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Original poster

Warning - thread is about bowels after surgery. Help!

19 replies

AfterOpQn · 23/08/2023 09:17

I have clearly NCd!

I had pelvic surgery with some bowel involvement on Friday. Thanks to Dulcolax I emptied my bowels on Monday.

Since Saturday I have been able to feel my ‘upper’ bowels working in terms of wind/ moving stool along. But when it got near the exit it didn’t want to leave. Hence the Dulcolax.

Since last night I have really tried to go to the toilet. TMI but again the stool is near the exit but it feels like it’s just forgotten how to leave. I am worried that the surgeon has snipped one of my nerves or something.

Is it possible that my nerves could have been damaged and I have lost the reflex to get it out once it has arrived at the exit?

OP posts:
Freshair1 · 23/08/2023 09:19

Anaesthesia does a number. I had similar after c section. Had to drink so much water, eat lots of fibre etc etc and have horrible memories of literally helping it out....

Original poster
AfterOpQn · 23/08/2023 09:29

Thank you, I will up my water, orange juice and coffee today and see what I can do!

OP posts:
AnImaginaryCat · 23/08/2023 09:31

Yes, it really messes up your system.

As Freshair1 said lots of water. To the point it's an effort. At least 2l - and just water.

Are you on pain killers and are you able to be active?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
17to35 · 23/08/2023 09:33

You probably need a couple of glycerin suppositories
Anaesthetic, painkillers, dehydration and lack of mobility all play their part. You will be fine soon.

AnImaginaryCat · 23/08/2023 09:35

Sorry I mean 'At least 2l - and that's just water'.

I would avoid coffee - well don't drink more that 1 cup. It will dehydrate - which you want to avoid.

Original poster
AfterOpQn · 23/08/2023 09:37

AnImaginaryCat · 23/08/2023 09:31

Yes, it really messes up your system.

As Freshair1 said lots of water. To the point it's an effort. At least 2l - and just water.

Are you on pain killers and are you able to be active?

I stopped taking the painkillers on Monday as I thought they may be contributing to bunging me up. I’m able to pad around the house a bit but not much. Doing lots of sitting!

OP posts:
WasThereAnotherTroyforHertoBurn · 23/08/2023 09:41

God I can’t believe I am sharing bowel movements with strangers on the web.😂

But here we go.

Natural yoghurt top heavy with raspberries and sunflower seeds. Daily

Lots of water.

When you get to the I think my bowels have forgotten to push stage, wash your hands, put some Vaseline around and slightly up your anus, it will help it slide out. Again on the same subject if you are straining and feel a poo is imminent I generally press on the bit between my vagina and anus. (It seems to help)

If you are supple enough and safe pull your legs up towards your chest, squatting is more natural than sitting. This is a last resort for me, as I have visions of falling off the toilet and being found in a manner most embarrassing. 😁

Good luck.

Iclyn · 23/08/2023 09:44

Try eating 2/3 kiwis with the skin on .
You could also sit on the loo , and when you feel like it's there but not coming out , make a v sign with your fingers and place them either side of your bum and press against yourself as you feel yourself going , it might just help things along.
a gentle walk if your up to it might help ( not too far away from home / loo ! )

Original poster
AfterOpQn · 23/08/2023 09:49

We have lots of natural yoghurt and I can send DH out for raspberries and seeds in his break. Thank you @WasThereAnotherTroyforHertoBurn, and I promise MN can vouch for me, coming up to my 15th year here now! 😁

I can ask him for kiwis too but with the skin on?! Say what now! Off to Google that one!

OP posts:
Original poster
AfterOpQn · 23/08/2023 09:50

I am reassured that the consensus here is that my surgeon has not severed my bowel nerves 😅

OP posts:
burnoutbabe · 23/08/2023 09:51

Yes I have had it with most times after anesthetisic

Also after coil inserted.

It's about the only time ever I have reported movements to my partner as I had to tell someone when it finally happened after 5/6 days!

Polik · 23/08/2023 09:57

Sensitive content - don't read if squeamish

I had nerve damage that affected the anal sphincter (muscle that squeezes poo out). It did heal fully - took about 10 months. I'm sure yours is just short term, but here are some tips from someone who knows:

  1. When pushing, place your hand around your back and press on the spot just above (outside of) your anus. This effectively gives your mind a place to 'aim for' when focusing the push. Hard to explain, but does help.
  2. If that doesn't work, put a finger or two inside your vagina. Press and manipulate the back wall of your vagina - the poo is the other side of that wall and you will be able to physically feel it, move it around, massage it towards the exit. Sometimes you just need to get a tiny bit of movement for the reflex to kick in and move the rest.
  3. If that doesn't work, have in the bathroom cupboard a box of latex gloves. This sounds grim, but people do it. It's called manual extraction. Effectively a finger in, circle around and hook a bit out. That easing of the compaction often triggers all the rest to move itself.

Preventive measures, as mentioned by posters above, are primarily lots of fluids and movement/exercise.

For what it's worth, in the 16 years since my nerve damage and subsequent healing, my bowel habits have been so much better than they were before. It was a way to stop all the unhealthy bowel habits I had and start afresh.

Iclyn · 23/08/2023 10:13

Will also add get your feet off the ground by using a step stool ( haha - stool ! ) or if that feels too high , maybe a pile of books .

TheInterceptor · 23/08/2023 10:16

Second the glycerin suppositories - if the poo is at the exit, it will lubricate and stimulate the bowel to contract. Good luck!

NotTheSlugandLettuce · 23/08/2023 10:20

Warm water too
Sending moving wishes
And hope you get some relief

Sssudio · 23/08/2023 10:21

My body does this frequently, whenever it's had any shock (took 2 weeks after all 3 DCs) like giving birth or surgery. In my case my mind plays tricks and I feel like I need to go when it's not come down low enough (IYGWIM?). I use:

movicol
milk of magnesia
lots of water
dulcolax if needed - if it's been more than a few days though the cramps it causes can be as bad as childbirth - I'm now known by my family as having a poo baby when this happens and I have to lean over things and do labour breathing

what doesn't work for me is suppositories or enemas as that only works when the poo is in the rectum ready to come out, mine is hanging around further up so these are useles.

Bear in mind that once the blockage has cleared you may have some diarrhoea, all of the above will cause it too - but hopefully you can then reset

Good luck!

WasThereAnotherTroyforHertoBurn · 23/08/2023 10:31

@TheInterceptor

I gave up on glycerin suppositories as they are full of sugar and upset your gut bacteria which is why I settled for Vaseline.

God what a conversation to be having. 😁

Original poster
AfterOpQn · 23/08/2023 11:33

This is such a useful thread, I love MN!

I spent 30 mins just waiting on the loo this morning. So I came downstairs, sent DH out for lots of fruit. Made a cup of tea…

Let‘s just say by the time DH got back I weighed 0.4kg less on the scales than I did first thing!

Hopefully all will be okay now but I will ask MN to move this thread to General Health as I hope the tips will be useful for others in the future.

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