5 months post hysterectomy: Still having bowel problems - anyone else this far out?

I need reassurance, I am 5 months post LA VH/BSO and still having problems with the bowels, they have become very sluggish and not many days go past without I have to take extra help, I only take 1 Senna tab which works well but I didn't expect to be having these problems this far along, am I expecting too much? is it still my insides settling down after having bits cut out, I am vegetarian so eat lots of veg, though I have been on a diet as well, could this be where I am going wrong, should I wait until I am completely healed then try to lose the weight I gained while I was anaemic before the op and was on bedrest for weeks, I'm getting a bit paranoid about it.
Anyone else at around the 5 months mark having similar problems?
Thanks
Bea

It took me 9 months before my bowels got to any type of regular without straining. None of my old tricks worked. I had gone on a diet that was suppose to lower cholesterol (raised HDL but not the LDL it was suppose to). I was eating ground flax seed, oatmeal, apple a day, 4 Metamucil capsules and 2 stool softeners. I was finally able to go daily without using Milk of Mag. I had a colonoscopy the first of May and am now trying to get back to where I was before. The doctor did prescibe miralax but it took 6 days to work, gave me horrible gas and made me dizzy.

Constipation was a problem before surgery and straining sometimes feeling like I would stroke out was common.

I am glad you posted this. I am one month past surgery and still having problems. I have never had problems with constipation; just the opposite. I thought I would be able to stop taking stool softeners when I stopped taking narcotics for pain, but that was a mistake. The surgeon did remove a fibroid that had become attached to my bowel, so I wonder if my bowel is permanently damaged. Fibre makes things worse when I'm constipated. Just makes me bloated with lots of pain. Before my surgery, I had a primal type diet and easy bowel movements 2 or 3 times a day.

I am a little over 2 months post op and still have problems, but I'm slowly weeding things out of my diet that, prior to surgery, weren't a problem but are now. Part of my intestine was adhered to the pelvic wall prior to surgery, so I believe that's part of the problem, but I think this surgery complicates things as well. Are you taking a probiotic? I was taking one prior to surgery, but found that it wasn't working as well after surgery, so I switched to a different one and it helps tremendously. Also, I like to eat healthy and didn't really have a problem with fruits and veggies before surgery, but post surgery I've found I have to be careful how much I eat of certain ones. For example, apples and broccoli are major culprits, so I now tread carefully with them. Lactose was not an issue before surgery, but now I can't eat yogurt or ice cream. Milk (1%) is ok in moderation. I hope this is a temporary thing. Fried foods are a big no-no now.

Anyway, Its a traumatic surgery that affects our system, and I feel it's a trial and error thing to ffigure out new trigger foods. Hopefully, it's not lifetime, but even if it is, it's a small price to pay for health. Hopefully you'll find what works for you. If you're not taking a probiotic, I would suggest researching them to start. Best of luck!,

I eat yoghurt with live cultures. I feel like my colon just doesn't want to work on its own. I made the mistake of stopping colace and movicol when I started to develop diarrhoea that kept me up at night. Now I'm trying to see if cutting the dose slowly will help. Don't want to be on meds my whole life.

I'm not sure if it's a normal thing for everyone after surgery, but it's been the same way for me.

I'm just over 2 mths po and I still have bowel issues if I don't take stool softeners. And like someone else before me said, I'm also on a 'cholesterol lowering' diet which hasn't seemed to make much of a difference for my bowels even though it's mostly veggies and some fruit.

I've been having to work hard to keep sugary stuff out of the house b/c after surgery for some reason that was one of my main cravings...and I almost NEVER eat sugary stuff, seriously, the last time I ate ice cream was over 2 yrs ago ; )

I really think surgery just throws the body off. I'm just really hoping my bowels will eventually settle down.

Beadifferent61, I know you weren't asking about this but I find it really interesting that you gained weight before your surgery while you were having severe problems w/ anemia...I had the exact same problem although I wasn't bedridden. During the year before my surgery I had steadily gained 15, almost 20 lbs despite watching my portion control and eating healthy and exercising (tbh, my exercise was very limited b/c of my anemia and the pain from my adeno). And of course I was anemic during the time too. Then after my surgery, within the first mth my body just shed the extra weight w/o any help on my part. I don't know how my weight was related to my feminine issues but it seems to be connected.

From what I read, majority of the problem getting our bowels working is due to the anesthesia and how it affects them. Some here have said a combo of warm prune and orange juice will wake them up. I have not tried that - did try prune juice but the gas was horrible.

I too have found foods affect me different. Finally I can eat broccoli but for months I got horrible gas and pelvic pain from it. Also, cabbage and cauliflower did the same. Doctor thinks it was the gas and stool building up and hitting tender spots in the right pelvic area. At my 3 months check up, he touched the area which really hurt. CT showed nothing which is when he came up with the theory. It is better now which is good. I have this daily craving for steamed broccoli with Newman's Own Lite Balsamic dressing!

Narcotics also play a big role.

I am 3 months post TAH and am still taking stool softners,eating dried prunes,drinking prune juice,i'm also eating a healthly diet,but i still can't have a BM without laxatives or glycerine supposotories
Also i feel so uncomfortable as i still have alot of swelling which feels like its putting alot of pressure on my badder,when will it end? Warmest wishes Shelagh🌺

I'm seven months post-op and still have some bowel issues as well. Wheat products seem to be especially problematic. If I eat them, I experience diarrhea, followed by a week or two of constipation and painful bowel inflammation. I had bloating and diarrhea before surgery when eating wheat products, the but pain and constipation are a post-op thing.

I also get an odd feeling of pressure in my lower pelvic area, which often happens in the evening after sitting on certain chairs. Not sure if this is related to the bowel issues, but it's unpleasant.