Rectocele repair,constipation,laxatives...

Has anyone gone through these repairs and felt nervous about getting off laxatives? I am a little over a month past surgery date. I take two doses of citracil a day, and still take 2 TBL. of M.O.M. at bedtime to keep my bowel soft. I don't feel as if I could push at all yet if I got too bound up. Constipation was my biggest problem before my surgery, I am still convinced that my prolapse problems wouldn't have been such an issue if I hadn't spent so much time trying to clear my rectocele before I knew what it was. So I am nervous about stopping the Milk of Magnesia, but sooo tired of it... anyone have similar experiences?

Hi Cathy,

I had the rectocele repair done also and know just how you feel. I was very nervous about things getting bound up. Does your dr know you're still taking the M.O.M.? That concerns me some, that you could get to where you will be reliant on it. Have you tried stool softeners? I used them for a few months post op and they worked great. I also was very careful to keep a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables in my diet.
I think you should check with your dr for his recommendations and really try to get yourself off of the laxatives. I hope you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was that the surgery made a huge difference and you won't continue to struggle with the constipation.

's, Rita

Well, that is just the encouragement I needed... tonight I will cut it back just a little and for the next few nights do the same until I don't take any MOM... I will add a softener for a while. Earlier in the month I was doing the citrucil, 1 softener AND the MOM and was too soft and often... I'm ready now, thanks.

Cathy

My doc told me that he wants me to take Colace every day for the rest of my life. Considering that I have never had the best of diets and that I sure don't want to tempt fate with the need for a second operation, I will follow his wishes. What I have found to be the most important part of my routine is just having a bowl or Raisin Bran every morning. Works better than any of the treatments.

Help!!! I'm new having a hysterectomy next week. Question I have is "what is a rectocele and how on earth do you know if you have one??? I'm not joking I really don't know what it is - I'm assuming it has to do with your rectum - is that when that part feels like it's falling out too???
Thanks, - I just need a little info.

A rectocele is when the muscle wall between your vagina and rectum is weak, sometimes to the point that the bowl bulges into the vagina. This can make having a bm very difficult, in my own experience, it would collect there and I was always having trouble clearing my bowl. yuck, huh?

Thanks for clearing that up - I don't have that problem - sometimes it just feels like EVERYTHING down there is falling out.

May63, I'm glad that you don't have that problem. My prayers are for you that your operation will go smoothly and your healing quick. I know it will help to have the conection to this web-site. It has sure been a comfort to me!

Justjanice, oatmeal, with 2 TBLSP. or wheat bran added every morning helped me a lot in the earlier days. And lots of water to drink...

Cathy