Bowel movement

[Sam58 16]

I am 7 days post op and have not had a BM. I do not even have the urge, I have passed gas. How soon after surgery should you have a BM?

[chubbsey1 126]

You should work on that, I had the same problem and wound up in the ER with fecal impaction. Not fun let's say it was a night of enemas,laxatives and fingers! I still have nightmares about fingers and rubber gloves.

[Lakelandgirl 17]

Sam, I would suggest trying an enema soon and some Miralax. I am 6 days out and had an extremely painful morning with an impacted bowl movement. It took two enemas and over two hours to pass. I am feeling better but I can tell that there is still more to come.

Chubbsey1, I hope you feel better.

[foodfighter78 258]

How long it take from the enema to take effect? I'm taking dulcolax liquid but it's not working. Now I'm having lower pain. I drink the gentle move tea last week and it feel very uncomfortable, sweating, pain etc I don't want to feel like that!

[Dyros 32]

I tried Reflexology and it helped within 20 minutes! Strange but it worked!!

[Lakelandgirl 17]

How long it take from the enema to take effect? I'm taking dulcolax liquid but it's not working. Now I'm having lower pain. I drink the gentle move tea last week and it feel very uncomfortable, sweating, pain etc I don't want to feel like that!

I will warn you this is graphic. When this started "it" was close enough to feel. I unfortunately strained and pushed for over an hour then asked my husband to go to the store. As Chubbey1 said gloves and fingers are involved. Picking "it" apart was like pulling apart hard tootsies rolls.(I guess it is good that I would never been able to eat one again because now I definitely don't ever want one.) It took 5 minutes for the first one to produce a small result. After that I was still in pain but needed a break from the pressure, sweating and pain, so I went to lay down in bed for an hour. Got back up and used the second one. That was almost immediate. The size both thickness and length was unbelievable. I cannot believe that I wasn't in any pain prior. I hope all works out for you.

[shannpann 18]

I think it took several days, try some milk of magnesia

[shannpann 18]

I tried Reflexology and it helped within 20 minutes! Strange but it worked!!

What does this involve? I don't even know what reflexology is.

[angelface811 100]

I also ended up in the hospital impacted. It took 11 days even with the stool softener I was discharged with initially. I would definitely call your surgeon if you haven't had a BM to see what laxatives or enema they want you to use. Miralax works well for me. I tried MOM, Smooth Move, dulcolax, and miralax was the answer. Enema if it simply won't come out. The answer to yours will be unique to you. Also walk walk walk. This helps move things along. The fact that your passing gas is great that means your bowels are working. I actually logged not only my food, liquid, vitals, measurements but my BM's as well. Especially after the hospital experience. Please learn from our experiences...

[Dyros 32]

@@shannpann

You have to find a good Reflexologist and make an appointment and tell them about the Constipation, they will work on your feet/hands and it somehow "releases" everything and the intestines start moving everything along like it is supposed to work!!

Best to Google to find one in your area.

[foodfighter78 258]

MOM worked tonight, I took 60ml

And actually give me diarrhea so I should be good for awhile.

I hope this is not going to be for the rest on my life. My only 3 weeks out surgery and I'm assuming is because

Yogurt and cottage cheese.

[Djmohr 6,965]

@@foodfighter78, it won't be for the rest of your life but depending on how much liquid you are getting in, it could be for a while.

In the beginning I had a hard time getting close to 48 oz a day and wAs constipated for the first few months. As soon as I was able to get 64 oz. regularly I have no problems any longer.

The other thing that helps is when you are finally on normal food. Fiber and good carbs and some good fats will help as well.

I will tell you it still happens to me when I travel and cannot focus on 64 oz If liquid daily.

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

I would definitely talk to the doctor before it becomes a problem. I was started on stool softener sin the hospital & had my first 3 days from discharge. I get all my fluids in & since I eat a plant based diet I get plenty of Fiber. Thankfully I've been regular ever since. Don't wait until you are uncomfortable to address this.

[chubbsey1 126]

Sam, I would suggest trying an enema soon and some Miralax. I am 6 days out and had an extremely painful morning with an impacted bowl movement. It took two enemas and over two hours to pass. I am feeling better but I can tell that there is still more to come.

Chubbsey1, I hope you feel better.

Thanks Lakeland girl I'm doing a lot better.

[foodfighter78 258]

@@foodfighter78, it won't be for the rest of your life but depending on how much liquid you are getting in, it could be for a while.

In the beginning I had a hard time getting close to 48 oz a day and wAs constipated for the first few months. As soon as I was able to get 64 oz. regularly I have no problems any longer.

The other thing that helps is when you are finally on normal food. Fiber and good carbs and some good fats will help as well.

I will tell you it still happens to me when I travel and cannot focus on 64 oz If liquid daily.

Thank you. I don't drink 48oz of liquid, I maybe get to 32oz, I'm 3 weeks out and still sore when I drink, I burb like crazy right after 2 oz, I'm having some dumping with chicken or tuna, it's crazy! I'm so frustrated I don't want to eat yogurt and scrambled watery eggs.