HELP!! Post Op Posterior Repair Bowel Problems
Posted , 5 users are following.
I had a POSTERIOR REPAIR done on 1st DEC. There were lots of problems afterwards including URINARY RETENTION and excrutiatingly painful RECTAL SPASMS 5 days post op (necessitating a trip to A & E and a further 5 day hospital stay). This was followed by several days of FAECAL INCONTINENCE and a period of having to empty my bowels v frequently with very loose pencil-like stools - I had been given a course of Augmentin during my 2nd Hospital stay which may have accounted for this.Consultant who did my operation suggested during the middle of last week that I start to take FYBOGEL (to try and bulk out the stool) and then last Saturday to introduce a low dose Loperamide (to try and reduce the motility of the gut). This did help to reduce the frequency of my toilet visits but not the bulk of the stool. Since finishing the antibiotics on Sunday, I have stopped both the Fybogel & Loperamide and reintroduced Movicol and Docusate, both of which I took on a regular basis before my operation. Despite this and drinking copious amounts of water and eating lots of fruit (including prunes) and vegetables, I am having great difficulty now passing these small, fairly hard round stools. The pressure in the rectum is very painful. I obviously know I mustn't strain at all and yesterday resorted, in desperation, to manually removing some of the stool just to relieve the pain/pressure. Has anyone had a similar sort of experience following their repair op? What have you done about it to get some sort of normality back? Any help will be greatly appreciated.
0 likes, 5 replies
welshgirl67 julia00447
Posted
Hi.julia
firstly you are so very early on in your recovery,all of the symptoms you describe can be due to the fact the bowel is bruised and swollen due to the surgery. This is all very common by the way.
After my tvh and anterior i took 2 sachets of movicol a day and if i felt a but full and couldn't do.i used a glycerine suppository which was instant relief.
Too be honest i would concentrate for the next few weeks resting and no lifting,accepting all the helo you can get as it can be very tiring and emotional.
Im sure within a few weeks yiu will feel more yourself but remember yiu have had major surgery that needs healing from inside out.
Good luck hunxx
margaret08255 julia00447
Posted
Hi Julia.I can sympathise with you it can be a scary experience. I'm almost 6 months post op.all what's been said is excellent advice, just one thought I have IBS. and Diverticular if you have any of these .it can be more intense. but please be assured it will in time improve.I still have to take stool softners. and drink plenty of water ,plus eating all the other healthy things to keep bm working fairly normally .not much fun being a women sometimes.take care any worries just post them and someone will be able to help and encourage you.x
margaret08255 julia00447
Posted
by the way Julia I to experienced rectal spasms Yeek! !!!.what helped me was a well known anal cream.hope. this works for you.x
kts julia00447
Posted
I had 2 surgeries this year. A complete vaginal reconstruction in April and a Mesh sling in October. I am finally regular...but normal now is different. I know its frustrating but just take things day by day.
Green Tea has been helpful for me.
dawn07555 julia00447
Posted
hi Julia- I am just over a week after my surgery - and bowel movements have been horrible! i too feel a lot of pressure and spasms and it is very painful to evacuate. I stopped my pain meds after 3 days because I think that wasn't helping. taking stool softeners, mirilax and milk of magnesium. and drinking lots of water, eating prunes and fiber in my coffee.. my Dr said not to do suppositories yet. I would be extremely careful of manually evacuating- you might push on something that could make things worse! get up and walk around as much as you can and try using a stepstool to elevate your feet when you are on the toilet- that seems to help me. I hope this gets better for you and me soon!