Upcoming hysterectomy: Post-Op laxative question

I'm waiting to have surgery and have had a lot of problems with constipation the past few weeks. I'm not sure if it's due to hormones ( been getting ALOT of hot flashes this past week ) , or the fact that that I have a incisional hernia , or cuz I'm taking more narcotic pain meds but my intestines are not happy. I've been reading thru the post recovery forums and my question is this , can't we take a major laxative like ex lax or something after surgery ? I'm afraid of really getting blocked up post surgery ( especially since it's not good now ) and I think I got my incisional hernia after my last surgery from straining too hard !! I'm really concerned about this. Like , with all the other tips of waking , water , stool softeners. Etc , take a laxative with it each day if needed ? ( I'm already doing stool softeners and they are not helping much right now at all : (. Sorry this is so long. Hopefully someone will have a good plan for me. I don't want to get a hernia again ! I'm getting this one repaired when I have the hysterectomy ..

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Originally Posted by Lisa B. I'm waiting to have surgery and have had a lot of problems with constipation the past few weeks. I'm not sure if it's due to hormones ( been getting ALOT of hot flashes this past week ) , or the fact that that I have a incisional hernia , or cuz I'm taking more narcotic pain meds but my intestines are not happy. I've been reading thru the post recovery forums and my question is this , can't we take a major laxative like ex lax or something after surgery ? I'm afraid of really getting blocked up post surgery ( especially since it's not good now ) and I think I got my incisional hernia after my last surgery from straining too hard !! I'm really concerned about this. Like , with all the other tips of waking , water , stool softeners. Etc , take a laxative with it each day if needed ? ( I'm already doing stool softeners and they are not helping much right now at all : (. Sorry this is so long. Hopefully someone will have a good plan for me. I don't want to get a hernia again ! I'm getting this one repaired when I have the hysterectomy ..

In the past I'd suffered constipation, and have had a few hemorrhoids as a result. Despite the discomfort the surgery can bring, I would not - repeat, would not - resort to taking a *daily* laxative especially one as explosive as Ex Lax which has like twice the active ingredient of other stimulant laxatives. I'm with you in that stool softeners didn't do much - for me, they did nothing both times in my life I've taken them and both for OB-GYN purposes. Daily laxatives carry the strong possibility of dependency, ie. you can't go unless you take them, you take them so you can go. Not good for your digestive system.

So what's a princess to do to get decent action on the throne ? Walking helps, water-water-water, and diet: veggies, fruits, fiber. Some sisters add that magnesium also helps. My go-to items have been 1/2 cup of Fiber One original cereal (14 grams fiber), 1 cup raisin bran (7g), dried prunes (ick, 3g per serving), prune juice (icky-ick, requires a chaser of something that tastes better, 3g per serving). That's 27g fiber, plus the additional fiber you get from fruits & veggies. Again, water-water-water, otherwise you're making rocks that don't flow smoothly. Final tip, use a low footstool about 7-9" to get your knees above your hips. We're actually built to squat, not sit.

If, if, if you must use a laxative, go for a natural-based Sennakot or Swiss Kriss and only use one tablet - and don't use it daily. First week, I drank senna tea (Traditional Medicinals' Smooth Move) but only every third day. I wish I could have used it more sparingly, even. Once I came off the primary pain med which contributed to the "backlog" I went with the food-water formula above and have been fairly regular ever since.

Best wishes for a textbook surgery, good recovery... lubed tubes!

I have included an article that may help - Laxatives Vs. Stool Softeners . Laxatives should only be taken if approved by your doctor. I understand your concern with constipation and the tips we have recommended - like water, walking, stool softeners - do work but a BM takes time after surgery. Your bowels will need a few days to readjust from the shock of surgery and it can take up to 5-7 days to have your first BM. While a laxative may expedite that, again, I wouldn't recommend it unless your doctor gives you the OK. Many sisters have found warm prune juice or pear juice, and Smooth Move tea, to be very effective in moooooooooving things along.

My first bowel movement was on day 6. If you're increasing your fibre intake to get yourself going, don't increase it too fast, or take a large amount all at once, which can cause gas or bloating; also be sure to drink plenty of water, as Cussette explained. For an excellent source of magnesium, have some dark chocolate, or try making a smoothie with almond milk, cherries, spinach, and ground flaxseeds; that's what ultimately worked for me. For constipation caused by narcotic pain medications, plain old peppermint tea works quite well. Another way to encourage regularity is to sit on the toilet right after a meal; this stimulates the gastro-colic reflex, in which the stomach tells the brain that it's full, then the brain tells the colon to empty its contents, to make room for the new stuff coming in. Best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery!

Thank u girls ! I'm going to screen shot your tips : )