Just had Laproxipy.

[Em1982]

Hi just had a laparoscopy 1 week ago to remove endermetrious And I'm finding my bowel is very loose once a day where I'm having to run to the toilet. Just wondering if this is normal and when it might stop?

Thanks

[Impatient]

You're luckier than some - a lot of people end up constipated due to the painkillers they are on, and end up in agony struggling to have a poop. It can work either way.

Having a bladder or bowel problem after surgery is quite a common result.

The electrical impulses that trigger a loo trip need to be firing off signals in the right order for the whole process to work properly, and these can get disrupted with surgery and post op swelling inside and usually last no longer than a fortnight, but in rare cases may go on a lot longer.

For instance the signals to relax the anus may be firing before you feel the urge to push which means you have no choice but to head to the loo asap for fear of an accident.

Same thing with the bladder - causing bladder incontinence.

There are meds you can get from your GP to try and help, but it could all be sorted out by the time you faff about getting an appointment booked up.

These are called bladder or bowel spasms. Electric signals misfiring out of sequence is not something you feel happening until it is time for the loo and the bowel or bladder is full and ready to be emptied, then you notice, as you have done, that things are not quite under control as they used to be.

It should sort itself out soon, but if it continues past a couple of weeks then do speak to your GP.

you can add dry bland foods to your diet to try and soak up the extra moisture in the gut to bulk up the poop which may help a bit.

If the problem becomes all day that you have the constant runs then that's more likely to mean you have picked up tummy bug, in which case remembering to take on board extra water to avoid dehydration is required, and taking a sample of poop to the GP for sending off to be tested may be necessary and getting the right antibotics if it is caused by a bacterial infection.

But at the moment if this is just the usual once a day bowel movement that is a dramatic dash to the loo - it is more in line with bowel muscle spasm problems and ought to sort itself out in the next week or so. Hope it does resolve quickly for you.

You could also check any of the meds you are on - to see if this might be a known side effect of the drugs.