Difficulty with BM's post hyst

I've found since my hyst, my BM's seem to require more straining. Doesn't help that I'm still dealing with hard stools most days, but even the ones that aren't. If I have to stain too hard, it hurts all the way up my vagina. (I'm still on percocet daily as well).

Is this par for the course and once my pain issues are finally resolved and I'm off the pain meds, I'll return to normal BM's?

I have a dr.'s appt on the 14th, so I can ask my dr. then, but wondered if anyone else had this issue?

Thanks,
Rhonda

Rhonda,

Hello!! Smile. I did not want to reply and scare ya with the fact I am 7 wks tomorrow and still struggling with my bowels...but here your surgery date was before mine! Did you read any other post here about difficult BM's...there have been many. It is a common problem after surgery especially with the pain pills. You are talking the pills still so that really could be the issue of more hard BM's. I know I had stopped pain medicines because of the hard BM issue but I was not functioning very well and having pain issues still so my doc told me to take more and ordered me a new one but here I am having trouble with hard BM again too so I really think it is partly the med. I have been struggling to have normal BM's anyhow since my sugery. I eat a very high fiber healthy diet so this is very fustrating to me and I am not one who likes to take medicines but I am leaning towards using something soon..they wanted to try an IBS medicine on me. I did not have IBS before my surgery. I drink lots of water. I do not exercise like I did before and I think that is a big part too but it still hurts me to even walk. I can do it but it makes me feel like I have a bowling ball in there, heavy belly feeling if I do too much(which is very little). After I strain to go it will hurt me sometimes vaginally sometimes more rectally(sorry) and my belly/pelvic area always swells and feels heavy/pulling.
Well, sometimes rare precious moments I feel normal!
I see my doc this week and plan to talk to him about my continued bowel issues.
Hope yours is not constant and it helps to know another person is struggling still too...and soon you will be healed complete.
healing hugs to ya..
juliane

Hello Ladies,

Please speak to your doctors about this. It is bad to strain. I don't want to scare you, but you are putting yourselves at risk of prolapse, which can become an issue after a hysterectomy anyway. Perhaps you could be given stool softeners to prevent the problem of straining to expel hard stools?

Miz

Saw that you were in AK and had to reply!! We have lived in AK twice and loved it!. I too experienced BM troubles after the hysterectomy in May. I dont think I am back to "normal" even yet. Sometimes the antibiotic they give you during surgery can upset your digetstive tract causing too much or too little normal bacteria. I was producing too much and had diahrrea for 3 months! Now that we have fixed that I have the opposite trouble and fully understand your straining issues. The doctor prescribed Zelnorm for me today to help with the constipation issues. Dont let this go on too long like I did, talk to your doctor and start looking for the reason now or you will have hemmorhoids that are absolutely no fun at all. Good luck to you!!

At six weeks post op I'm wondering if I will ever have normal BMs again. Before the op I had no trouble whatsoever, easy peasy. Now it's awful. I try not to strain but it's difficult not to when you feel so uncomfortable. I'm eating fruit like it's going out of fashion and drinking water and fruit juices all day, but nothing seems to make much difference. Ishwtic, you described the 'bowling ball' and pulling feelings EXACTLY. Someone told me I'd feel fantastic at 6 weeks - I don't.

Dear Rhonda,
I'm 1 year postop and had problems, dr didn't want me straining because of rectocele repairs so had me start taking a fiber drink daily. Even though I ate a lot of fiber, this really made a big difference, helped a lot.

tryphena,
we all heal differently...re the you'll feel great at 6 wks. I know I thought I would be feeling great at 6 wks and someone told me I'd have the sparkle back in my eyes...haven't seen it yet; I check everyday! LOL Hang in there and pm me if you'd like our surgery dates are pretty close.
I see my doc tomorrow and I'll see what he rec for my bowels. I am not always sure if it is bowels or just swelly belly.

are you eating plenty of fruit n veg, ive noticed if i eat pizza or a burger i find it difficult to have bm the next day, so i make sure i have plenty fruit n veg n in a morning i have weetabix n 2 plums then walk about or stand at my pc going through this site till i feel the need to 'go' lol, i think ive become a little eccentric since the op,lol, but who cares as long as it works!!!!

lshwtic,

Our surgery dates are really close, and we live in the same neighborhood (well almost). I am also having troubles with constipation. When I have to go, usually every other day, I really have to strain. It almost feels like I am trying to pass rocks. I have been taking 2 stool softeners each night before bed, and it seems to be helping a little, but not enough. I had a small bowel obstruction during my second week, so my bowel Dr. told me not to take fiber pills or laxatives because if the obstruction was not completely cleared, it could block up again. I went to a health food store today and bought ground flaxseed because I hear that helps with this problem. I would be really interested to hear what your Dr. has to say. I did have IBS before my surgery, but I have never had constipation like this before. With my IBS I usually just didn't go for a few days, but when I did it didn't hurt like this does (usually was loose), sorry if TMI. I understand how you feel, I am at 7 weeks (on Thursday)and my Dr. still has not lifted any of my restrictions. I was supposed to go back to work yesterday, but my Dr. delayed it until the 21st because I had a post op infection (and the bowel obstruction) during my second week and was back in the hospital for an additional week, so my internal stitches are about two weeks behind in the healing process. Good luck at the Dr. I am anxious to hear what he has to say.

Karen

I take 2 stool softeners at night and 8 oz of warm prune juice in the morning. It works for me.