Upon my discharge I was told that the pain medication we take can cause constipation, along with drinking our iron pills which we are stuck taking them for life as I'm told. I was prescribed Ducosate, they are a small pill and they truly do help out in preventing constipation. If my surgeon assisted in prescribing this to her patients after surgery, I'm hoping the same could be done for you. Just don't take it every day, since we don't really intake much especially after surgery, you don't want everything you drink or eat come out from that portal.