Hernia Surgery Recovery: How Long Before I Can Irrigate?

I just had a hernia operation a week ago. I irriagate and when I tried it wouldn't work. How much times does it take. Or shouldn't I be able to right away??

Ihad a hernia surgery 2 months ago and was told not to irrigate while healing check with your doc. first their advise is allways better

Hi boss

I agree with m fran re: checking with your doctor to be sure it is ok to resume irrigation.

Some folks don't have good stool or water returns on any given day.  Variety of reasons for this: impacted hard stools, sluggish bowel from narcotics, dehydraition so the intestine absorbs the water...there are others, but these are pretty common.

Since  you just had surgery, your intestines still may be a bit sluggish; plus I am guessing your food intake has not been what it was prior to surgery.  things should get back to normal in time.

Hopefully you are passing gas and some stool without irrigation.  A quick phone call to your physician is best.

Hi there, It has been\ weeks now and I'm still not going to the bathroom normal. i have to use laxatives and all I am doing is farting and making noises out of my stoma. I"m not getting any stool out just water. Is this a problem? I called my doctor and he said in time it will come back to normal, how long is normal?

I had a mesh hernia repair at the stoma site on April 6.  The pain medicine made me constipated, a hard trick to pull off since I have an ileostomy.  I'm still in alot of pain 6 out of 10.  My doc said give it another 2 weeks.

Stories of Living Life to the Fullest from Ostomy Advocates I Hollister

hiya Boss,

Got your messages, but I'm too cheap for the full membership right now!

I still have what I consider a considerable amount of pain.  Even on the opposite side of the hernia.  My doc and others who've had this surgery keep reassuring me this is normal, it's the scar tissue forming, but it's bad enough this morning that I'm staying home from work today.  

The docs also recommended I use a stool softener, not a laxative.  If you're still taking narcotic pain meds, this is almost certainly making the constipation almost unmanageable.

Do you have an ET (stoma) nurse you can call?  

Bottom line, I would call the doc if it's causing you alot of worry.  It's always better to get checked out and find out nothing's wrong than doing nothing and getting into serious trouble.

Hope you feel better soon, I'll be sending good karma your way!!!!

Hard to do internet diagnosis and so the best advice is to ask for an xray.  

You should have had some stool returns by now, even if just (pardon the expression) muddy watery returns on irrigation.    If you are taking pain meds (opiates) it will make your bowel sluggish and can cause constipation.  If you are bloated, I'd be  even more concerned.   Passing gas is good, but you can still have a super constipation; and I would expect some gas pains unless taking a lot of pain meds.  If you are not eating well, I would expect less stool, but you should have some.

You may know all the above, but thought best to cover bases. You may just want to go the your emergency room and tell them....usually the first thing they will do is an xray.  That would be my best suggestion.

When my stoma has seemed sluggish, or stopped up if you will. It can hurt so bad. I have found that walking and drinking apple juice or gatorade (has lots of sugar though)can help alot. Sometimes when we are in pain we find it easier to lay around but, if at all possible get ouside and walk. 10 to 20 mins at a time. That is using energy and helping the body.
I would go to ER if I was bothered with it after 2 weeks. Some times they have to irragate it.

It  has been 4 months now sense my stoma hernia operation and I'm still having problems irrigating. Does it take time for things to open up. I didn't start irrigating until about a year after my cancer operation so I'm not sure if it should be working by now. Any feedback would be helpful Thanks

i am wondering if you might have a little swelling from the surgery that is restricting your return. i have found that i have best results from irrigation if i eat very lightly the day i irrigate, you can drink juice or milk or something simular to curb your hunger but eat very little. this usally works for me when i have trouble getting a good return. i will be honest, i have no clue why it works....but it does for me .

Boss

I have more questions and few answers, unfortunately!

Are you saying you have little stool returns?  Are you having stooling in between irrigations?  Are you bloated?
Have you discussed this with your physician?  Had an xray?  On stool softeners?

By 4 months, some normalcy should be expected.  

I am not clear on the problem here.

I am on stool softeners, I still have some output after I irrigate. Doctor thinks maybe things are tight in there and hopes things open up.

Boss

Again, I may be stating the obvious, so excuse if it sounds repetitive.  

With stool softeners, your stool may not be coming out formed; it may be more liquid after irrigation than what you are used to.  It's possible you are still cleaning out your bowel well, the returns just may appear different.

Small amts. of stool spillage between irrigations can be the norm for very soft stool, it may be more difficult to get a complete evacuation than if formed.

If you are not bloated or uncomfortable after irrigating, I would think you are cleaning out reasonably well.  

Does your doctor think you have strictures/narrowing  in the bowel?  If so, you would definetly want to keep up with the stool softeners.

The doctor told me to keep taking stool softeners and miralax,my stool is still like a paste and the doctor said I could have narrowing and it may open up as time goes on. I just don't know how much of the stool softeners and miralax I should take and are they bad for me.

For doseage, go with what the doctor recommended.  

Normally, your large intestine absorbs up to a quart/liter of water a day.    Many folks who irrigate may notice poor returns, especially the water instilled on irrigation and this may be due to being a bit dehydrated; more or less your intestine absorbs some of the water from irrigation.

Miralax will pull water from your large intestine into the stool to make it soft.  It might help  to drink a few extra glasses of fluid daily to replace the water loss.   Fruit juices may also help soften the stool (ie prune, grape).  Some dietary measures of restricting carbs like pasta, crackers, rice , bread and fat may also decrease pastey stool.

There is a down side to long term stool softeners and laxatives .   From what you say, it sounds like your doctor is taking a conservative approach to preventing constipation; this is non-invasive and definetly worth trying.

I would recommend continuing with his advice for now, but following up with him if worsening constipation symptoms or need for continuing the softeners over the next few months.

I have just been told that I have a hernis but not to worry about it. How long do I have to wait and not worry before anything is done about it? My doctor told me not to worry about my stomach pains for 2 years until then I took myself to hospital where it was discovered that I had bowel cancer!! I am not feeling too confident in my medical help at the moment.

Bubbles
I don't know where your hernias are located, and not sure of all your health issues.    Hernias are easier to repair when they are smaller.  Most peritomal hernias are a nuisance, but some can cause real issues with your intestines.  Some folks aren't good candidates for repair due to health or if multiple prior abdominal surgeries, scar tissue, etc.

If it was me, I would be asking why you were not a candidate for a repair.  He may or may not have a good explanation.  Get a second opinion.  There are surgeons that specialize in hernias.  Meanwhile, I would suggest a good support belt.

I work with different surgeons; have one very conservative and does not want to repair hernias (peristomal); he is of the opinion that since approx. half of them re-herniate or have issues with infection from mesh, it is not often worth it.  Most of the others will do the repair if health and other issues don't preclude a safe surgery .

Hope you can get your questions answered.

What is the down side to taking stool softeners???????????????

Hi nurse, its been month since I"ve sent anything in. I'm still on stool softeners and laxatives. It looks like I will be forever. Is there anything on the market that is more natural and won't harm my system?? Also, I still get cramps, I take 2 stool softners and metamucal twice daily is that too much??