4 days post hysterectomy: No BM yet

I had a full hysterctomy on Monday.
Have not had a bowel movement since the morning before my surgery. I have been taking softners since Tuesday. I have passed gas but nothing else.I have been drinking a ton of water and 1 cup of coffee in the morning. How long should I go before I do something else??
What should I do. I still have pain from surgery and am still taking pain meds.

Peppermint tea and warm prune juice helped me.

Did you have a bowel prep before surgery? If so there might not be much in your bowels. The pain meds will definitely contribute to constipation. Are you having severe pain? If not try switching to ibuprofen, taking it every 6 hours and see if works for the pain. It's a good anti-inflammatory and may be more helpful than the pain meds, which basically just mask pain in your brain. They don't help with inflammation. If the over the counter dose (200 mg X 2) does not help ask doc if you can go up to 600 or 800 mg. This is the prescription strength dose. You don't need a script you can just use the over the counter brand, but up the # of pills. But do check with your doc for the higher dose. The trick with ibuprofen is to take it regularly.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by mollybear Did you have a bowel prep before surgery? If so there might not be much in your bowels. The pain meds will definitely contribute to constipation. Are you having severe pain? If not try switching to ibuprofen, taking it every 6 hours and see if works for the pain. It's a good anti-inflammatory and may be more helpful than the pain meds, which basically just mask pain in your brain. They don't help with inflammation. If the over the counter dose (200 mg X 2) does not help ask doc if you can go up to 600 or 800 mg. This is the prescription strength dose. You don't need a script you can just use the over the counter brand, but up the # of pills. But do check with your doc for the higher dose. The trick with ibuprofen is to take it regularly.

I didn't have to do a bowel prep but I did have a BM the morning of my surgery.
No, it is not severe. I am taking pain meds every 3 hours and script ibuprofen 600 every 6 hours.

That sounds good. I'd stop the pain meds and just go with the ibuprofen. Or maybe just take pain med at night. I ate 3-4 prunes a day and that helped me. You may also need a gentle laxative.

I had my surgery wed oct 7 and still had not had a bm by the following monday. I am a regular coffee drinker which usually sends me running to the bathroom but since I was taking the pain meds, opioids are the worst for causing constipation. My aunt got me Milk of magnesia, it says it takes 8 hours but it worked before then. you WILL go and a lot. I was just relieved I finally went even though it continued through the next 24 hours (but she made me take 2 doses instead of one because of the abdominal discomfort it was causing.

I read somewhere that the typical time for the first BM after a hysterectomy is the fourth or the fifth day. I had my first BM on the fifth day after my LSH. (I felt like I was going to explode on the night of the fourth day.) So you're OK. It just takes your body a little time to "wake up" after being put to sleep through general anesthesia.

I'm really starting to hurt with pressure.
I have dont stool softners since Tuesday.
I have drank 2TSP of milk of magnesia twice in 2 days. I drank 3oz of prunce juice nothing. Have back off from my pain medication.
I have walked alot.
I hurt so bad I need to take pain medication.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by sschwartz82501 I'm really starting to hurt with pressure. I have dont stool softners since Tuesday. I have drank 2TSP of milk of magnesia twice in 2 days. I drank 3oz of prunce juice nothing. Have back off from my pain medication. I have walked alot. I hurt so bad I need to take pain medication.

Try not to take pain meds as they will continue to suppress bowel function. Try warm beverages and gentle massage, If this has not resolved by morning please contact your surgeon. There is a very rare condition where the bowel has been shocked and does not wake up after surgery, it is called paralytic ileus. That needs to be treated by your doc.
Please try not to worry as I doubt that is the problem. Are you passing gas? Can you hear and feel your bowels rumbling? Those are good signs. If not and you feel you can't wait til the morning or you vomit or you start to run a fever go to the ER.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by sschwartz82501 I had a full hysterctomy on Monday. Have not had a bowel movement since the morning before my surgery. I have been taking softners since Tuesday. I have passed gas but nothing else.I have been drinking a ton of water and 1 cup of coffee in the morning. How long should I go before I do something else?? What should I do. I still have pain from surgery and am still taking pain meds.

Hi!
If u can manage pain with just Tylenol and ibuprofen that might help. Drink tons of water, eat peaches, pears and when on the toilet try putting your feet up on a stool as this will help relax your pelvic muscles. I also took metamucil, but I have always used that daily even b4 surgery. These things worked for me and I had my first BM day 4.
Good luck!