day type person and now I MIGHT have a bm once a week. That is NOT constipation. That is because I don't eat anything to get rid of. Everything I am eating is being used by my body.

It is hard to wrap your head around at first, but if you start taking laxatives when it is not necessary, you are hurting your body in the long run.

Kelly

[TijuanaPlication 87]

Kelly's advice is good.

BTW I was scared of taking laxatives after hearing stories of people becoming addicted to them. I take Miralax as prescribed to me by my PCP.

You MUST remember that simply not going does NOT mean that you are constipated.

Constipation is needing to go, but can't, bloating, cramping, pain, pressure and sometimes bleeding. You should not be taking laxatives simply because you have not gone in a few days. I use to be a 2-3 time a day type person and now I MIGHT have a bm once a week. That is NOT constipation. That is because I don't eat anything to get rid of. Everything I am eating is being used by my body.

It is hard to wrap your head around at first, but if you start taking laxatives when it is not necessary, you are hurting your body in the long run.

Kelly

[MegInNOLA 531]

Ditto what Kelly says above. We're not eating much these days, or at least in comparison to what we were eating before! I worried like crazy about this, because it is hard to imagine that one can go for a week without "going" and not feel bad--but it's true. At this point, I'm able to eat whatever, and I've been enjoying fruit, and things are a bit better in the "going" department. You might try adding some sort of Fiber supplement (not medicine or stimulant, just fiber), and see if that helps things along. Just be sure to be extremely well hydrated--dehydration is almost a sure-fire way to become constipated. It does get better with advancement of diet, I have found.

[PdxMan 4,292]

I also agree with what Kelly is saying ... but I think the timing is what is important here. We are not talking about day to day life. This is post op. Kelly is 3 months out. My wife wasn't allowed to leave the hospital after her c-section until she had a BM, which is a very common practice after general anesthetic. The OP was taking in fluids for 2 weeks before surgery, as was I. I remember how my first BM was after my sleeve surgery, which was 5 days and with MOM. I thought I was going to have an aneurism. Not kidding. And I didn't eat a thing the day before my surgery and drank a TON of liquids. I took some more and everything balanced out. Abusing anything will bring problems, including laxatives. Don't freak the OP out. You can take a dose of MOM and see what happens. I'm guessing the chances of you becoming a MOM junkie are pretty slim. I know I made it through. No reason to suffer.

[overboard 5]

I had the same issue post-op. I finally called the Doctor on day 7. The told me that it is not OK to not have gone to the bathroom, and to take MoM. It worked. I would recommend taking a tablespoon of that before you are in pain from not going. We still have waste even if we are on liquids.

I also agree with what Kelly is saying ... but I think the timing is what is important here. We are not talking about day to day life. This is post op. Kelly is 3 months out. My wife wasn't allowed to leave the hospital after her c-section until she had a BM, which is a very common practice after general anesthetic. The OP was taking in fluids for 2 weeks before surgery, as was I. I remember how my first BM was after my sleeve surgery, which was 5 days and with MOM. I thought I was going to have an aneurism. Not kidding. And I didn't eat a thing the day before my surgery and drank a TON of liquids. I took some more and everything balanced out. Abusing anything will bring problems, including laxatives. Don't freak the OP out. You can take a dose of MOM and see what happens. I'm guessing the chances of you becoming a MOM junkie are pretty slim. I know I made it through. No reason to suffer.