TLH Worried about no bowel movement 4 days post hysterectomy

I had a laparoscopic hysterectomy with ovaries left intact on November 28th. I have been taking my stool softners as prescribed but still have not had a bowel movement. I am very worried that straining to have a bowel movement will cause internal problems like tears etc. Any advice or experiences to help put my mind at ease would be helpful.

I'm in the same boat as you because I had severe constipation BEFORE surgery, and nothing seems to be working for me now that I can't strain.

If you've tried stool softeners, the next step would be to try MIlk of Magnesia. My urogyn told me to take 30ml everyday, as needed. MOM is an osmotic laxative, so if your constipation is caused by hard stools, it will draw water into the intestines and make your stools softer and easier to pass. If your stools are soft, and you still can't pass them without straining, you may have to take something stronger like Dulcolax or Senna (both of which my doctor told me to take if MOM didn't work, since straining is more dangerous than taking the laxatives in my situation).

Just don't make a habit of taking them. Dulcolax and Senna are both stimulant laxatives (which cause the muscles of the bowel to move in order to propel waste forward) and can cause bowel dependency if taken in excess.

Thank you for your reply. I have Laxaday which works the same way, will try that for a couple of days before I try Dulculax. Hopefully between the stool softners and Laxaday we will not need the actual laxative, but it is better than straining.

I am 18 days post total vaginal hysterectomy. I only stayed in the hospital over night, was released on Tuesday 11/15. By Saturday, 5th day post op, I was so constipated I became impacted. Problem was, I was stopped up in my rectal vault so the pressure and pain was excruciating. I was taking stool softeners every day post op so I was confused as to how this happened. I called my doctors office Saturday evening scared and in pain. The nurse recommended I try saline enemas. I advised that by that time I had already tried milk of magnesia, suppository and the saline enema. I was "stuck". I was told my only other option was to go to the ER. Well, I decided to stay home and keep trying rather than face embarrassment. By Sunday afternoon, still nothing was working at all. By then the pain was so unbearable, all I could do was hang my head and sob. My husband, finally convinced me to go to the ER. Once there, all they did was a exam, determined there was no way to remove the problem there so they did a CT scan. At that point the doctor said I would have to be admitted for a GI specialist to perform a procedure. Well, as I was sitting there, shift change happened and I wound up with a new ER doctor who said no, they were not performing any procedures. I asked what he intended to do, he said nothing other than keep trying enemas etc. I did not see the point in staying in the hospital at that point. I was exhausted, embarrassed and in so much pain. I was terrified I would rip inside, that I would develop rectal or bladder prolapse etc. Well I told them to take the IV out and I left. On the ride home I asked my husband to stop by the drug store and I picked up some mineral oil and mineral oil enemas, also some citric nitrate. I stayed up most the night literally lubing from both ends ( I am trying to be humorous here) and sipping the citric nitrate. Finally, Monday (were 7 days post op) I passed the blockage. Yes it hurt but thank heavens nothing tore, ripped or prolapsed. I did have just a tinge of spotting but nothing more. When I spoke with the nurse at my physicians office, she said the pain meds were the culprit. They prescribed me Colace and I take two a day plus a table spoon of mineral oil ( just to be sure, never want to go through that again!!!!). I am hoping you the best and I would not wish my experience on anyone!!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Allisonarc I am 18 days post total vaginal hysterectomy. I only stayed in the hospital over night, was released on Tuesday 11/15. By Saturday, 5th day post op, I was so constipated I became impacted. Problem was, I was stopped up in my rectal vault so the pressure and pain was excruciating. I was taking stool softeners every day post op so I was confused as to how this happened. I called my doctors office Saturday evening scared and in pain. The nurse recommended I try saline enemas. I advised that by that time I had already tried milk of magnesia, suppository and the saline enema. I was "stuck". I was told my only other option was to go to the ER. Well, I decided to stay home and keep trying rather than face embarrassment. By Sunday afternoon, still nothing was working at all. By then the pain was so unbearable, all I could do was hang my head and sob. My husband, finally convinced me to go to the ER. Once there, all they did was a exam, determined there was no way to remove the problem there so they did a CT scan. At that point the doctor said I would have to be admitted for a GI specialist to perform a procedure. Well, as I was sitting there, shift change happened and I wound up with a new ER doctor who said no, they were not performing any procedures. I asked what he intended to do, he said nothing other than keep trying enemas etc. I did not see the point in staying in the hospital at that point. I was exhausted, embarrassed and in so much pain. I was terrified I would rip inside, that I would develop rectal or bladder prolapse etc. Well I told them to take the IV out and I left. On the ride home I asked my husband to stop by the drug store and I picked up some mineral oil and mineral oil enemas, also some citric nitrate. I stayed up most the night literally lubing from both ends ( I am trying to be humorous here) and sipping the citric nitrate. Finally, Monday (were 7 days post op) I passed the blockage. Yes it hurt but thank heavens nothing tore, ripped or prolapsed. I did have just a tinge of spotting but nothing more. When I spoke with the nurse at my physicians office, she said the pain meds were the culprit. They prescribed me Colace and I take two a day plus a table spoon of mineral oil ( just to be sure, never want to go through that again!!!!). I am hoping you the best and I would not wish my experience on anyone!!

Just wanted to say that you are an extremely courageous woman! To have gone through such a terrifying experience, and then to be able to recount the whole ordeal with a dash of humour is beyond commendable. Wishing you a speedy and uneventful recovery!

My first bowel movement was on day 6. What worked for me included daily walks, peppermint tea and prunes with my breakfast, and a green smoothie with cherries and ground flaxseeds as an afternoon snack. Greens, like MOM, are high in magnesium, which promotes proper bowel function; also have some pumpkin seeds or dark chocolate, two more excellent sources. Another tip I frequently recommend, to kick-start your bowels without the laxatives, 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. To prevent straining, be sure to drink enough water so that your urine is clear or pale yellow; also sit on the toilet with your knees drawn into your chest, and your feet elevated on a low stool, which straightens the rectum, so the poop can pass through without straining. Here's hoping you'll be back to 💩 soon!