Are stool softeners normally given after surgery?

[canon4me]

Not one of the more glamorous subjects but just a little worried with less activity and such and could exertion cause the valve sutures and aneurysm repair to break/come loose? You were probably wondering when somebody would pose this question:biggrin2:

 

[Ovie]

Yes, and they're your best friend!

 

[Cooker]

Normal to have trouble and normal to use softeners ...

 

[epstns]

Not only are softeners usually given, they are critical (my own opinion) to your safe recovery. You may also need something like Miralax to get things going again after the surgical meds and the oral pain meds they send home with you.

I was so blocked up after surgery that for the first month I had to use all sorts of meds and finally had to be readmitted to the hospital for "industrial strength" meds to get it going again. They gave me some magnesium citrate, which finally worked.

I also think that all the straining before they readmitted me is the root cause of the small hernia I developed shortly after valve surgery. I know when it happened, and it is definitely related. I finally had it repaired this past March.

So, be careful with digestive "distress" and address things before they become real problems. If you need it, you can get magnesium citrate over the counter at the drug store, but Miralax is more gentle and is usually sufficient for even the bad cases - unless you let it get too bad like mine did.

 

[Guyswell]

Stool softeners are normally given after surgery because narcotic pain-killers cause constipation.

 

[tom in MO]

Yes. Guyswell is right, all opiate related drugs cause constipation. Tincture of opium, aka paregoric, is an old remedy for diahrea.

Also, eat fruit, fibers, cereal, drink juice and also drink water. Your colon needs to be hydrated to work properly.

 

[Rachel]

YES - this is ALL necessary!!!! Stool softeners - prune juice - fiber rich cereal - water - fruit - OMG I had such a hard time with the constipation after surgery - but those medical people....they have ways of making things happen (I had it all - I think they finally gave me turbo charged softeners)

It really wasn't that bad, in the end I was just happy to be alive - I really didn't care about much else.

You'll be fine

 

[Jason2012]

I can't believe these aren't standard issue where I am.

I went for the 2nd time today, and I'll spare the details, but it was traumatic for me. :-/

 

[Gail in Ca]

Yes and do take them!!!

 

[pellicle]

Yes and do take them!!!

Personally I prefer KimChi. Drop into your local Korean shop before getting to hospital so you can stash some in your fridge. I find just a small side serve provides a much more gentle to the bowel movement encouragement than anything I've yet been tested on in Hospitals

The Koreans know that eating it helps with movement. As with everything, too much of a good thing is not good ... this was a toilet door in a roadside "diner" on the way to Pusan

a 500g tub does me in hospital. I start with about 1/3 of it with my first meal out of intensive care and then a side helping with every lunch. As regular as

don't knock it till you've tried it ;-)

 

[Rebecca]

I had two enemas on the fifth night in the hospital after having my surgery. It was the worst pain that I ever experienced in my life. Stool softeners and prune juice became my best friend.

 

[kimcdougc]

The nurse in the hospital mixed up prune juice milk of magnesia and some sugar for me. Warmed it up in the microwave and said drink. Of course I did ask her for her best recipe. It worked!

 

[epstns]

For me, after having to be readmitted to hospital a month after surgery, it was the bottle of magnesium citrate that they had me drink. That stuff works!

 

[Dana]

For me the experience after OHS was traumatic enough that I now after four years still take Colace every day like vitamins. Doctor said it was ok to do that so I kept it up along with diligent hydration and fiber (psyllium husk power or capsules are convenient when you can't otherwise control your fiber intake). The oxycodone was the culprit and I don't understand why preventive measures are not the standard of care whenever opiates for pain are prescribed. Maybe not everybody has a problem with opiates but I'd hate to be addicted to the stuff.

 

[Chuck C]

The oxycodone was the culprit and I don't understand why preventive measures are not the standard of care whenever opiates for pain are prescribed.

I agree with you that it should be the standard of care. It was the policy for both of my surgeries, valve surgery this year at UCLA and eye surgery in 2018 at the University of Riverside- I was prescribed stool softeners the entire time I was on opiates after each operation. It's important, as opiates cause constipation.

 

[Protimenow]

YES - this is ALL necessary!!!! Stool softeners - prune juice - fiber rich cereal - water - fruit - OMG I had such a hard time with the constipation after surgery - but those medical people....they have ways of making things happen (I had it all - I think they finally gave me turbo charged softeners)

It really wasn't that bad, in the end I was just happy to be alive - I really didn't care about much else.

You'll be fine

In the end?

 

[pellicle]

In the end?

all will be Risen

 

[LondonAndy]

This thread appears to have had it's own constipation for a few years ... glad to see it is flowing again ....

 

[pellicle]

This thread appears to have had it's own constipation for a few years ... glad to see it is flowing again ....

further research is needed to determine if it was metamucil, kimchi or something else

 

[Chuck C]

This thread appears to have had it's own constipation for a few years ... glad to see it is flowing again

Industrial strength laxative perhaps