First bowel movement?

I just got home today after a TAH/BSO and I'm really nervous about my first bowel movement. Can anyone tell me what to expect? How painful was it, and how long before first bowel movement?

Thanks in advance,
Cheryl

Hi! Welcome Home! I am post op 1.5 weeks. I found the gas pain prior to the BM to be terrible! As soon as I had the BM I felt sooooo much better. I am drinking tons of water to make the event more comfortable. I bet you'll find the anticipation the worst. Good luck and again welcome home!

I know how stressful waiting for that first "gift" can be!

I had my surgery on June 7 (Tuesday) and didn't "move" until I came home on Friday the 10th. I had been passing gas with no problem since Wednesday. Friday morning in the hospital the nurse gave me a dose (2 Tablespoons?) of Milk of Magnesia and told me that if I didn't have a bowel movement by 9:00 that night I needed an enema. I was SO praying for a movement! It came and it was great! I had been drinking plenty of water - PLENTY of water - and been eating food with good fiber content. That is all SO important. I'm sure that the M-O-M helped, too. My stool was soft, but not too soft, and just kept coming. I walked out of the bathroom and told my husband that I just lost 5 pounds! It was a little difficult at first, but once I started and relaxed it just happened and was glorious! I had a tiny bit of rectal bleeding with that first movement and I think that I just irritated the opening as things came out. Since then I've been very careful to eat well, drink lots of water and move around as much as I can and I've been going 2 or 3 times a day with no problems. I never thought that I would be praising God for poop, but here I am doing it!

Hope this gives you some hope!

Cheryl,

Welcome home! I had a TAH, had surgery on a Monday and had my first BM the following Saturday. I agree with everyone else, drink LOTS of water; it's "nature's softener" is how my doc described it to me.

I also took stool softeners post-op, and they really helped a lot. And walking around the house a little bit every hour or so helped move things along. I also ate lots of raisins, oatmeal, shredded wheat, and drank apple juice, which also helped.

The first 3-4 bm's were uncomfortable (although I didn't have any bleeding) but after that it was fine.

Good luck and before long you'll be giving thanks just like Milaka!

HI there!
I had my TAH/BSO on MOnday and had my first BM Friday evening. I had been drinking lOTS of fluid and trying to eat high fiber foods also.
I agree that the gas pains and bloating were worse than the actual BM!
The real key is learning to relax and let your body do it. If you can learn to relax the anal sphincter, the bowerl will actually move the BM out itself with little straining from you.

I have a hand towel near the potty to fold up and use as counterpressure on my abdomen and that helps a LOT.

You'll be OK - just relax!

Hugs,
Jo

Hi Ladies,
I just wanted to come back and say thanks for all of your replies.

I had my first BM this morning and it was not bad at all. (Thanks to the M.O.M, stool softeners, and lots of water.)

One "sister" mentioned that the anticipation would probably be the worst and that was very true!

After all the gas pains that I've been having; I felt alot better almost immediately.

Thanks again to all of you.
Cheryl

Cheryl,



Glad to hear you're on the other side of that particular hurdle!
It definitely feels better; I remember that feeling.