I am about 24 hours post-op (give or take) and I have not had a bowel movement yet. I know that being on Clear liquids, there's probaby not much there, but I'm afraid that the longer it is before I have a bowel movement, the harder it will be.

I'm also worried about the pain involved in having one, and if it will do any damage to my stomach/muscles/incisions when I DO have one.

Any advice or reassurance would be great.

My doctor told me to take milk of magnesium. It was a life saver!

You might want to take a stool softner, like Colace, until you go. It's not for constipation but rather just makes sure things aren't all bound up and makes it easier to go. Anesthetic and the other drugs, especially pain killers, can really bind you up. The Colace will help.

It's also normal for it to take a little while to go again, especially when you're only on liquids.

Best wishes to you.

Yeah the milk of magnesium won't make u strain or anything either

get some stool softners. and get suppositores. Try to go with any pain you might have and dont have too may pain pills.