Thursday, May 31, 2012

PSA for Stool Softener

I'm going to start by telling you this is gross, so stop reading now if you don't want to hear about it.

I have had the most horrible couple of days. Tuesday, I was really nauseous and had a hard time eating (drinking) my protein shake and soup. I had to leave work early. Wednesday, the moment that I got in the car to leave for work I knew that I should just stay home. After dropping of my son and my husband, I headed to work like normal and the moment I got to work it happened (or didn't). I dropped my stuff off at my desk and headed to the bathroom and I was there for an hour straining and trying to get the poop out and it just wouldn't come out. I was so uncomfortable that I was unable to sit and I was clammy and sweating, so I went home. I spent the next 4 hours trying to make it happen. I was screaming my head off (good thing the neighbors didn't call the police), straining,  pleading with god, and thinking that this was like natural birth. So I did what any savvy person does and Googled "stuck poop" and came back with impacted bowl and instruction on how to fix my problem. I'm not going to get into how to de-impact a bowl, you can Google that for yourself, but I can tell you that if I had be instructed to take a stool softener after surgery I wouldn't have been in this mess to start with.  I did try to speak with a nurse at the Surgeons office, I didn't get a call back from a nurse just a receptionist relaying a not helpful message and it was 3 hours later and I had already determined how to fix my problem at that point.

Just get some Miralax or the store brand and start taking it after surgery.

I'm going to take some extra time off work and rest up.

10 comments:

  1. The worst part of this I think was the constipation that came before and after. Once you get into the swing of things... do not forget your bowel care! Who'dya thought right? LOL

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  2. ooooh I totally agree. I had miralax already purchased and ready to go! I also use benefiber in my shakes at the suggestion of the surgeons office!

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    1. ack, wrong account, but my band blog is lalaloses.blogspot.com :-)

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  3. The physician should definitely have informed you to take a stool softener afterwards. Furthermore, he or his nurse should have returned your call. They seem to often forget that aftercare is important too. At least you were wise enough to look it up and correct the problem, good for you!

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  4. Thanks ... I'm taking some now. That scared the shit out of me (pun intended). 8 days post op and now that you mention it, other than some direr ah no poop yet.

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  5. AMEN. This is something that I wish they would tell the pre-ops. I take Miralax every single morning.

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  6. I too have had difficulties but not this severe. I haven't found any decent long term solution just more immediate relief. I will see if I can find a UK equivalent of this stuff.

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  7. Introducing a probiotic into your diet helps to promote regularity without having to use laxatives, just as an FYI. My daughter suffers from chronic constipation and she suffered for 5 years with major issues, but the probiotics make a huge difference!! I had major constipatgion after my surgery...it was one of those things they don't tell you about before hand!

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  8. OMG!!! I thought I was the only one! Except, I was on stool softeners and still had the issue a couple of times...one time it was 24 hours, 12 on the toilet...not nice I tell ya... I tried every type of position possible...i know it sounds gross but since you had to go through what i went through, i know you understand! UGHHHH...thank god that is over for me. I seriously almost went to the hospital, but was too embarrassed...I really hope you feel better!

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  9. Any time you come out of the hospital or take a bunch of meds it always makes "poo-crete" Never a good time

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