HORRIBLE Constipation

I had a hysterectomy on Oct 2. The surgery went well and overall felt good afterwards. Not nearly as bad as I thought. I ended up back in the hospital for 2-1/2 days because I hadn't had a BM since Sept. 30th. IT WAS AWFUL. I went home Wednesday night thinking I was cured. However, I haven't had a BM since and woke up today in great pain with a distended belly again. At the doctor's suggestion I have tried suppositories, a Fleet enema, milk of magnesia, prune juice, lots of water, etc. NOTHING WORKS. This is the worst thing I have ever dealt with and after major abdominal surgery...definitely not fun. I have read some women try Metamucil, fruit, suppositories, stool softeners, etc. I was never warned that this seems to be a common side effect of vaginal hysterectomies and I will do anything to get rid of it for good. I am to the point I am literally afraid to put food in my mouth.

Any suggestions?

I also had my hyst. on Oct 2nd, I am on high doses of Iron so, the constipation is also bad. On Sunday night I still had not gone so, I tried a cup of Smooth Move tea, and first thing Monday morning I was able to go. I then tried another cup on Tuesday night and Wed I was also able to go, a little to much. Like you, I have been drinking lots of water and taking stool softners and that has not helped. The only thing that worked for me was the tea. Good Luck, I know how uncomfortable it is.

If you arent having a BM after taking those hard core laxatives you should REALLY call your doctor. You might have a blockage.

I had a hard time too! Miralax worked wonders for me. Have you tried that?

Hugs,

Starbgirl

Chocolate-covered raisins... when nothing else seemed to help. I ate a pack of Raisinettes and everything "moved." Works for me every time!

Ahhh! What relief! (and it was au naturale! No drugs or laxatives.)

I took 2 ducolax laxatives...not stool softeners. It took about 4 hours before it worked...but I will tell you.....boy did it work. lol

I had problems with constipation even before surgery and am concerned it still may be IBS with constipation. My doctor said my uterus and bladder were twisted on the left side and I had lots of scar tissue there that was likely the cause of my constipation.

I took Miralax the first week I was home and it made me bloated, crampy and miserable, so did Dulcolax. Now I'm afraid to take either.

Warm prune juice in the morning was working, but the past 2 days it has not.

How normal is extreme constipation? I'm also concerned b/c that familiar pain is back now that my insides are waking up.

Is it time to freak out?

Well I was hospitalized for an actual blockage that threatened to rupture my bowels. However, since that was fixed, I have STILL suffered constipation. I still do stool softeners in the morning, bran cereal, metamucil and then milk of magnesia at night and I am still only having a BM every four to five days. The stomach cramping before hand is SO painful and I have had absolutely NO appetite and I am nauseous a lot of the time. I am four weeks out and this still continues to be a problem for me. The doctors just keep saying to keep doing what I am doing. It's miserable though.

My doctors said to stay away from harsh "chemical" laxatives after surgery and go with natural or mild ones. Senakot, Metamucil and milk of magnesia are fairly natural and mild options. I have done all three of those, prune juice, bran cereal, lots of water, fresh fruits, apple juice, suppositories, an enema and walking a lot. Obviously nothing has helped me though!!

By the way...I am sure I'm seeing issues from the constipation but is it normal to still feel SO exhausted after four weeks??

Try Mineral oil from the pharmacy, twice a day. Just helps it slip out smoothly. I had a TVH Oct 21 and have the same painful constipation and compliment the oil with stool stofteners, bran cereal for breakfast and apples and salads for fibre. I haven't resolved the issue yet, but the oil helps with ease of movement. Don't take too much oil or else it will litterally leak out of your butt. Learned that the hard way.
Michelle48