Laxatives and Coccyx pain post bowel op

[Starry]

Hello, just after some advice from those who've had bowel Endo excision. How long after did you stop taking lactulose?

I am 3 weeks post op , have reduced the dosage to 10ml once a day but have a bit of a mental block and am scared about stopping completely as I struggled so badly with BMs the first week.

Also how long does the Coccyx pain last for. Mine seems worse now than 3 weeks ago!

[Summer143]

I too had endo removed from the bowel. Can't offer any advice as I went in the complete opposite direction and was going to the toilet between 25 - 30 times a day for 5 weeks which was hell. I got to the point where all I was passing was mucus and pus. Referred to colorectal consultant, after CT scan which showed inflammation of my bladder sent me for flexible sigmoidoscopy which again showed inflammation inside the bowel. At times I wished I was constipated!! I did take lactulose after 2 laps though but it never seemed to work for me!! Did not suffer from Coccyx pain.

[Starry in reply to Summer143]

You poor thing. X How long did it take to settle?

I had a severe virus 3 days after which gave me 2 days of galloping diahroea and a week in hospital with vomiting and dehydration but the rest of the time I've needed the lactulose for the effect of the pain medication.

[Summer143]

I was put on some strong anti inflammatories 3 times a day, eventually settled. I suffered for 5 weeks, plus a week for the meds to take effect. I now seem to have very regular bowel movements, I would like to think its because of endo excision as I had very irregular movements and constipation for years. So in an odd way maybe it was all worth it!!

[Hidden]

I was told to take movicol for 2 weeks post op. I had been using lactulose daily for over a year prior to that but the consultant said movicol was better (he forgot to say it was also like drinking slime, I'd rather have had the lactulose TBH). I stopped using it at the 2 week mark but TBH have been still needing to use laxatives on and off :/

Lactulose doesn't harm the bowel so it's fine to continue it for as long as you feel the need.

[Starry]

Thanks Hidden X I think I'm still a bit scared after my glycerine plus enema hospital experience.... it's paranoid but I keep thinking I'll back up like that again and the bowel get harmed.

[Hidden in reply to Starry]

They told me at the time that 2 weeks is the window for bowel rupture post bowel shave then so you should be OK. But keep going with it if it makes you feel better. x.

[Starry in reply to Hidden]

Thanks no-one ever mentioned that. If violent projectile vomiting with viral meningitis on day 4 didn't rupture it it should be fine, lol!

It's just anxiety which is bad and I am struggling with right now. I guess I'll just forget naturally at some point

[Stellauk]

I taken movicol on and off for sometime after the operation. You probably want to play with the frequency and doses. I also find bowel habit definitely changed after operation and took nearly 6 months to settle down. As the consultant removed lots of endometriosis tissues, the hormone level will have changed significantly and that really influences your gut.

I also take additional fibre such as benefibre. Not sure whether it does anything but feel reassured by taking it! You can get it from Amazon, it does not taste at all.

[Starry]

Thanks Stella I'll check that out.