Finally got my operation and anaesthetist to treat me. All went well, unfortunately since then for over 3 weeks now my bowel has not woken up and not functioning.
This can be common for a few days following surgery but this is coming up to 4 weeks. I understand long term (over a few days) one cause can be hypo/hyperthyroidism.
I look about 7 months pregnant my stomach is so enlarged hard and bloated. I’m on a number of laxatives softeners etc. But not much is working or if it is it’s causing pain and liquid stools. So not sure I’m even absorbing my T3 at the moment or any nutrients.
I’m concerned that this could cause long term damage or even my bowel never wakes up. I’m going to contact my gp again tomorrow I’d just appreciate any advice on this or if I can get a ct scan to rule out a blockage? I’m getting worried and feeling worse each day
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MissFG
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The liquid stools could be a result of a problem called "paradoxical diarrhoea" or "overflow diarrhoea". It's where the body liquefies faeces to force it past solid blockages (faecal impaction).
You could tackle the problem from both ends i.e take a laxative and use a mini-enema to try and unblock the other end.
It is possible to buy mini enemas in a pharmacy without a prescription. The two that are available in the UK that I know of are micralax and micolette. They come in boxes of 12 and are less unpleasant to use than glycerin suppositories (which can also be bought from pharmacies without prescription).
But I would hope that doctors would give you some help to clear you out. Surely they can't leave you to suffer indefinitely? Has anyone said what they plan to do if nothing moves?
This link will give you information on the things that the NHS might suggest/prescribe.
I suspect that some or all of them might not require a prescription, but I am only guessing. You would have to buy anything that you thought looked helpful from a pharmacy so you could ask for advice.
The only other option I can think of is to buy an enema kit. I know nothing about these, but a quick search showed dozens of them available on Amazon. I also found that (allegedly) pharmacies may keep them in stock. I don't know if these are even safe in your situation, so would suggest doing a lot of googling before spending any money. And make sure to ask a pharmacist whether they think an enema kit would be safe in your situation.
One thing I would suggest... Don't try bulk forming laxatives - you could just make your situation worse.
Yeah thanks I understood, but the doctors have said they don’t want me to use them. But I’m running out of options. But as advised I’m going to request to be seen by a surgeon or at hospital as part of my post op care that I’ve not received
I had an operation (non-thyroid) related in 2006 because I had an intestinal obstruction.
It took my bowel 3 weeks to start working at all. I only ate full - fat natural yoghurt during that time.
Nobody mentioned anything to me about the bowel 'waking up' but I was scared that another blockage might occur hence just the yoghurt. I felt it was giving me enough nutrition, (temporally) plus a load of probiotic bacteria.
I would advise if you are still in the same situation this morning a trip to A &E to request a scan . Not sure how close to a hospital you are ... Or at the very least an urgent consultation with your doctor.
When I had my had my gallbladder removed, in a French hospital, the surgeon explained to me that as the bowel would be temporarily out of action, it would need to be woken up slowly after the op. To do that, he put me on a diet of cabbage soup - more like cabbage water! - until something started to move. Which it did pretty soon - only gas, but still. lol He said it was his own invention and he used the protocol after every op he did on the intestinal tract.
Know just what you are going through - had op years ago for endometriosis, they severed the nerve supply to external spinchter muscles and it took me ages to get them to listen. In the meantime I ended up like you. I know this is not what has happened to you but the results were similiar. You are getting the over flow as others have said, taking oral laxatives will help but they have to be gentle and the sachets mentioned are very good but only soften up the bowel contents. You will need to attack from bottem end and the little mycrolax should start things going but it will take more than one and patience I am afraid, it will be a bit like concrete at the moment so use a lubricant around your anus and into it as well. You will need to lubricate the nozzle of the enema to avoid any scratching as you insert the nozzle, KY gel is a good one. As it is so long without a movement and no roughage perhaps you should get some professional help, don't leave it any longer. Hope this helps.
islandlass It was laracoscopy for endometriosis I had too. I’ve wondered if it’s scar tissue or I’m impacted.
Yes I’ve been given a lot of prescriptions from my GP’s. I’m concerned it’s impaction just don’t know how long they’ll leave me or how bad it has to get to investigate.
Only suppositories or Bisacodyl works and both give me severe cramps and diarrhoea or there is no movement.
I’m even considering stopping eating as I’m so full I have no room. My stomach is swollen over the top of my ribs and so hard it hurts.
