My experience is not too bad. Had internal hems removed 6 days ago. Read a forum a week before surgery that brought me to a nervous breakdown. I was mentally preparing myself to the life of agony for at least 10 days after surgery. The consequences: fear. I was afraid to eat so that I won’t have to deal with pooping. Ate very little. Took stool softeners and Miralax - but didn’t poop for 5 days, which I read was common after this surgery. Peeing also problematic till now - feels like I can’t pee it all out, only parts of my bladder are relieved and I had to urinate small amounts very often. Drunk lots of fluids.
Opioids don’t work for me, but Ibuprofen 600 worked wonders. Doc prescribed Valium to relax muscles. Was taking it once daily. Pain wasn’t bothersome due to Ibuprofen, but I didn’t poop yet. Was in terror anticipating that day.
Day 4: got nervous about being constipated despite taking laxatives every day as prescribed by my doc. Took a combination of pain killer, Valium to relax muscles and I had a 1/3 bottle left of colonoscopy prep kit, that is a dynamite. Assumed since I barely ate those days - 1/3 bottle should be more than enough.
Went into the bathroom like soldiers go to war to die. Alas. No stool. About 7-8 hours later started having a leakage - I wore diapers as people suggested on forums and it was a good advise. Some gas and small amount of diarrhea, lesser than a bird’s poop. But several episodes of that. Felt a lot of pressure passing those insignificant amounts. But I can’t call it “pain”.
Day 5 - if I am vertical and having hot or warm meal or drink - I poop. Like a goose. Something in - at the same time something out. Standing in my diapers, still chewing food and and in 2 seconds waddling to the bathroom to finish it there and clean up.
Fiber and stool softeners did a good job, poop was soft. The entire day 5 was just as I described - if I stand up - I poop. No control over it and I was wondering how could I ever return to work - I hold a management position. Would I have to pass gas and stool into my diaper in 2 weeks surrounded by coworkers? I read people have accidents weeks after surgery. Tried to have a good humor about it.
Day 6: first night with no pain killers. As soon as I walk up and had my tea - I had a poop coming uncontrollably.
I realized it’s not as painful, though hard and causing you to strain plus after-poop burning (I use a cooling gel for burns with aloe Vera from Rite Aid) as my fear after reading stories. This fear somewhat paralyzed my ability to digest food. I wish I didn’t read those but at the same time all advise I found helpful also came from the forums.
Prunes. Fiber. Sitzbath. Bath. Painkillers on schedule. Drink plenty. Cooling gels. Spoon of olive oil in the morning. Not eating a lot, but eating. Diapers. Lots of rest and movies/books.
I wish speedy recovery to you all! You will make it through. Take it easy.