runny nose and no bowel movement post day 3

Hi Ladies
had Davinci surgery on Tuesday. Felt fine day 1 and 2 but experiencing head cold type symptoms...runny nose and feel a bit of congestion. Also have not had a bowel movement although started taking stool softener afternoon left hospital. Are both these symptoms normal?

I'm not sure about the head cold symptoms but I was almost the same with the bowel movement. I had one the day I came home, but then they stopped. DH got me some milk of magnesia, and within 6 hours I had a huge bm. It was all soft due to the stool softeners, but I just never got the urgoe to go. I only had to take the one dose of MOM and I've been regular everyday since then! I highly recommend that stuff, it works but it doesn't give you cramps like other laxatives do. Good luck!

Thanks ktant for your response. I plan to check with my doctors office today but the MOM seems like a good idea. Since I have to fly home on Saturday, want to ensure I have BM before that.

I had no bowel movement for the first seven days - I was also taking stool softeners twice a day. I worried if it would hurt when I did go, but happy to say that those stool softeners are great - have had no problems once things started moving. I did let up to one stool softener though because things were a bit runny on two. I'd keep taking the two until you do have one though. Hope it helps.

Thanks molly for your reassuring response. I spent about an hour or so walking this afternoon with no results yet. However, the nurse also reassured me by saying it is ok if I do not have a bm by the time I fly home on Saturday.

It took me 5 days to have a BM post op. Stool softeners help and eventually things will start moving. Pain medication has been known to stop things up a little so I wouldn't panic.

Thank you so much for your response. Hearing from you and the other ladies has been extremely helpful and comforting. Thanks to all of you who responded for taking the time to do so.