Bowel movement post surgery.

Women's health
1

Hi,

Had my surgery yesterday and all seems to have gone well. Home today :-)

Just wondered how soon after surgery did people manage a bowel movement?

I feel very swollen and can't even sit comfortably on the loo never mind try a BM although I have terrible tummy ache!!

I have taken movicol and lactulose with no joy yet so just wondered if other ladies have had to wait a few days before they have managed to go!!

Thank you for sharing your experiences, it's very reassuring!

Trina xx

2

i had rectocele prolapse surger 12 days ago in US . a lot of differences according to this forum. I have been released to work etc. feel great. but am being very careful. i had surgery on wednesday and the following Saturday nite i went all night 20 times st least because I had not went bowel movement i took an overnite stimulant. It was hard on me and very tiring. Since then I am regular. I was told to take stool softeners right after the surgery but I kept forgetting to buy them. glycerin suppositories didnt do much. I didnt damage my stitches or surgery but It was uncomfortable and tiring to get up all nite after surgery and lose so much water. I strongly suggest stool softeners asap and no harsg laxatives. God bless u

3

Hi Trina,

It's early days and you will feel very swollen.

The anaesthetic is still in your system and slowing you down, as will any painkillers you are taking.

If you feel really uncomfortable, up the movicol sachets to two, and see if that works.

Drink a lot while you are taking lactulose, it takes fluid from your system into your bowed, so you need to keep your fluids up.

The first few days are hard, just rest, lie down, and let the time pass, it will get better.x.

 

4

Hi Trina. I felt just the same even though I took Senakot the day before the op and no food for 12 hours prior also. You will be swollen inside still plus the anaesthetic has slowed your system down. I used a glycerin suppository after a couple of days to get 'things' moving! After the first quite difficult bm I was ok. I also used hemerroid ointment to help the suppository slide in easier. It also contains 'Lidocaine' which is for pain releif and really helps. Hope you soon feel better. Pollyanna  

5

Thank you Pollyanna! It's so frustrating needing to go but being unable to!! X

6

Thanks Laura, will keep the water levels up for sure!! X

7

Thanks Terrie x

8

I know but it's all part of the recovery process. Your body is not ready yet to get back to normal. I was told, even though a laparoscopy heals faster it's still major surgery and we need to take things easy after as with any op! Mine was April and I still have 'strange' aches n pains at times. I also have a rectocele prolapse which needs fixing but I'm waiting until I feel stronger before I have that done. He said August at first but no.... not ready in body or mind just yet.

9

Hi, I felt as if I desperately needed a bm the day after surgery but it was another 2 days after I actually went and I'd been taking laxido 3 times a day since the day after surgery. Nurse told me it was taking so long due to fasting for op and reduced food intake after op. When it did finally happen it came in earnest lol. I'm 11 weeks post op and still take laxido every other day as I got constipated once and it caused a lot of bleeding. I can go without them but after 3-4 days bm's get hard so not wanting to do any damage. Drink loads and loads of water. Remember to take things easy as op takes a lot more out of you than you think X

10

Sorry also forgot to say the stomach aches and pains could also be trapped wind due to surgeon putting gas in your stomach for your op x

11

Thanks Liz; that's really helpful, I will try and let nature take it'd course and not worry too much!!

12

It was about 4 days for me before I had a bm, I was quite uncomfortable but it was too painful when I went. I put my feet on a little step which helped.

13

Hello there.

​I had my surgery on a Monday mid morning - had a bm early that morning. Actually managed to eat a bit that day (rare for me after surgery), did drink lots of water to keep the catheter flowing! They had "packed" up the vagina so I think I couldn't have had bm even if I wanted to! Was given lactulose on the Monday night in hospital, discharged on Tuesday evening. Prescribed lactulose and movicol. Still drinking lots of water. Had a bm Wednesday morning. Due to the lactulose  - it was soft - and due to the movicol - all moved along quickly!!! I was prescribed lactulose and movicol for two weeks whcih helped until things and diet moved back towards normal.

​Yes there seem to be random ached and pains, and as others have said, seem to be because of gas pumped in, being held in an un-natural position during the surgery - makes the muscles ache! Just the anaesthetic slows things down too.

14

Thanks Lisa; that's pretty much how I feel! Good to know I'm not alone xx

15

Thank you, I will keep up the movicol and lactulose. How much did you take of each and how frequently?!

16

Ooooh - 14 weeks on and it's difficult to remember. I think it was 15ml lactulose at night and a sachet of movicol - can't remember if that was at night or in the morning! After the prescription had run out I think there were a few times I took some fybogel. I was advised to get some laxatives in the house before the surgery. I wasn't aware that I would be prescribed any. The surgeon was very clear - "no straining for two weeks." Typically I don't have any problem with constipation at all but anaesthetic is a killer for bowels!

17

Hi Tina! I had only anterior repair, as I had had my bowels empty before surgery I didn t go to the bathroom until 3rd day post op with the help of stool softener and lots of water and everything was fine, no pain at all. Try not to strain please, just let it go while you are sitting, the stool softener you are taking is going to help for sure. Hugs honey!

18

Hi Trina

Glad to hear from you, I've thinking about you and wondering how it went.

All of what people have said is true, about being nil.by mouth & the anaesthetic etc so things will take time. It was 3 days b4 I had a bm, and that was with the hep of lactulose & fybogel. I take it regularly so that I go with basically no effort, it's so loose it just comes out, which is fine by me! Once the stitches have dissolved I'll feel more confident about coming off it. I also have IBS so I always have about 4 to 5 pieces of fruit a day and also make sure you drink plenty. Try not to force it, gravity will eventually help.

Also, If it is wind pain, which is very uncomfortable, you can take peppermint.

I'm 2 weeks post op today. The pain is a lot less but I have noticed it gets worse the more I'm on my feet, so as I said before..get horizontal! Box sets are the way forward!

Kind regards

Sue x

19

Thanks sue. I'm looking forward to it being less painful!! Trying to stay off my feet but my little girl wants to show me things and bless her just can't understand why mummy isn't her normal fun self!!! I can certainly tell when I have overdone it!

I will stick to my laxido and lactulose twice a day and let time and gravity do its job!! Do you still take both twice a day? X

20

Yes. For some reason, the last 2 days have changed and I've had trouble going! I was very upset yesterday and couldn't even sit as it felt so "full ' down there. Very annoying as things had been going well. My lovely husband came home with dried apricots, prunes, pineapple and mango! Another uncomfortable day today

..but success!

Tbh, I think some of it was psychological as I was so frightened of 'pushing '. Anyway, I took my own advice and let gravity also help.

Keep up the fluids and rest rest rest! How old is your little girl? Take as much help as you can with her. I know it can be hard to accept or ask for help (we are women, after all !) But you need to take care of yourself. I know I never want to have to have this op again so I'm being so careful.

Take care hun

Sue