Day 4 - Constipated (No BM)

I'm on day 4 post op after a TAH and still have not had a bowel movement. I've been thru all the gas pains. I have been drinking lots of fluids, and eating fruits. It's making me somewhat nervous. Have any of you ladies been thru this or are having the same problem? Any suggestions?

You sound exactly like I was. The gas was crazy! Per my doctor I was taking 2 colace each day after surgery, but when I hadn't had a bm with that, he said to add a dose of miralax each day. It made all the difference!

There are LOTS of ways to make this happen. You'll get tons of ideas from all the great ladies here. Good luck!

2bsisfriends-I have had a lifelong history of being constipated.This surgery amplified it,though.The cheapest thing is Milk-of -Magnesia.The cherry is not so evil.Add fiber,drink LOTS of water,and try to eat fruits and vegetables.Lots of ladies here have some great advice. Explore-you might find something you like better.

I had the same problem and my doctor told me to drink milk of magnesia...after 4 days I was calling the doctor and asking for stool softeners and that is what they told me to take...it seems like this is common after surgery

I had a TVH on Dec. 1. I have not had a BM yet either. I am taking two colace in the morning and two in the evening. Gas is not near as bad. It was horrible Wednesday...Gas - X seemed to help with that. I am gonna try a glycerin suppository.

I had an SAH and pretty much the same thing happened to me. I made sure to drink plenty of water, eat (what little I did) fruits and veggies and most importantly, walk as much as possible. Moving around really helps! Rocking in a rocking chair is also very helpful at getting the gas moving. Since bearing down after an abdominal incision is pretty much an impossibility, sit and be patient, don't force anything - it really will happen. You can also try a stool softener with your doctor's consent.

Hang in there, it does get better.

When I left the hospiatal the day after my surgery my doc told me that if I hadn't had a BM by the next day to take some milk of magnesia and I did and things have been rolling right along since. Before surgery I had constant diarrhea but since things have been great!

Hi.
MY LTH & BSO was on Mon 30 Nov and it's Sat morn, 5 Dec and same thing. I knew to expect this though from reading various posts.
Lots of water and some walking wil help things along. If you want some assistance, without a medication, try pear juice. A trick I learned when I had chemo a few years back. Hope it helps.
cheers

Very common problem. I had TAH/BSO (horizontal incision) on Wed Nov 11th, on Fri still in hospital I had glycerin suppository in the morning, then a dose of Milk of Magnesia in the evening plus another suppository which finally worked but then no BM on Saturday, finally again on Sunday night and since then okay. Drink lots of water, fresh fruit high in fiber (strawberries are great and of course prunes), walk frequently .... might help to raise at least one of your feet when on the toilet (6" or more, use a box, open drawer, step on small step stool, etc), Stool softeners and Miralax are also options.

Of course if you continue to be concerned, call your doctor.

Good luck!