Colace Question

I am currently 2 1/2 weeks post op and have been taking colace every morning to help with the BM's! I also take a small dose of milk of mag in the evening before going to bed. So far, my bowels have been working well. Does anyone know how long it is "safe" to keep taking Colace? I have had constipation problems prior to my surgery and am so afraid that if I stop....I may end up popping something at this point in my recovery. Stupid me forgot to ask my dr. at my 2 week post op appt. and to call her back and ask such an embarassing question..........
Anyone have any thoughts?

Since colace is just a softener and available OTC I dont think you need to worry about taking it for a while. I got a prescription for about six weeks worth after my op. The MOM may be different tho as it is a laxative and you might not want to take that daily for a long period of time without a doctor's advice.

I stopped taking Colace at the 2 week mark. However, I wasn't having any constipation problems before or after. My doctor had told me he wanted me to take it for at least a week.
At my Dr. office they have a nurse help line to answer questions like this. I would give your Dr. a call. I am sure they have had the question before. I wouldn't feel bad for calling. After all, they are the experts and make the big bucks
Have a great day

Pam

I too had constipation problems before surgery. My doctor told me to take MOM every day until I see him at my 3 week checkup. I tried that for about one day and the cramping about did me in.

I switched to a stool softener, and things have improved. What instructions did the hospital give you? My post-op instructions told me to take stool softeners each day, but you have to remember to drink lots of water, or they won't work.

Hope this helps.

Unfortunately, the hospital didn't tell me anything about stool softners when I was discharged. My doctor told me (at my pre-op and when she discharged me) about Colace. I always drink 8-10 glasses of water every day (have done that for over a year now). Even with all of the water consumption..... I still would get constipated!!

Roz,

I have taken Colace for four years due to medications I take that cause constipation. I also have taken a half dose of MOM for several years. I know that Colace is one that can be taken indefinitely because it is not a stimulant laxative. Relax and take what you need for as long as you need. Just stay away from the x-lax type of stimulants because they create a lazy bowel and then you are in trouble.

Some people take colace as a daily supliment for extended periods of time. I would say that as long as your BMs are normal (not loose or odd colored) you are ok. I am almost 3 weeks post op and still take it once or twice a day and will until I feel that aspect is totally normal again.

I've been taking colace every day myself. I'm 4 weeks post op, saw the dr. last week and asked him about it. He said to take it as long as I need to. I also had constipation problems before surgery. I had one little episode of it about a week or so ago, boy that was painful.

Due to the repairs that were done with my hysterectomy the URO wanted me on stool softeners and a laxative until everything had healed. Sometimes, you have to look at and weigh the risks/benefits of continuing meds (i.e. laxatives, stool softeners, etc). I've heard many on this board who have adamently said don't take laxatives, but for me the risk of ruining the repairs, would have been far worse then my body adjusting to the laxative. At 12 weeks post op I visited with the URO again and we discussed my long term needs. He recommended stopping the laxative and continuing with the stool softener two times a day as long as I need it. I have a long history of constipation (and like you) can drink bottled water all day long and still suffer. Since I chose not to repair a rectocele, this will probably always be an issue unless I have more surgery. I asked my doctor about the long term use of stool softeners (i.e. is it habit forming, will it stop working long term, is there any harm in taking it long term) in as many dffierent ways that I asked he responded no harm in taking Colace long term. As far as the laxative use, I believe there are situations that warrant it's use after surgery and this should be discussed with your doctor and that decision made with the doctor's recommendation. I did pop a stitch at 3 1/2 weeks post op due to constipation and straining, which resulted in hemmoraging. So for me, the temporary use of laxatives during recovery was necessary. After replacing that with flaxseed at 12 weeks post-op, I can tell you my constipation issues have definitely not got worse. It will always be a little difficult with the rectocele, but If I stay on top of it with the flaxseed, water, diet, and stool softeners it's actually a little bit better then pre-op. Hope this information helps some of you suffering with this dreaded problem!

jmw

Thanks SO much ladies....you have all been so helpful. Yes...I am so worried about the constipation coming back. Before surgery....it was a BEAR trying to go. I will continue with Colace and MOM (for a bit longer) until all is healed inside. I'm so afraid of popping a stitch!