help please .. had surgery yesteday morning now home

I know it's uncomfortable. But, give it time. That was what the nurse said to me. It took me nearly a week. But, once I was able to "go" I slowly got back to normal. I wouldn't worry unless it's been more than 5 days and things don't start "happening. Once it started for me it was "soft", so if it starts soft stool softeners will just make it runny. Eat prunes or drink a glass of prune juice. Try it naturally before resorting to suppisories.

I was told to drink loads of water - somewhere else on this site someone has suggested prune juice -
In my hospital we were recommended to take peppermint tea to help with digestion and gas -
I also had difficulties but found lots of water and peppermint tea helped - still drinking it 2 weeks post op.. .good luck - id definately seek advice from nurses or doctor....

I had a TAH on 6/24/05. At 47, I was very concerned about recovery from the surgery. Wrong - it is recovering from having one's colon effectively hoovered, then left empty for days, then suddenly told to reboot and get to work that is the hardest to recover from. Lots of water, hot tea, coffee if you drink it, and no matter how badly you want to get back to "normal" eating - DON"T. I felt great, other than a little gas pressure, and ate a piece (one!) of pizza on my 3rd night post-op, and paid for it with the most miserable night I have ever spent in a bathroom. Fruit, oatmeal, high-fiber cereals, chicken soup and saltines were the staples for the nest few days, plus Gas Ex and stool softeners. I am up to turkey sandwiches today, and can still feel my poor colon hesitating over every morsel! Good luck!

You poor thing. I know exactly what your inactive intestines are NOT doing. I have suffered alot with this before. That crazy anesthesia stops everything in it's tracks. Mine is still sluggish. I take Citrucel powder. You still a small cupful in a glass of cold water and quickly drink it and another glass of water. I do that once in the morning before I eat and another after lunch. Then at night I take a stool softener. Things are going much smoother and regular and don't have to wait wait wait. Then after things are moving along nicely, I gradually cut the full amount down until I don't have to take it at all! Hope you get moving soon!