Hoping Matron or some of you other ladies can help.
I have had a few BM accidents where I couldn;t hold the need to go long enough to get to the tiolet. . It's about taking the stool softeners. How long should we be taking them for? I was taking a softener with Senna just once a day until someone pointed out it can be additive, then I swapped to Coroxyl without henna and was taking 2 morning and night and now taking just 1 M & N but I am finding that my BM is and I aplogise if TMI soft and there is a fair bit of it that I don't get much warning and once it starts I can often have an accident which I obviously don't want while I am out or at work. Sorry for making this post long. Should I stop the softeners I am going down to just one tonight but worry if I stop I might strain or at 6 weeks post op is it now safe to stop? Will I gain the BM control back? Have other ladies had these issues? I am seing my specialist this tuesday and will ask him. Fingers crossed all is well and op was succesful. Happy healing ladies xx
Oh no, I'm so sorry you are going through that. In one of my tests they said I had anal incontenence. It is mild enough I have never had a full on accident, but I think if I had very soft stools or diarrhea it would be difficult. I wouldn't want to take anything that was a stimulant laxative... not sure I would make it in time.
Maybe a different stool softener would work better for you? Or maybe you could do fiber in the morning and a pill in the evening?
Here are some things I have tried
PEG 3550 (macrogol there, I think) -- white powder you mix in water. Osmotic stool softener -- just adds water. you can take a partial dose. I haven't found it to cause urgency for me.
Benefiber (wheat dextrin) - White powder you can add this to drinks without really noticing it. Not thickening. It isn't super strong, but it helps you get more fiber in your diet in an unnoticible way
Psylium husk -- This makes things thick and gooey. It is viscous soluble fiber. It's supposed to be very good for you (reduce cholesterol, etc). I don't mind it much in oatmeal. I can get it down in watered down juice. I gag if I try it in water. I find it to be pretty effective but it's tough to take it every day as I don't like the texture much.
My recipe for psylium in oatmeal:
microwave together for 60-90s:
1/4 cup oats
3/4 cups milk
dash of salt
add
1 tablespoon Psyllium husk (unflavored)
1-2 tablespoons raisins or dried cranberries
I also try to eat high fiber foods to help -- nice big salad, fruit, carrots, etc. I think you could comfortably cut down to one dose of a stool softener and then try to eat more fiber... just a guess, though. I am pre-op but my rectocele causes big constipation issues as do some of my meds so I have had to read up on this a lot and try a lot of different things.
I only needed to take stool softeners for 7-10 days and only every other day. Can you try the alternative route with fibre rich food and lots of water instead. I also swear by prune juice and prunes to eat..
Your bowels become reliant on laxatives. My mother-in-law has relied on them for 30+ years and can't go without them now.. She is rather paranoid about going to poo every day.
I used glycerine suppositories and flybogel when I first came out of hospital, until my diet was back to normal. I have now included a few dates, prunes and nuts into my diet and always may sure I eat fruit, vegetables and drink plenty. I have had no problems and would just use the suppositories if I needed them.
I have a rectocile which they are operating on in September and do still get very slight accidents which I do not realise until I go to the toilet. They did say that having the posterior repair would help and is certainly a lot better, but I was hoping to avoid further surgery.
The things us woman go through. It is really nice to be able to talk about these things on the forum.
Hope everything goes well for you Tilley when you go back to work. X
Hi Tilly I stopped taking the softeners about 6 days post op because of the the same things that you are experiencing - since then have not had any problems with BMs - I go regularly and no straining obviously if that changed I would start using them again-
Hi Tilley
I'm still on my lactose, meant to be 10ml at night and in morning. I sometimes find it too strong and can have problems with continence, so cut it back too 5 ml morning and evening but find its not really enough as although not really straining BM it more solid and I spot bleed. So trying to look at what I'm eating. Have had to cut back on chocolate in evenings and mixing honey through my porridge, and on my toast and banana. It's really difficult to get a balance, I'm hoping it will sort itself before going back to work!
Hope you get it sorted, I'm going to go do lots of pelvic floor exercises now.
