constipation?

Hi everyone,

Only on this site can I title a post called "constipation".

I hope this is not .... but I think with a hysterectomy, a common thing to talk about is our bowels...

I had my first BM the evening of 3 days post-op.

I think for the average person, going once a day is considered "regular". At least, this is what I've always assumed. Well, for me, I don't know if it's because I'm really active (an athlete), or if it's my high metabolim, or who knows what, but for as long as I can remember, I've always had a BM 2 - 3 times a day.

Now, ever since I had my first BM post-op, I've only been going just once a day, so at least I know things are moving through me. But, my problem is I still just feel SO bloated and so much pressure, and it feels like bowel pressure.... but I don't know, maybe it's just the swelly belly that is making me feel this way??

I am eating a lot of fiber (lots of pears, drinking pear juice, eating bran cereal, lots of other types of fruit, salads with fresh veggies, as well as taking a stool softener (doc instructions are to take it twice daily). I'm getting up to walk around my house quite a bit, so I'm moving around.

But, I FEEL like I'm constipated, yet I'm going once a day. When I DO go, it's not hard.... it comes out fine. Sorry again.... .

So, my question is, is it possible to be constipated, yet still be going once a day? If your body normally goes more than once a day pre-surgery, but you only go once a day post-surgery, is that considered constipation?

I just feel so gross, but I don't know if the bloating is from my surgery and my swelly belly, and maybe it is NOT related to the bowels. But, I just feel like if my body were on schedule like I was pre-surgery ( going 2 - 3 times a day), I'd feel so much better.

But, I'll go and sit on the toilet with a magazine and sit there forever FEELING like I need to go, and nothing.... but every morning when I wake up, I DO go. But, the rest of the day, I just WISH I could go more, but nothing.

I do know I'm not eating as much as I did pre-surgery. I'm not working out/exercising right now, so I don't need to eat as much because I'm not burning the calories I was pre-surgery daily. So, maybe because I'm not taking in the same amount of food I do when I'm NOT recovering from surgery is the reason I am not going more than once a day.

I don't know... but I just FEEL like I'm constipated, yet I'm still going once a day.

Can anyone relate to this, or am I just more unusual in this area????

By the way, I'm 11 days post-op... are most people's bowels/digestive system working fine by 11 days post-op? Or, is it normal to still feel bloated and constipated and gassy 11 days post-op??

Thanks everyone!

I think the system gets a bit sluggish post-op. That has certainly been my experience. I'm coming up on 4 weeks and the past couple of days have been trying in that department. I'm hoping the gradual return to normal activity will get things back to normal quickly.

I am at week 4 and everything was difficult to get started the first week, but then OK with MiraLAX every morning with bran cereal. But just like Allie, this week has been more sluggish again. Taking MiraLAX twice a day to try to get things better again. Drinking more water than juices, hopefully, that will help too. Go Figure!!

Same with me, I'm coming up to 4 weeks, and I've had to start taking the stool softener again. My energy level has gone back down also. I was supposed to go back to work Monday and I've called my dr. to ask for another week. It is kind of depressing, feeling good and then feeling bad again, but in different area's. I wasn't pushing myself and was feeling stronger. So what gives??????? Anyone know?

Hi Loves to Run!

Give it time. I too "go" a few times a day depending on my food intake and it took awhile to get back to this.

Any pain meds seem to constipate and remember that the intestines are really long so to it takes a while to fill up!
It took me until 5 days post-op to have that first precious bm! I had issues with lotsa gas the first 3 weeks, so painful, so I made my DH go get some gasx (generic walgreens type). It helped immensely with the bloated feeling, but you will still have some of that with the swelly belly healing inside.

Your food choices seem very good and healthy, so you are doing ok there.

Be patient and no question is too silly or gross. That is what we are all here for!

hiberbear

Loves to Run,

I have the same problem and I'm doing all the things you are as well, drinking lots, eating veggies, etc. I go once a day, but sometimes i feel like i need to do more and can't. I think that the whole idea of pushing just scares me.
I've come to the conclusion that I should be happy that i am at least going once a day and that I shouldn't stress out about not doing more, it will get back to normal sometime soon. Today I took a walk around the block again and I think this really helps. Just moving around at a slow pace.

Loves to Run -

After my first surgery it took about 4-5 weeks before I felt "normal" in that dept again. then for the next month or so I would sometimes have to go back to Miralax for a day or so. Eventually it was totally normal but it took time. I have never suffered with constipation issues before these surgeries either.

Now - I'm back in the owie gas stage. The good thing this time is that at least I know what to expect - that I'll be giving birth to my poop each morning - LOL!!!! Ouch!!

Starbgirl

Hi LTR,
I'm still a mess too. Yesterday evening I had horrible gas and the exact opposite problem. I was totally miserable and today my tummy is totally swollen and bloated, ugh! I think it takes a long time to get back to normal and if you are eating a lot less, there is just less to pass through your system. I think the swelling makes everything feel more full too. Pears and pear juice give me bad gas so I'm just sticking to high fiber cereal, Fiber One bars, yogurt, and vegetable soup. I eat other stuff too, pasta, chicken yadda yadda, but I knocked off the prunes because of the painful gas it was causing.

As long as you are going once a day, everything is moving. Once you are back to your normal level of activity and food intake, things should be better.

For me, I'm hoping things will be better than normal since a large part of my surgery was because my rectum had herniated into the vaginal canal and was totally collapsed, FUN! At this point, I'm regular, but each BM is proceeded by severe cramping. Fortunately it doesn't last long.

Hang in there, I think our bowls have a hard time healing because they never get a real break.