6 weeks post hysterectomy today: bowel problems

To;dr: what to eat after hysterectomy? Too much and too little fiber problematic.

So yesterday I went to a new endo specialist for a 6 week post-op. There was some misunderstanding in the scheduling and it turns out he was more endocrinologist than gyno. Luckily I did get some good referrals out of the visit but my questions were poorly addressed.

Background:

10/8/2014 I underwent a mini lap and excision of adhesions. The surgery took over 5 hours and endo was taken off bowels, nerves, diaphragm, bladder, ureters, abdominal walls etc. the endo was extensive and deep infiltrating. I had a supra cervical hysterectomy leaving my left ovary.

Today: my official 6 week post-op day and I crazy overdid it yesterday running errands. Now I'm in bed nauseous and in pain. I keep having intense cramping and sharp pain preceding each bowel movement. This was more intense and longer lasting before the surgery, now it is generally brief and immediately before the BM.

What should I be eating, I was on a soft carby diet that ended up being fairly high in sugar (applesauce and whatnot) and I was dependent on miralax. I also avoided probiotics to prevent gas per doctors orders. I ended up getting a yeast infection. Now I'm eating more vegetables so I can avoid the stool softener but I have multiple bulky stools (first one well formed, the rest are looser) and I'm having all that pain. What should I do?

Also, activity and work...I'm a notorious overdoer and I'm going crazy feeling so useless. I have really poor body awareness as I lived my whole life just pushing through to be an overachiever and being told I was just being too sensitive/lazy. How do I pace myself? Should I look for part-time work to keep my sanity?

I have the same issues. Really painful gas right before BMs! And for now, I'm feeling like I have to go more often -- 2-3 times a day (I used to go once a day only). Just part of the colon trying to heal after the trauma and shock, I guess. I DO take probiotics -- started them up again 5 days after surgery -- and I know that those take a while to get used to after being off of them a while.

Hoping it's all just something that will gradually get better over the next couple of weeks. I heard that 8 weeks is a whole new ballgame when it comes to how you feel. Hope so for both of our sakes!

Best wishes.

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm glad it's not just me. I hope you feel better too. Recovery can be such a pain.

I saw the doctor last week for my 6 months check-up (cancer diagnosis) and told him my bowels are still not working right. Constipation is really not the problem - it backs up at the rectum and gets hard there. Everything behind it is soft. I have been taking stool softeners since surgery, eating fresh fruit and veggies, walking, etc. At three months he suggested milk of mag but not daily. The sigmoid colon curves down in the right pelvic area and that is where I get pain plus on the vagina when I strain at all. All the old tricks I use to use to keep them regular no longer work. He said I did have some vaginal dryness so use Replens and take miralax every day. It was 3 days before the first BM and I was uncomfortable, had a small BM, then 2 more days. I am hoping my bowels will start working better so I don't always feel 'full' in there.