Advice after recent mastectomy

[whattodo87]

Hello 👋

i had my operation this week - Monday 19th - and am feeling a little lost 😞
I could ask a million questions but for now I have just one - constipation relief 🤦‍♀️
Ive tried the sachets, the pills, drinking and eating normally and nothing is working.

Any advice welcome ❤️

It’s horrid isn’t it. It does get better.
I hope you’ve got someone at home to help you. The constipation is awful, can you speak to your cancer team? I remember having to ask for help and they told me to up the sachets, you also need to do the sit on the loo with your feet on a stool, maybe a warm bath etc to try and get everything moving. Kiwis are good, prune juice etc. Loads of water.

Sorry OP!
Adding sweet corn to the helpful list above. Preferably as corn on the cob for extra fibre

If it helps....I'm same as you..op on Monday (constipated), upped dose of dulcolax last night, lots of water, and have prune juice which I'm going to have later.

Here's to us!!

Google “adult macrogol disimpaction regime”, it’s a specific guide for severe constipation and you can buy the sachets off the shelf (Movicol, Fybogel etc). Hope you get it sorted soon x

I wouldn't bother with dulcolax for a bit the stools are solid and you need stuff like the orange tablets to soften it all the dulcolax did for me was cause a minor liquid explosion and major disappointment 😞

Flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, and a couple of prunes preferably all in a bowl of porridge. And drink lots of water. When you increase fibre you must increase fluids.

I had a mastectomy 10 years ago, hope you are doing ok - besides the poo issue!

@whattodo87I recommend drinking a litre of prune juice and staying near a toilet. I did this last year 2 days after my surgery and within 3 hours my system started clearing and I felt so much better. I stop taking the cocodamol as that causes constipation and continued with just paracetamol.

I was given lactulose after my double masc in June. You should have a help number to call if you have any questions or concerns if your mixing meds but lactulose was prescribed for me and was fine. Or as OP has said, prunes and dates are also helpful.

@LeftBoobGoneRogue I followed your advice, stopped the codeine yesterday after lunch last one....the relief later was fantastic. Feel so much better today. Day 4 - this afternoon 4 ish....since surgery. Just on paracetamol.

Enjoyed the prune juice 😂

@Maisy7so glad you’re feeling better.