Constipation - remedies seem to be making things worse

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Originally Posted by lindaj00123 How long after procedure did you take laxatives and enemas?

On day 4 I started the prune juice.

When I had no BM by day 5, I used a suppository. I must warn you, that this did hurt - but it was worth it as the misery of the constipation was really awful. After the BM, I felt so much better.

After having my initial BM at 10 days post-op (oh my, what a relief!), I have found that a plan that works for me. A friend recommended an herbal supplement, SWISS KRISS. I take 2 Swiss Kriss pills + one Dulcolax stool softener every night at bedtime. Most mornings, I wake up needing to go and have success. I also recomment getting some ground flax seed (my local Kroger carries it) and sprinkling about a tablespoon on your cereal (high fiber, of course) or yogurt at breakfast.

I had never had trouble with constipation before this surgery but it certainly is miserable. I hope these suggestions help!

Swiss Kriss is an herbal laxative containing senna and cassia. It is a cathartic laxative, meaning that it works by stimulating the muscle of the bowel to move. This type of laxative more readily lends itself to dependence (really the term "addicted" is too strong a word for laxatives. People don't become addicted to laxatives; they become dependent upon them) because it can create a "lazy" colon which ends up needing the stimulant to make the bowel move. Cathartic laxatives have their place, but they can cause cramping and gas.

Osmotic laxatives like Miralax don't work by stimulating the bowel muscle; they work they bringing more water into the bowel and keeping the stool bulky and soft and easier to pass. Stool softeners like Miralax and Colace don't cause cramping and gas and are usually safer to take for longer periods of time.

I'm happy to announce that I had a BM all by myself last night, and then again this morning - they were small - but I'm so happy I didn't have to use a suppository.

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Originally Posted by Miss Elaineous I'm happy to announce that I had a BM all by myself last night, and then again this morning - they were small - but I'm so happy I didn't have to use a suppository.

YAY!! Was this after you tried Miralax?

Yea! Are you using any products from the store, or just diet?

I recently had to have another surgery, and this time around I had lots more trouble with constipation. After 5 days and 2 different consecutive laxatives, I got results.

i've been having bm's regularly since then, on my own. However, I have had pain in 2 places on my right side ever since the first successful movement (not in locations near incision sites). I feel that it's related to the miserable bloating I experienced - and am worried something is wrong.

Has anyone else had anything like this? Any advice or help is appreciated!

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Originally Posted by Miss Elaineous I'm happy to announce that I had a BM all by myself last night, and then again this morning - they were small - but I'm so happy I didn't have to use a suppository.

High Fives for you! What a relief!

Now that your colon is moving a little on its own, keep up the progress with a 1 to 2x daily stool softner like colace, prune and cranberry juice, a lot of water and walking as tolerated to get your gut fully operational and regulated. Take in fiber but do not over do fiber as it will cause a lot of bulk, gas and bloat in a half awake colon. Psyllium fiber moves the most efficiently through the colon as opposed to fiber from grain or cruciferous veggies which creates gas and bulk. Eat lightly and in several small portions until you start having regular, full bowel movements.

I avoided constipation by starting milk of magnesia in the hospital 2x per day and drinking tons of liquids and moving around/walking to wake up my gut. Drinking this much fluid is not normal for me, but I have been able to stick with it. I was able to go twice, not much volume but they were BMs, before I left the hospital. When I got home, I started on colace 2x per day, drank prune juice, cranberry juice, a lot of vitamin water throughout the day and took 5 grams of psyllium fiber daily as a supplement to my food fiber intake. So far, this regimen has been working for me. No straining or pain. BMs are 1 to 2 per day and little to no gas issues. It gets better as you wean off the pain meds.

colace twice a day, fiber gummies daily, miralax once a day, and lots and lots of water. best of luck to you...its no fun to be constipated. I also found that getting up in the morning and walking around the house a bit while I sipped coffee helped stimulate my bowels.

Suggestion for everybody.... ALIGN! It's a probiotic, 1 pill a day, OTC, and works fabulously!! I use to take it for my IBS and for some reason that problem hasn't been around since I had my last son but this surgery really screwed me up. I went from constipated the first few days to going too much and lots of pain. I grabbed another box of Align and 1 pill later it stopped. I'm on day 3 / pill 3 and am back on track and normal again. All is does is restore your natural digestive balance to keep things moving normally. Hope it works for you too!