I am using miralax once a day post op and a week after have had only one bowel movement - my dr says bowel habits change and you identify constipation by an ‘urge to go but can’t’

Anything more specific bc post op honestly I am so apprehensive it’s hard to tell what’s real and what’s me stressing

Also any advise for constipation ? Was warned prevention better than cure and again apprehensive

I had immediate loose bowels the moment I woke from surgery, it went on for a few hours. I certainly got myself moving in more ways than I expected.

After that I didn't go for 15 days. I will not lie, it was tough. TMI moment, I had to put on rubber gloves and deal with it. I still get very constipated. Its my new hell.

Keep on top of your Miralax regime and add some fibre to your diet if you can. Protein products and iron tablets add to constipation for some of us.

Honestly this has been the absolute bane of my life.

I am 4 weeks post-surgery and although I seem to be having a bowel movement every day or every other day, I was so so constipated. TMI here but It got to the point that I had an anal fissure and was passing blood every time I had a bowel movement.

Needless to say, I am taking daily Dulcolax now and I will be doing so until I am able to eat more & include more fibre in my diet.

In addition to Miralax, are you taking any fiber? I did the Benefiber Healthy Shape once a day (snuck it into my morning tea) and it seemed to help. Now that I'm 4 months out, I am trying to focus on eating more fruit and veg, which also helps a lot.

Thanks

I am on miralax once a day but have no urge since last 4 days so unsure if I m even constipated in the first place

ugh. the constipation blues.

i didn't poop for 13 DAYS after surgery. omg.

i developed an M.O. to battle constipation over the next several weeks:

1) every day, i would add 2 tsp Benefibre to my morning protein shakes.

2) if i didn't poop after 2-3 days, i would take a Miralax

3) if I didn't poop 2 days after that, i would take Milk of Magnesia.

4) if i didn't poop 2 days after that i would insert a glycerin suppository.

5) if i did'nt poop 6 hours after that, i would insert another one.

LUCKILY, i didn't need to figure out what to do if the second suppository didn't work. omg.

i did this for about a year. after a year i got more "regular" and didn't even need the daily Benefibre anymore. And when I say "regular" i mean i poop maybe every 2-3 days. which is a huge departure to pre-op when i used to poop MULTIPLE times in a single day (sorry TMI).

i think so long you aren't super uncomfortable, you are good. but if you are starting to feel pain and/or discomfort, then you probably need to come up with a plan to combat it, whatever M.O. it may be.

Thank you for sharing your experience

I don’t even know if I am constipated considering I have no urge or discomfort - it’s just I haven’t had a bowel movement for the past 3 days and am afraid of constipation affecting the stitches more than any symptoms

If I hadn’t had the procedure I would assume this was bc I am having only protein water and fair life rather than any prob

doing 4 oz water 2 oz milk of magnesia and 4 oz water today - the milk is horrid tasting ? let’s c

5 hours ago, Fars said:

I don’t even know if I am constipated considering I have no urge or discomfort - it’s just I haven’t had a bowel movement for the past 3 days and am afraid of Constipation affecting the stitches more than any symptoms

it won't affect your stitches. It's in your large intestine - no stitches in that area. It's very common for it to take a week +/- for the first bowel movement - there's not much in there to come out. although that first one can be a doozy. Daily Miralax or stool softeners can help.

just so you know, for some of us, constipation becomes a chronic problem. I think it has more to do with the high protein diet and some of the supplements (iron and calcium are the worst culprits) more than anything else. I have a capful of Miralax every morning to keep on top of it. Others use magnesium tablets, stool softeners, SmoothMove tea - whatever works!

Did it !!!!!! Milk of magnesia 2 oz between 4 oz of water worked but you are right it was very watery bc nothing to come out

I WAS CONCERNED About strain on stitches in stomach or skin when straining

I swear I’ve spoken about, read about, thought about or written about constipation more in the last 5 years since surgery than the 44 years of my life before surgery. Lol!

In the beginning, it’s not unusual not to poop every day or your poop to be smaller. You’re not eating much and what you are eating/drinking is nutrient dense so not much to poop out. Add to it the protein shakes, iron tablets & opiod pain meds it’s a constipation nightmare.

I tried to stay on top of it too. Benefibre in my shakes then my yoghurt/yoghurt drink. If I didn’t go on the third day I’d take a stool softener which usually got things moving again. I’d then take two tablets if there was still no action on the fourth day.

Five years out, and things can still be erratic. Every day then nothing for two or three days. No rhyme nor reason I can work out just my life now.

Now this may seem strange but try jumping up & down or sitting on the edge of a table & pumping your legs (maybe better his soon after surgery). Was told this by a woman whose granddaughter had cystic fibrosis (I think) & this is how they were advised to help her constipation. It does help. I’ll do 20 jumps 4 - 6 times across the afternoon & evening & usually the next morning success. Avoids popping pils every time.

Good luck.

I'm having issues where I definitely have the urge but it difficult getting it to come out (sorry TMI). I've taken Miralax yesterday and today to try and soften things up but not sure what else I should do.

Karli

Consult your team but I was told to take 8 oz water followed by 2oz milk of magnesia and then 8 oz of water and repeat thrice if it doesn’t work within an hour

they also recommend stool softeners like colas

at the end go with your doctor

I have only been constioated a couple of times in my life and both times I had sharp pains in my stomach and I could almost feel that I was full in there and needed to go but of course I couldn’t. The best thing to do is to try to prevent this from happening though so If you are not going everyday you are wise to do something. My team had me take benefiber everyday and if I went two days without a bowl movement I was to take milk of magnesia. That worked both times by the next day.

I am doing miralax and BF daily with magnesia if required

5 hours ago, Fars said:

I am doing Miralax and BF daily with magnesia if required

So don’t know what BF is but I am hoping that combo is working now.

I do 2 capfuls of Miralax every morning. It keeps me regular enough (I go on average of one good poo every other day). I try to incorporate fiber in my food, but honestly, I'm not super great at it. So I started adding Benefiber this last week and it's helped me do an extra 2 poos a week, which is fantastic. I do have some stool softener/laxative combo tablets if my magic combo doesn't work for 3 days in a row. On day 4, that's when I take the caplets.