Bowel pain/issues

I am about 3 weeks post op (Sub-total abd hyst 5/19). I have had recurrent abdominal "spasms" with alternate diarrhea/constipation. My doctor said the constipation was from the pain meds. I am off the pain meds now and still having the same problem. Did anyone else have this problem, and did it get better?
Thanks
lovebunnies

It will be three weeks tomorrow and I can't help but to wonder where all my food is going, because it's sure not out! I know I started out empty to the surgery, but I've only gone three times, and it was only with enemas. (Very painful!!) This week I'm more gassy then I've been, so maybe things are progressing. I was told our systems freeze after having surgery and that's why it takes so long to get back to normal. I know I would have called my doctor at least ten had it not been for this site. Reading about everyone else makes you feel much less alone, and more normal. When I tell people recovery is sometimes a pain in the butt, I mean it!!! My bum hurts right now as I type this. And pooing is a scary thing right now. I get chills and even feel like throwing up when i do go. It has to pass through all those posterior repairs, and I can feel each and every stitch. I could use a little diarrhea right now, I ate a box of prunes and have tried everything. My poos won't summitt, darn it!!

I actually tried otc Colace and Milk of Magnesia, and made the constipation turn to diarrhea. Now I'm not doing ANYTHING, and I still have both intermittenedly. The Colace worked okay, but now I wonder, "Do I just have to wait for things to get back to normal?"
lovebunnies
subtotal abd hyst 5/19/03

Hey guys it took me almost 3 weeks to get back to my normal self after this surgery as far as BM's and being able to pee like I used to. The colace is a great help and so is fiber. I find that even now (about 4 weeks post opp) if I don't eat enough fiber I get constipated. I was getting worried at about 3 weeks because my BM's were so painful. I was having a really hard time passing gas. It all seemed to happen at once along with my BM's. Finally, though, one day, it was like someone just hit a switch and from then on everything has been pretty ok. If it doesn't happen right away I wouldn't worry too much, but on the other hand I would definately call my Dr. if after 3 weeks things aren't slowly getting back to normal. It does take time. At 4 weeks, I am feeling pretty good. I can sleep on my stomach even! I really started feeling better at about the 3 week mark, but, of course, everyone is different.

Thank goodness for this forum. I am not quite 3 weeks post op, and I want to see some level of normal in the bowel and bladder departments. I have to say diarrehia is no treat either. I suffered with it for the first full week and it was just as gassy as the constipation. Nor was it too wonderful for a region full of stitches. Now that I am fighting the other extreme I am non too happy either. I walk, eat lots of fibre, take stool softeners and natural source laxatives. I am doing a little better but have terror every time I have a BM and wish the muscles would do as I ask. The spasims and pain internally during and after leave me wondering if I will ever see an end. My doctors say this is Normal and that it could go on for some time. Great, as I wrote in the Canadian forum I want to know just how long this can be a problem. Sometimes knowing the worse case synario gives you something to shoot for. I would love to be able to sleep on my stomack and to stop taking pain meds!

Hi Lovebunnies

What a cute name!! Anyhoo, I have suffered from constipation most of my 42 years. I think I've tried everything that anyone has suggested, but I have a few ideas that just might work for you.

First of all, don't use laxatives because they have a tendency to make you cramp up. If you want to use something, try a stool softener. Be careful here, though, because your body could get used to them. Before doing so, you need to ask you doc if this is ok.

Second, I drank lots of water. Sodas and fruit drinks seemed to me to make it worse.

Third: walk around. I found that walking was the best catalist for making me have bowel movements as well as getting rid of gas.

Maybe you could try one of these suggestions, they have worked the best for me

Sending you a big

Patty