5 days post op and I can’t go to the bathroom

[Carleyxo 1]

Hey everyone. I had my surgery on Tuesday 11/28. I haven’t been able to have a BM since surgery and my gas pains are in my left shoulder. Help!

I have been taking my Colace twice a day as directed and nothing is helping. I pass gas and burp but no BM.

[Mhy12784 423]

Call the office if you think its that bad, and discuss Miralax

Just know its normal to not go for a week or two

Urinating on the other hand would be an emergency

[AussieBloke 8]

It exactly one week for me before I went. Lack of caloric intake just meant there was nothing to process out.

[SweetieBob 0]

I was told no Miralax or stool softeners because they dehydrate. Doctor said to use milk of magnesia and get as much fluids as possible. First time I only used half dose, nothing happened. The next day I did a full dose and it worked in less than one hour, and helped throughout the day. Did not cause cramps or anything.

[Berry78 4,259]

It is NOT normal to go a week or two without a BM. It happens, but it shouldn't. Even with reduced food consumption, your body's waste products (on the cellular level) gets put into the digestive tract for disposal. You don't want those waste products sitting around in your system, putrefying, and potentially getting reabsorbed.

Anesthesia puts your digestive tract to sleep for longer than yourself. It could take 2-3 days for everything to wake back up on the inside. Once it's awake, it's ideal for the first movement to happen in a couple days. Which means a BM on day 5. When it gets longer than that, it's time to take action.

An enema is good for immediate relief. Schedule 30-40 minutes in the restroom, and you will likely be successful.

Milk of magnesia, Miralax, Smooth Move tea... all of these can be used as well during the early weeks. Try to have a BM every 2-3 days after the first one. Once you are onto purees and soft foods, (and meeting your Fluid goals), introducing a Fiber supplement is good for long term maintenance. Do NOT take fiber if you don't drink enough, it could cause an impaction.

[Sav2017 1]

4 hours ago, SweetieBob said:

I was told no miralax or stool softeners because they dehydrate. Doctor said to use milk of magnesia and get as much fluids as possible. First time I only used half dose, nothing happened. The next day I did a full dose and it worked in less than one hour, and helped throughout the day. Did not cause cramps or anything.

Why would the Drs prescribe coalesce if it dehydrated the body?

[Sav2017 1]

Hi Carleyxo. I had surgery 11/29 came home on Dec 1st and I haven't gone either! I have passed gas but no movement. I have coalesce too but notjing. Maybe we shot try milk of magnesia? How does the rest of your body feel?

[redhead_che 824]

Definitely milk of magnesia or Miralax. I used miralax post op day 2 evening in 8 oz Powerade and it worked, but I felt gurgly all day. I was told by doc MoM probably won’t make me bubbly/gurgly feeling.

[bellabloom 2,467]

Milk of magnesia.