Mom's Recovery Question: Constipation

[Danielle11]

Hi. My mom was just diagnosed with stage 3c ovarian cancer on 10.8 and was just released from the hospital on Friday.  They had to reconstruct her colon because there was cancer on the outside of it and also had to remove her spleen.  Since then they have had her taking Senna and Mirolax for her constipation.  She is now in more pain and still has not had a bowel movement. She had a dose of Milk of Magnesia and 8oz. of prune juice 3 hours ago...and still nothing.  Has anyone here experienced anything like this...not sure at what point I should bring her back to the ER.
Thanks.

[Danielle11]

Thank you so much for the replies...we tried prune juice with Milk of Magnesia that same day and it worked....just thought I'd share that with you...

[Terrin2]

I was the same 3c no bowl removal, have and still get constipation,  try mineral oil.....

[Annekathryn Goodman, M.D.]

Hi Danielle,

Constipation can be a tough problem.  Usually in the postop period, it is related to  3 things: not eating, not exercising and moving, and pain medication.  

As your mother is able to eat more and move more, alot of her troubles will pass. Once she is able to stop taking narcotic pain medicines, her bowels will be much more normal. On average  people who have major abdominal surgery take narcotic pain meeidnce for  2 to 4 weeks.


Until she is further out from surgery here are some interventions that can help:

-drink 6 glasses of fluid a day.
-plan  daily exercise - walk a little bit every few hours.
-add a stool softener such as colace 2 to 3 times a day
-ask the surgeon if it is safe to use a rectal suppository.

It is also important to be sure that the pain is not from a postoperative problem such as a blockage. before doing anything, please call your mother's surgeon's office to describe her symptoms
best wishes

[Ang80]

My mum didn't have any part of her bowel removed, but she has suffered with constipation on and off since diagnosis March 2005 stage 3. She takes liquid paraffin and normancol every day to ease it.