Question:
Irritable bowel after surgery
I've never seen this addressed. My RNY was 12/10/07. I rode to Atlanta from Orlando on Sat. Dec. 22nd. I had not been able to have a BM for several days and felt I had a blockage. The night we got to Atlanta I tried eating some tomato soup and got major dumping syndrom! I thought I was dying and wished I could. At the same time I was so constipated that I was sick. The next morning my husband got a fleet enema and gave it to me. It was not effective. So, he used a suppository. Now, I am left with constant urge to push and feel like my bottom is trying to give birth to a 9# baby. I also have developed a huge case of hemorrhoids which I have never had. Could I have irritable bowel now? It's only been 6 days but I want to get over this. I don't know if I should have taken an enema. I just know I want to be well again. — Caroline Garber (posted on December 27, 2007)
December 27, 2007
Hi Caroline, sorry you're having such a hard time. It's not unusual for a
lot of us to struggle with constipation early on out. It is a combination
of a lot of factors -- pain meds, liquid diet, even sitting still for a
long time while traveling. I have heard of others dumping on tomato soup
-- some tomato soups have a high level of sugar in them.
I know you feel miserable. From what I have seen with others who have
really struggled with constipation, definitely the enema and suppository
should have produced results. Have you also tried Milk of Magnesia?
It's unlikely that you have developed IBS as usually that involves symptoms
of diarrhea. Since it has been 6 days now and nothing you've tried so far
is working, I would call your surgeon *today*. It is possible that you are
impacted or have a blockage.
-Jasmine
— Jasmine130
December 27, 2007
Constipation is a common problem post surgery. Your food intake is greatly
diminished, so you may not have a BM for a 2-3 days. I've spoke to many
people at bariatric support groups, and many of us take daily stool
softeners. This helps. There are also natural diarrhetics (like Senna) that
will help you "go", and not give you cramps like the more common
laxatives. Take a generic stool softener once in the AM and once in the PM
for a few days and see if that helps.
— Dave Chambers
December 27, 2007
About 1 mth out from surgery I ended up in ER with horrible constipation.
They gave me a warm water enema and after 2 hrs of terrible pains I FINALLY
passed the BM. I had tried a fleet enema, suppositories and oral laxatives
for several days before this and the ER doc told me that coming to them was
the only way I was going to get it to pass. Let me tell you I was
embarrased as all get-out. Like someone else posted it's because of the
pain meds and we're not as active as we were before the surgery. Now 2
years out I very seldom have problems with constipation and if I do I take
a mild laxative or Haleys MO and it's all better. Good luck, don't wait
too long before you seek professional help (surgeron, PC doc or ER).
— Nee P
December 27, 2007
Based on your description and previous experience, it sounds like either
the enema or the suppository is irritating your rectum. Time will tell and
hopefully the symptoms will decrease. Best wishes!!
— nursenut
December 27, 2007
Call your doctor first, but mine recommended Milk of Magnesia. It tastes
like crap but it does the job. You really shouldn't take anything this
soon after your surgery (even over the counter stuff) without your doctor
knowing. I started with the MOM and am on something else now because this
is a big problem for me. I expect it will be until I can incorporate more
fruits/veggies into my meals.
~Shirley
— Shirley D.
December 27, 2007
hello, sorry to hear you are having having a poo. You do not have irritable
bowel . I have had IBS it started in 1999 and After the Gastric bypass.
irritable bowel is were you get really bad gas pains followed by diarrhea.
They should do a scope to find out whats wrong. I hope all works out for
u. Take care
— aluvzu2
December 27, 2007
Hi Caroline,
I also has the same problem, my doctor told me to take Colaide, it's a
stool softner. When I has the problem I could not go for about 7 days, then
it went to 5 days, it got better each month. I still take the softner every
morning, It helps. Also don't forget you are not eating enough food yet to
make you go to the bathroom. Good Luck..
