6 weeks post hysterectomy: Constipation

Constipation need I say more! I take stool softener but doesn't always work.I also take milk of mag but I can't take this everday.
I drink water but maybe not as much as I should. I bought some bran cereal and fruit and prunes to eat.Still constipated and would like to go.

What you're already doing sounds good, but are you walking/moving around/getting exercise? That can help a lot.

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Originally Posted by coughy16 What you're already doing sounds good, but are you walking/moving around/getting exercise? That can help a lot.

I am walking and moving throughout the house no exercise since I went for my 6 -week post-op was told I am overdoing it lol. We get mix messages from the providers. I thought I was doing what was expected. I will keep up the regiment of foods for the constipation relief. Thanks again for reassuring me I am doing the right things to help.

Hi Tabby46!

Here's some info to help:

5 Ways to Speed up Sluggish Bowels
Avoiding Constipation
Post op Prunes & Moving Dishes
Do This – Not That: Gas & Constipation
10 Tips for Managing Constipation

Some Do's:

• Drink lots of water
• Frequent walks as you feel able
• Eat foods high in fiber such as oatmeal, bran, pears
• Use stool softeners
• Drink warm liquids such as prune juice or black coffee
• Put your feet up on a stool or "squatty potty"
• After meals: walk, and then sit up in a chair for at least 30-60 minutes
• Lie on your left side rather than your back
• Eat slowly
• Eat several small meals rather than 3 big meals
• Chew your food well

Some Don'ts:

• Don’t stay in bed for long periods during the day
• Don’t lie down for 30-60 minutes after eating
• Don’t get dehydrated
• Don’t drink too much caffeinated or carbonated beverages
• Don’t eat a lot of dairy products
• Don’t take pain medications unless you need them – they can be constipating
• Don’t eat gas-producing foods (cabbage, melon, carbonated drinks, broccoli)
• Don’t ignore the urge to “go”

I hope this helps!

I take fiber and probiotic gummy vitamins. Have been regular ever since!

I've never had any luck with stool softeners the two times in my life I was given them. You're already moving, already doing the fiber and prunes, but take it a step further. Choose foods high in fiber and magnesium: dark leafy greens, whole grains, fiber cereal, seeds, nuts, avocados, bananas, prune juice, fruit (dried, fresh or frozen in smoothies). Again, enough water-water-water to swamp a canoe to keep it all flowing. Otherwise you're making rocks, and rocks tumble and don't pass really well. I had a painful rock-mining episode about 17 days post-op waking me up from a dead sleep, and realized afterwards that I'd not had enough water the day before. Avoid highly processed or heavy foods as they have added ingredients which might be difficult to digest. Also, when you're on the commode, prop your feet up on a low foot stool. We're built to squat, and having your knees higher than your hips properly aligns the colon.

My go-to items were 1/2 cup of Fiber One original cereal, 1 cup raisin bran, dried prunes, prune juice. I figured that to be 27g fiber, plus the additional fiber you get from snacking on fruits & veggies.

If, if, if you need a little help, a cup of Smooth Move Tea gets you the water, the warm liquid and a natural herb. It's not as explosive as other laxatives. Since it's senna-based, you don't want to drink it regularly as it can still cause dependency. A box of 16 lasted me 7 months, and I keep a box on hand.

I had to stay on top of the digestion for about 7 weeks or I'd get constipated easily. My new "normal" is a digestive system that I still have to manage a bit more. The bulgy uterus actually kept me loose for about 14 years, so I'd forgotten what normal was like.

For magnesium, also have some dark chocolate or pumpkin seeds. Also try making a smoothie with almond milk, cherries, spinach, and ground flaxseeds; that's what got me going after my surgery, and it's still my go-to whenever I'm feeling a little irregular. As for warm beverages, my personal picks include peppermint tea, and a glass of warm water, with the juice of half a lemon. Another trick I frequently recommend is to do the "potty squat," as Cussette and sugarandspice mentioned, 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. Here's hoping you'll be back to 💩 soon!

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Originally Posted by sugarandspice Hi Tabby46! Here's some info to help: 5 Ways to Speed up Sluggish Bowels Avoiding Constipation Post op Prunes & Moving Dishes Do This – Not That: Gas & Constipation 10 Tips for Managing Constipation Some Do's: Drink lots of water Frequent walks as you feel able Eat foods high in fiber such as oatmeal, bran, pears Use stool softeners Drink warm liquids such as prune juice or black coffee Put your feet up on a stool or "squatty potty" After meals: walk, and then sit up in a chair for at least 30-60 minutes Lie on your left side rather than your back Eat slowly Eat several small meals rather than 3 big meals Chew your food well Some Don'ts: Don’t stay in bed for long periods during the day Don’t lie down for 30-60 minutes after eating Don’t get dehydrated Don’t drink too much caffeinated or carbonated beverages Don’t eat a lot of dairy products Don’t take pain medications unless you need them – they can be constipating Don’t eat gas-producing foods (cabbage, melon, carbonated drinks, broccoli) Don’t ignore the urge to “go” I hope this helps!

Thank you Sugarandspice for these helpful tips I will use.

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Originally Posted by Christacarver I take fiber and probiotic gummy vitamins. Have been regular ever since!

Thank you Christacarver for your helpful tips and I will make sure to get some vitamins and probiotics to help with my healing and constipation.

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Originally Posted by Tiger_Eye For magnesium, also have some dark chocolate or pumpkin seeds. Also try making a smoothie with almond milk, cherries, spinach, and ground flaxseeds; that's what got me going after my surgery, and it's still my go-to whenever I'm feeling a little irregular. As for warm beverages, my personal picks include peppermint tea, and a glass of warm water, with the juice of half a lemon. Another trick I frequently recommend is to do the "potty squat," as Cussette and sugarandspice mentioned, 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. Here's hoping you'll be back to 💩 soon!

Thank you Tiger_Eye for your tips with constipation and I love my smoothies so I will drink more.