Bowel surgery...

[Bugsy73]

Hi, I was unfortunate to have to undergo bowel surgery 4 weeks ago. All pretty dreadful but am recovering well. However I have gone from having very loose stools initially to now being quite constipated. I am going, but only every few days and its requiring a few trips to the toilet to get anywhere and is all in all quite unsatisfactory!
I'm conscious of trying not to strain on the toilet, but I'd be having very little result if I didn't push a bit.
Sorry for all the details.
Just wondered if anyone has experienced similar, or any bowel surgeons out there!!
Am I ok to take some kind of laxative? Should I be seeing my GP? Or waiting for my OPA?
Thanks

[AniseedBall]

Sorry to hear you've been through bowel surgery. I'm surprised they didn't give you any advice or a prescription when you were discharged. I recently had a haemorrhoidectomy and was given Movicol to use afterwards. Although it's available over the counter I would think it's worth speaking to your GP to see which option is most suitable after your particular operation.

[Greybeardy]

You need to talk to your GP or surgeon. No one can advise you on here without knowing what operation you had/why you had it/whether any complications are likely. (COI: not a surgeon, but am a doctor).

[Bugsy73]

I had a closed loop blockage?? small bowel resection. I'll ring the GP tomorrow. Thank you.

[Notthebloodygym]

I hope the GP sorts you out.

In general terms I find porridge, plus an apple (grated in, in my case) or chopped pear helps. For me, that's better than wholemeal bread, rye, muesli or toast in terms of keeping things regular. I think it's the mix of cooked carbohydrate fibre (insoluble) plus soluble fibre from the fruit .

[Bugsy73]

I managed to get hold of my consultant this morning. Reassured me that this is all quite normal and has recommended some lactulose which I'll try. Although I did have a liquid hot chocolate from Costa and that seems to have helped things in the right direction too

[Orangeblossom78]

Hi I also had a closed loop int eh past, hugs to you it is horrible! You might have adhesions causing problems now. (scar tissue) as it is major surgery. It is quite are I understand (I get scared of another one)

I am 7 years since my last one (obstruction) and thankfully things settled down a bit for me.

I take magnesium citrate if constipation is bad. If you are taking painkillers that can be the cause as well.

[Orangeblossom78]

Also some people with adhesions say it helps to avoid too much fibre. Tricky balance.

[Bugsy73]

orangeblossom78, it was absolutely horrible, the thought of having to go through that again makes me feel sick. Although maybe I would have a better idea of what to expect next time. I had no idea how long it would take me to feel even remotely normal, I was thinking a few days, a week tops! Its a month today since my op and I do feel so much better!
I hope you continue to be surgery free too.

[Orangeblossom78]

Fingers crossed for us both! I guess you have the big up/down laparotomy scar also...I have this along with a side to side (c section type) scar from another operation.

Well if it helps mine was around 2012 so eight years on it has not happened again...get some pain but usually ok to eat most things...lie down for a bit if it gets painful but it passes but yes the worry over it happening again is hard to deal with.

They told me 80% of small bowel obstructions do resolve themselves, only the rest need surgery like the closed loop types for example or ones which don't loosen up...so even if it does happen again might not need surgery. They really don't like to operate when it gets like this as can make things worse, so is a difficult situation to be in.

I try and be thankful I'm not in and out with those partial type obstructions and able to manage at home. However it has impacted my like a lot, my DC were only 2 and 5 when it happened which was really hard and I had sepsis as well so had quite a long recovery, (had previous other episodes not closed loop though before that op which oddly seem a bit better after)

They took out quite a bit of small bowel so I have asked to have some tests for vitamin B12 but waiting to see...there doesn't seem to be much follow up for this stuff. I hope yours goes Ok from now on I find, it seems hard for others to understand

[Bugsy73]

It sounds like you really went through it. I spent 5 days at home in pain and vomiting before I sought help, at least if it happens again I'll know what it is I guess.
This is the first week that I have felt like my proper self. The lactulose is doing the trick so am more comfortable, my appetite is getting back to normal too. I'm still tired but doing a little more each day.
My wound got a bit infected and I'm having to have it packed twice a week which is a pain as it means I still can't shower properly etc but in the scheme of things I appreciate how lucky I've been and how much worse things could have been.
Bowel surgery is a shocker, no doubt about it and I can't imagine how awful it must be for those who have ongoing problems.

[Orangeblossom78]

It is a big shock I agree. They told me could have had a stoma so I guess I'm glad that didn't happen I suppose. I just get scared it could happen again but need to try and get on with life as well too.

I hope the wound heals soon