I’ve heard of there being serious complications from bowel paralysis if left I just hope my GP listens as I can only get a telephone consultation this afternoon
Hey! - you do not take no for an answer- that is far too impacted for general stuff. I had an advantage as I am a nurse and knew what was happening and they knew I knew plus as they did the mauling they were rather nervous of legal repercussions. I don't think you have nerve damage, mine was in the days when peep hole and laser were becoming the vogue and they had a field with me!!
Please stess very firmly that you need to be seen by a surgeon at the hospital ASAP and I am afraid if he/she does not take you seriously inform them you will hold them responsible for the outcome. You may not have any bowel sounds - it may be asleep or in your case a coma - so need a an ear to listen and see. If that does not shift their opinion then take youself off to casualty and now it is you vying for an academy award - hype it up to the gills - no strolling into the place but bent over and groaning (if necessary). I am being serious, we live in very strange days and no longer can assume we will be heard. My heart goes out to you lass but you will get help and soon be swinging along down the road, you have just hit a bit of a bump that is all.
Thank you so much I agree I think I’ve just be avoiding kicking off as long as possible. But I’m feeling so tearful and worried and that’s when I know it could be serious.
I could also ring up my surgeons secretary. I had my operation in a local private hospital but with my nhs surgeon due to COVID. But then when I rang the ward after they said I was discharged so now under my GP who thinks I should still be under the hospital post op. So GP doesn’t want to take any responsibility 🤷🏼♀️
So now I’ve just got so many different softeners laxatives sachets pills suppositories... but no cause! So how will it improve if they don’t know what the problem is. I can’t carry on like this. I’m either stuck to the loo with cramps or so bloated and full so I’ll insist they do something or I have to go to A&E
Ah!-pass the buck time, well I am afraid you wil have to be very firm but cool head please, and see how it pans out. You do need to be seen and that is the bottom line here, please don't think this cannot be resolved - it can but with endomet your whole abdomen will have been messed with, that is the nature of the beast. Get this sorted and then you will find the 1st suggestions helpful on into the future, your body has to be given time to heal and recover, remember that. Will lift you up in prayer this end.
I’ve tried various methods all through my GP. But either they give me very bad cramps or don’t work.
They stopped the suppositories as these were the only thing that worked the sachets didn’t, but they want it to work from the top down. The only thing I’ve not tried is chewing gum and an enema which I’ll discuss this afternoon with my GP again.
I’m just concerned there’s an underlying cause they’re not investigating or I’ll stay like this.
One other possibility springs to mind - and that's a rectocele. These can occur in various parts of the bowel but near the end of the bowel is probably the most common :
A rectocele (/ˈrɛktəsiːl/ REK-tə-seel) or posterior vaginal wall prolapse results when the rectum herniates into or forms a bulge in the vagina.[1] Two common causes of this defect are: childbirth, and hysterectomy.[2] Rectocele also tends to occur with other forms of pelvic organ prolapse such as enterocele, sigmoidocele and cystocele.[1]
If you do have a rectocele it can fill up with poo and block things up that way. If that is your problem then trying to empty yourself out from the top won't work.
Another suggestion...
Emptying the bowel is easier if you squat. Just let your muscles do their thing if they can - don't push.
Thanks but I had laracoscopy to remove endometriosis. And I can’t relieve myself at all so squatting won’t help as my bowel has technically gone to sleep or paralysis ie coma so not functioning
Hi humanbean, in this condition rectocele, would it feel like your sphincter is welded closed and numb? When it does open it does not open fully and only allows very little to pass?
Agree with some others you need to have this looked at to make sure you don’t have an impaction/blockage. Your description of liquid stool is typical of a blockage. I have had patients who waited too long (or their doctors did) and it isn’t pretty and can quickly lead to sepsis if the intestine is stretched beyond it’s limit. This needs imaging to determine the cause unless your GP has magic X-ray eyes (especially over a phone consult).
As another nurse and others here have commented we tended to work from bottom up to get things moving - top down will only worsen things. If there is a blockage using meds which stimulate the bowel (causing cramps) can cause nasty consequences.
I had a ct scan which showed adhesions from bowel instruction as a child. Now I only eat soft foods like soup smoothies and mashed veg. I do an enema every morning to clear me out and have lost a stone and feel so good.
Wow how do you cope on a sift diet and doing an enema everyday? That must be difficult although I’m going to start just having probiotics and cabbage soup and see how I get on
I just took control myself as doc no good and did my own research. When you feel good you will do anything! I'm vegetarian so it's very easy to choose a nice variety of foods!
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