LAVH 1 week post hysterectomy: Bowel issues? Upper abdominal pain

a little background: I have called the dr twice about this issue but he doesn't seem to be concerned.
Per the nurse/dr recommendations I started taking a laxative last Wednesday(2 days post op) to get the bowels moving. It worked well that night. I am drinking LOTS of water and still continue to take a laxative and stool softener. My stools are definitely not firm (stool softeners are doing their job) and I'm not constipated.

I am having waves of pain in my abdominal area. It starts as a dull ache in my upper abdominal area about 3 inches below my sternum and radiates down to a couple inches above my belly button . It is almost a pulsing/squeeze dull aching sensation right in the center. Then shortly after that my lower abdomen starts cramping severely for 10-15 second increments. I compare the cramping to natural childbirth contractions. This will go on for 10 or so minutes. Then I have a bowel movement. The pain then stops. I do have several short spasms of the pain waves without bowel movement throughout the day.

I've heard of bowel issues/constipation after a hysterectomy but this doesn't seem to fall into that. Anyone had this issue? Any suggestions?

When I was younger I had Irritable bowel syndrome. Then it never bothered me until the surgery. I think the stress of surgery and the general pelvic inflammation caused by the surgery kicked it up to high gear. All the things you're describing happened to me and the pain was all bowel pain. After around week 6 it all settled down. I had very little constipation it was mostly loose stools. You might try just taking the stool softener and not a laxative. Most stimulant laxatives tend to give me severe cramping.