four days after hip replacement, haven't had a BM.

It is completely normal. It’s from the pain meds. It took me 2 weeks to have one and I had to drink calcium citrate to help. My doc told me to take that or milk of magnesia. That was absolutely the worst part of the whole process for me, including the surgery! 

Nope you should not be nervous, you are probably taking pain meds that contain opiates, ie cocodamol, these will bung you up so make sure your drinking plenty of fluids and ask your GP or a nurse for some dulcolax or if your at home then your local chemist will have plenty of options, take it till you get moving and then take a small dose daily till you are off the pain meds and then your body will get back to normal on its own

Make sure your eating plenty of fruit and fibre as well, but don't worry things will eventually get back to normal

First few days your system is not normal. Pain meds to affect it, too. Make sure you have more fiber (helps with healing, too), lot of water (many visits to bathroom), and stool softener of some kind (don't want to strain).

It will get better.

I hadnt been the loo for 10 days (have ibs sporadic anyway) inxluding A few days before going I hospital. I took codeine as well as the other pain meds so I got completely blocked, to the point of discomfort so in the end I had an enema. Marvellous if horrible way to clear out ones system. I’d been taking movecol to help but nothing. Ask for a gentle laxative (senna is evil but will make you go but gives me awful pains) to help. Four days is not long though so I wouldn’t worry.

This is a big problem with painkillers thank goodness I had no pain and refused to take them home except paracetamol. Magnesium helps with constipation, the hospital gave me dulcolax, it did not work apart from giving me constipation and diarrhea together horrid. How people get addicted to painkillers is beyond me.

Eating lots of protein helps healing too. It really does make a lot of difference.

Don't be nervous...but please DO get on some prunes, figs, dates or prune juice now. LOTS of water with that.

If no result go to a laxative.

Good luck to you!?

Hi again!

If it goes on too long then it can be.

I was in hospital for 2 and 1/2 days. I think I went 2 days before I wnet in to hospital (Monday), came out on Fri. Still no result and was beginning to feel sick with it. The nurse couldn't give me anyrhing as I didn't have anything prescribed. So when I went to stay with my mum on discharge., I got my dad to buy me some lactulose which I took 20 mls a day sometimes twice a day. I think I then started to go about 3 days or so after that. Even though I was eating 3 good meals a day. Medications (painkillers especially) can constipate you and due to the op, youre obviously not as mobile or as quick. The nurse told me to also rub my stomach clockwise to help try and move things along!!! I did this even when I was lying down!! Drink plenty of fluids as well. For me, things were higher up in my stomach so didnt feel as bloated. The main thing is trying to relax. I did take a book in with me!!! I also drank strong coffee especially first thing in the morning!! Once I started going, it was a relief but I still took the lactulose to keep things moving but still had hard stools.

Sorry for graphic information!

Good luck x