~Carol~
— Carol Giusto
December 27, 2007
you should call your doctor and he could give you advice as to how to fix
this. he is the one who can help you. i hope that by now it is all right.
let me know. www.pamfit.com
[email protected]
— Pam Fottrell
December 27, 2007
For constipation I know u can try liquid aloe vera(tastes like water and
can be purchased at a vitamin/herb store!
— 1gr8auntie
December 27, 2007
Try Fiber Choice that will help you regulate.
— 2409w.poplar_rodriguez
December 27, 2007
I too had the problem with the constipation a few weeks out from surgery.
I would go for 7 days and not have a BM. Finally got so miserable that I
called my surgeon and they recommended Ducolax suppositories and as a last
resort Milk of mag due to cramps caused by it. I did nto get results from
the Ducolax at first but used a second oen and it helped some. Each day
gets better and now I am 5months out and dont have to take anything
anymore. Eating very little food is a major contributor to this problem
and even when it finally passed i was amazed at how little it was since a
felt like i was completely backed up. Just hang in there and remember if
in doubt call your surgeon, that is what they get paid for. Also a little
pure apple juice mixed half and half with some lukewarm warm should help
and not make you sick since it is diluted. Good luck and I hope I have
helped you some.
Pam
— mom2three
December 28, 2007
Caroline, thanks for writing, and please take a deep breathe. It is NOT
uncommon at all to have constipation after surgery. I did not have it
right away, but it can happen. I think you are dealing with that and not
irritable bowel stuff. You should run this by your surgeon, but you can
get back together, just work with your surgeon. Here is what I would
recommend, but PLEASE be sure your surgeon supports the decision you are
making. They make a product on the market called "Miralax", non
perscription. It is a powder laxative that is NON habitforming. You can
take it daily. My mother does, and I do when I get bound up. It takes a
day or two to work, but it works like a charm. Now, having said that, I
use only a HALF dose. The first time I used a full dose, and after 2 days
I was in huge pain from gas, so I went to a half dose because of my stomach
size. I would try a half dose of miralax, once a day for a week and see if
that regulates you some. If you stop up again, you have to keep it up to
stay from constipation. Doing the enema won't hurt you unless you do it a
lot. Don't do it regular, but there is no harm in a single time. I have
done that as well. You must upgrade your water, and exercise will also
help regulate you, be sure you are working in that direction, maybe
walking. Every day I walked on the treadmill, I had a BM before I was done
with my 2-3 miles. Talk to your surgeon first, but then I would try
miralax if they are for it. You take the half dose and dilute it in water
(I use juice) and drink. It has no real flavor in it with juice, and a
small flavor with water. It is good stuff to use, and will stop most of
your symptoms of painful bowel issues. Give yourself a few weeks though to
heal up, the rectum needs time to heal just like anything else. Take care,
and call your surgeon. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
December 29, 2007
I use Miralax for constipation. It's over the counter, not a stimulant
laxative (no cramps), and has no taste.... you mix it into whatever
beverage you'd like--even water.
Keep in mind with the BM thing that your bowels were completely emptied
prior to surgery and you have most likely been eating very small amounts of
food that are mostly liquid. You probably just don't have enough stool to
have a BM similar to what you had before surgery.
Fleet enemas and suppositories can be very irritating to the rectum... I'd
hold off on those. The hemrhoids are most likely from sitting on the
toilet and straining.
It's possible you may have an impaction... this is when you have stool in
your rectum that is too hard/big to be passed in the normal way.
Impactions usually need to be broken up into small pieces so that it can be
passed normally. This is usually done in using lubrication and one or two
fingers in the rectum. You may be able to do this at home, but it is
important to make sure that is what the problem so that you don't make
things any worse. A blockage/obstruction is different from an impaction
and happens further up in the intestines. If you are able to eat/drink,
you most likely do not have a blockage/obstruction.
Given the enema, suppository, and hemroids, you most likely need to see
your doctor or surgeon.
It's possible that you have irritable bowel, especially if you had it
before surgery. While constipation can be a symptom of irritable bowel, a
single six day episode is not enough to diagnose you with IBS.
Good luck to you.
— mrsidknee
Click Here to Return