After being force fed insane amounts of protein shakes for three weeks, being medicated with opiates post op and being on bed rest for the last week I am not constipated. I'm impacted. There is no way I can pass this malabsorbed protein plug concrete lying like a door mat over my rectal exit! It's very painful and I don't know whether I need medical intervention, colonic irrigation or a strong laxative. Been taking dulcalax and milk of magnesia so far to no avail. I'm a week post op and scared. I never had anything like this before. Normal? Serious? What works? Help!

@@JupiterinVirgo - suppository? Miralax is what I use. Can I ask why you haven't contacted your doctor before now? I was told to not wait more than about five to seven days of I hadn't had a BM.

Whoa. You might need to try an enema. The opiates can definitely do a number on you. My husband is a cancer patient and gets very blocked up when he is on pain meds and chemo. He once described it as trying to poop out a beer can.

I have been having some issues lately and found relief taking SennaS daily.

it has also been described <here> as passing a pineapple! been there. done that...not pretty

Call the doctor or go to the ER. An enema or suppository may do the trick, but why risk those options not working? You can also discuss getting a prescription for a stool softner. My doctor puts all his pts. on one for the first 30 days post-op.

You need to call your doc ASAP, but all of those laxatives/stool softeners won't be effective UNLESS YOU GET TONS OF HYDRATION. Drink drink drink water.

Thank you all for these great suggestions! My surgeons office said not to expect"normal" bm's the first week but this was getting out of hand. I don't feel that I was well educated nor that my comfort taken into account as a patient after. They know this is common they should inform us, give us a script to keep serious impact ions from happening, etc. As a newbie o feel truly under prepared and under supported, medically. Thankfully I have loving friends and family for emotional support. Thanks again, BP community.

Edited November 30, 201510 yr by JupiterinVirgo

I've been taking 3 Colace tablets every night it seems to keep me going. You need to call the doctor first to get cleared out first. Sorry I know its painful.

Miralax works wonders.

On day 6 post op I still had not had a bm; I took mirilax in the morning and I'm the evening I felt like I had a bowling ball stuck up my a**, it would come out! I took more mirilax that evening and slept with a lot of discomfort but in the am I pooped out my bowling ball lol!! Now I take a capful of mirilax every morning (I am ten days post op and haven't had any issues since. Good luck it sucks I know!

This happened to me and I ended up in the ER and had to have "help" getting rid of it! Very humiliating and painful! After that, I took a capful of Miralax every morning in some juice for about 3 months, and a stool softener every night. Still take the stool softener every night - I'm 8 months post op. No more problems for me. Sometimes I'll go 2-3 days without pooping, but it's not a big deal. I don't eat much!

This happened to me and I ended up in the ER and had to have "help" getting rid of it! Very humiliating and painful! After that, I took a capful of Miralax every morning in some juice for about 3 months, and a stool softener every night. Still take the stool softener every night - I'm 8 months post op. No more problems for me. Sometimes I'll go 2-3 days without pooping, but it's not a big deal. I don't eat much!

I take mirilax every morning, it does nothing; I'll try prune juice and a stool softener at night, I've gotta do something my lower abdomen is so uncomfortable!

Thank you for sharing!

I have had this problem from day one. After Miralax, enemas, and stool softeners I am now on daily Linzess.

I had to have my colon removed due to pre-cancerous cells - without getting to graphic i go to the bathroom 8-10 times a day. I have forgotten what normal is. I take Miralax with hardly any water to help my situation. Pls get some help. You dont want to damage "that area" believe me. Oh! My surgery date is 12/30! I am jumping for joy!!