Bowel care

Just wondering what products you all would recommend to achieve a bowel movement. I had one the second night after surgery, in the hospital that was really difficult, they gave me prune juice, laxitive, stool softner then suppository, and I literally blew up, ready for a coloscopy clean out. Now is day 4 no more BM and wonder how much longer I should go or what to do. I have been taking stool softner, 1 in am and 2 in pm and metamucil.
Should I just wait or use a liquid glycering suposotory?
Not uncomfortable yet, but feeling like I really should go.
Thanks for any help here.

Try increasing thecstool softener...take 2 in the morning. My Dr. Said Colace is the best to use, but I am just using a generic stool softener.
That is crazy about the prune juice AND 2 other meds! Why do hospitals want to make surgery patients spend hours on the pot and end up straining and in more pain? Geesh! Maybe start with ONE and if it doesnt work, then add the juice or suppository! Ugh

Are you drinking lots of water with the metamucil and the stool softeners? They work with water to keep things soft. You should be drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily (64oz). And have you tried the prune juice as well? I used to have to take 2 cups of it post-surgery to keep things moving. Now the water and fiber are doing the trick but they sure didn't at the beginning.

Hi flamewomen..ime 4wks post op and ime one of the ones who is still having troubles with bm....i didnt have my first bm until about the 5th day or so post op, and yes that was very scary, and had a hard time. The things that are helping me are 2 stool softners daily, lots and lots of water, prune juice, home made ginger tea. and lots of slow, short 10min walks throughout the days as you progress in your recovery your body will let you know how your pace and distance should be..very important to walk slow and easy around your house at first, then if your able walk in your yard slow and easy...i walked for 10min at a time at intervals throughout the day the first week...then i walked slow and easy for 20min the 2nd week around the house and in my yard...and only when i had a good rest did i even try to walk a couple blocks near my house.,.i read something one of the other ladies in here said and that stuck with me real good,,is that do not go too far from home cuz you may feel okay starting out, but then all a sudden without warning your body becomes very tired and if you have gone too far you will have to walk all the way back home exhausted...so take it easy and slowly walk around as walking helps greatly to move things through your body...I hope this helps you...Peace be with you

Hi everyone thanks for posts. I would love to walk more, but sent home with a cath and my little pee pee is so sore, pains all the time with walking. This is so hard, I hope I can come back as a man next life.

Peppermint tea helped me a lot. I went 7 days post surgery before finding the peppermint tea hint. TONS OF WATER!

Colace and GasX got me through my first three weeks, post op, also lots of water. I know its painful to Bare-down right now, because you feel like you might rip something, but know that it will getter better over time

For me the only thing that helped was Miralax. I am now 21 months postop and have only found in the last couple of weeks that I do not need Miralax daily now. I did not have a BM until almost 10 days postop. Also like the others have said drink plenty of water.
Best wishes on your recovery.

Well thank God, I had a BM this morning. I had taken 2 stool softners last night, and had a glass of metamucil. I drank 1 1/2 cups of coffee this morning and felt the erge, and viola, success. This might sound gross to those who don't know, but to those who do, "Oh what a feeling". I will continue to take probably 2 in am and 2 in pm of the stool softners, and drink metamucil 3 times a day for a while.
Monday I get my cath out and focusing on that. Things will be better with out that.

Flamewoman i know exactly how your feeling,,,its like you could actually throw a party,lol, its such a relief to finally have a safe, easy bm...when i finally had my bm for the first time after surgery, i was terrified and yes it was horrible as i had to strain a little bit cuz at the beginning of my recovery i took a laxative not a stool softner as i thought it would be okay to take laxative as thats what they gave me in the hospital but i found out the hard way do not take laxatives in early recovery just take stool softners, lots of water, etc..so ive been there, lol,,and still am, so yes i take 2stool softners at same time around mid morning daily...oh how greatful i am for the basic things in life ive taken for granted...Peace be with you