Phyl xx
tilley it's a bit of trial and error here but it could be that you no longer need them and should things be a problem then just start taking them again. However as you're seeing your consultant next week, see what he has to say as well x
hi barbara, will try that after I get my post op check and make sure everything is ok. Stool softener not same as a laxative which I agree came become additive and make bowels lazy. Softener does just that and I definately don't want to have to strain to go BM and do some damage. Still aches in bum area after BM even when I don't strain. I know that is normal and still early days yet. Thanks for advice keep smiling
Thanks for reply Linda, not a suppository kind of girl LOL. But will try fibre and plenty of fluids once I get okay from my specilaist this coming Tuesday. All will be well at work now I have laid down some rules and been more assertive.
Hope all goes well with your surgery in September and for your kind wishes XX
Hi Deborah, that really helps. Great chatting with someone who has gone through the same stuff. So I will stop and see what happens. Following others advice think I will also get some prune juice and increase my fluid intake. Take care xx
Hi Phyllis , thanks for reply. Think I will try cutting back and then stop and change diet etc. I am sure it will improve. You mention doing lots of pelvic floor exercises now so how many weeks post op are you? My doc said none until 6 weeks so I am restarting them this week as soon as I find instructions I have from Physio. Happy healing xx
Hi Matron, sound advice as always. xx
Thanks Dorry , I am only using stool softeners not laxatives and will be cutting it down , might even try none. High fibre foods make me constipated so will avoid those till after my post op check up. recipe sounds good will try it at weekends when I have time. Thanks for sharing xx
Hi tilkey,
I will be 5 weeks post op on Wednesday, I'm sure phisio said to start pelvic floor exercises as soon as catheter out. My after surgery booklets said similar, but having a posterior repair this time seems to cause spot bleeding so had only been trying it now and again. Have started doing them much more regularly from 3/4 weeks about 2/3 times a day about 10/15 of each seem to be able to do them without spot bleeding now. Will start building them up now, hoping it helps with any incontinence issues once back at work.
Phyl xx
If high fiber food constipates you, you should probably stay away from that recipe and away from the psyllium husk. It is very high in fiber.
Good luck finding the right balance for you. It would be great if you didn't need them at all now!
Oh, fwiw, I think prune juice, plums and pears are supposed to help constipation because they are rich in magnesium. Prune juice might be a good natural option, if you are looking for one, since you can't tolerate a high fiber diet.
Dear Tilley I understand you very well, I came back to work four weeks ago and I still take the stool softener, I have to run to the toilet! And it,s very far from my desk! I,m 4 months from op and I continue taking stool softeners, but I'll have to take them for long cos I have rectocele.
Hi Tilley! Unfortunately, I've had lots of surgeries so I know what an important issue this is. I was told after my last spinal fusion the Dr told me to take Miralax. I found it to be very helpful, without causing any accidents to happen or producing painful gas to build up, like I've had with prunes and prune juice. It is not addictive. In the past I've often used Blackstrap Molasses too. This is totally natural and can even be found in most grocery stores now. Since I'm always anemic after a surgery, I like using the molasses because it's high in iron. It's a bit bitter, but a very healthy way to "get things moving". Only a couple tablespoons are recommended, but at times I've taken as much as a small juice glass daily for a week after a difficult surgery. Then taper it down as needed. Hope this was helpful.
Thanks Kathy, will try using nothing first and see with chabge of diet I had uped my liquid intake and added prune juice and more fruit. I did wonder about being short of iron myself as I have little appetite for red meat since I had op it's like my whole taste has changed. I am not a huge fan of green vegies but will try those too. Interesting about the molasses being high in iron abd good for old bowels etc. If change in diet and stopping softeners blocks me up I will give that a go. Thanks for sharing and sorry to hear you have had lots of surgeries hope they are all in the past now.
Hi , didn't you get the rectocele repaired with your surgery? Or did you mean you had rectocelle done? I am taking advice of matron & others and trailing stopping tablets or cutting them back and uping my fluid intake and changing my diet slightly more fruits and vegies and introducing some prune juice in there as well. Not sure how much prune juice is enough ? Again Trial & error I have a week to try and get it right as my tiolet too far from my desk even if I run. Will post what works and what doesn't and hopefully help you too as cant believe you are still on stool softeners at 4 months. Funny haven't taken any for about 40hrs now and botttom aches hopeing that is just coincidental. Hope you great some relief soon big hugs xx
Hi Dorry ,Thanks for posting back was just about to buy some and try it. starting prune juice today, just not sure how much to take? But with trial & error will get there in the end. Much appreciated xxx