Bowel problems

Hi Sisters, I had a Tah on Nov 3. I am really having a hard time having a bowel movement . I know this is a embarrassing question but I wanted to know if anyone else had this problem. I haven't gone since the day before my surgery. I took laxatives on Tues and went.Iam worried I will continue to have problems.Any Advice?

Hi Reenie,
I also had this problem for about 1 i/2 weeks after surgery, and I have read on several posts others with the same issue. I find that if I drink prune juice daily and stool softners (they are a must) it helps considerably. Walking and lots of water and fiber also make a difference. I wish you luck.

Hi Reenie, you may have a bowel impaction. Fourteen days sounds like a long time without a BM. Check with you doctor, or if necessary call and ask at the ER. Bowel impactions are not fun, and can be signs of something more serious. Let us know how everything comes out

Just discovered this site yesterday with my husbands help. Thought I was so alone in my experience as I don't know of other women who have had a hysterectomy. What a wonderful site! I feel so comforted to know there are other women willing to share their experiences and words of encouragment. I am 11 days post-op from a D & C. Ovaries, uterus, tubes all gone through an abdominal incision. I too am having great difficulties with my bowel movements. I'm immobilized from the pain until it passes. It gets so bad sometimes I get the chills. I have started walking around the block, am trying to drink lots of fluids and am now taking a stool softener. Seems to be a little better. Called the Dr., he said it would just take time. Each day gets a little better.

A glass of Citrucel a day along with stool softeners and walking was my winning combination.

I can also relate to your problem. Had TVH on Nov. 8 - was not regular until Nov. 16. Just tried to let it do it's thing naturally, felt a lot of relief. Since then, however, because of a full blown swollen external hemmrhoid I am having lots of pain and problems having BM. Have used glycerine suppositories - very mild and they do work. Hold it in about 10 min. or as long as you can stand it. I did not have "H" before surgery and my D dr. wouldn't even look at it when I went for checkup on Nov. 16. Told me to call my regular dr. for that. Little does he know, he is fired. Had a really ***** attitude. One week post op and he wouldn't even refill pain meds. Told me I didn't need them, just take Advil and come see him in 2 months. Well I am getting on a soap box, so I will hush. Hope you have sucess with your problem. I know the discomfort you are having. Feel better soon. Smile ( it is easy for me to say that, and I can't even do it myself!!) Have a good day. God Bless, Deb.

reenie,

the worst part of recovery...sometimes is the gas and constipation and hemmerhoids!!! sometimes more than the pain management!

i will say that when the constipation really gets bad then the laxatives helped me a lot. i think you were right to take it but should also check with the doc.

what i want to share with the group is that i found that a naturally high-fiber diet was the "backbone" of good bowel behavior, for me.

after surgery to repair an anal fistula, during my recovery (just 8 months prior to my TAH/BSO!!) i found that a very-high fiber diet, thru regular foods, not medication, helped me a lot to retrain my bowel. i tried to eat 15-20 g of fiber a day. such as: 1 apple (5g), 1 bowl raisin bran (8g), 2 slices high fiber bread (2x3=6g), raw carrots (5g), =24 grams for the day. i foudn this firmed up my bm's and helped them come regularly in the morning. it did NOT cause constipation--it helped keep the bm moist and kept it from being runny, they were textbook perfect. i had tried citrucel and metamucil, but these are very LOW fiber (3-5g per glass) which did not help me at all plus they require you to drink a lot of water with each dose. i kept track of how much fiber i ate and below 10-12g a day, it didn't help me that much.

other key things for me: walking 15-30 min per day, and lots of water.

good luck. i am 3.5 wks post-op myself (TAH/BSO). i keep telling myself that 6 months down the road i will look back and thank god that it's all over!! i hope!!

-teri