Let's get personal... I'm talking #2

I have been reading and reading and still I find I have to ask - how hard do you guys find it to poop? I actually have found myself praying to poop. It took me 9 days after surgery to have my first BM and let me tell you, I hit my knees and seriously thanked God. But now I find myself 10 days later still unable to go. My surgeon suggested laxatives and stool softeners and said it was common. So that's my question: did you guys have this issue? If so, what advice did you get or would you give? If I'm just being a whiner, then I'd like to know so I can shut up. But until then, I'm still literally going to be asking God every day to help me poo - and that's just a little odd. 

I'd apologize for TMI, but I'm well beyond the point of modesty. So I'm sorry if this post offends, but I need help.

This problem is new for me too. It has been awful, and up to a week ago I was afraid to even try to go because of the pain from constipation. Of course this didn't help the situation!

I did a search on here for posts talking about this topic and there was lots of good advice. First of all, make sure you are drinking enough water and walking or getting some other exercise regularly. Those two things are important for a lot of reasons, but they also help with constipation. What has also really made a difference for me this past week was using Miralax.

My surgeon starts us on Colace in the hospital and then continues at home.  Because of taking the daily stool softener I did not get constipated.  Even if you never had problems before surgery, you do not have the system that you had then.  So you need help to stay regular.

Stool softeners and laxatives are what you need.

It's pretty common but it sounds like you've got it bad.  There isn't much you can do so early post-op other than follow the instructions you've been given to take stool softeners and liquid fiber.  Push the fluids.

For immediate - and I do mean immediate - relief I recommend a saline enema.  I've been that desperate a couple times.

This seems to be a common issue!  My doctor started me on Colace following surgery - this did nothing to help me.  When I went for my first follow-up appointment, they recommended Miralax.  I take this everyday now, and everything is pretty regular for me - no straining and no painful constipation.  Good luck!

I had the poop issue before my surgery. My poop would be so hard and big that it couldn't pass through, you talking about pain and tears. I still have the same issue after surgery. I found that I must take a laxative stimulant every night (Milk of Mag) which became my best friend. It doesn't make my stomach hurt and allows my poop to soften up to pass through. I have quite a few bowel movements through out the day using Milk of Mag.

One thing I've noticed is that I have to spend some time on the throne nowadays in order to have any results. I'm not talking about straining, but just sitting for a while until something happens. In addition, I find that it's best if I visit the bathroom in the morning at least once whether I feel like I have to go or not. I don't wait until I feel the need, because I never really get that feeling anymore, but if I sit for 15 or 20 minutes I usually have a BM. And to think I used to laugh at people who had cushioned toilet seats. Now I know why!

I usually take my phone into the bathroom with me and get a few games of Tetris in. A good book works, too! 

Oh my God!  I trieD just going in and sitting.  I take ducolax and Miralax also.  Only thing is I forgot a game to play but by goodness it worked.  Yeah, I know what cushioned toilet seats are for!  

It's a very common problem. I never had the issue before surgery as I had the opposite problem. Now I take a dose of benefiber every morning in my coffee and a dose of colace every night before bed. It works like a charm for me.

Make sure you drink enough, have enough healthy fats in your diet and consider taking magnesium daily (I take 750mg - which has also put paid to my night time leg cramps WIN/WIN)

I would NOT take a stimulant laxative on a regular basis as you may find your body will get lazy without it!

And "failure to poo" is right up there with "which is the best protein shake" in terms of posting frequency on these boards!