"constipation" makes for pretty great Google image search results
Pooping after surgery is NOT something that comes easily. The anesthesia makes you constipated, the meds make you constipated, being totally immobile makes you constipated, and guess what - that stool softener they give you doesn't work for shit. Being that I'm a total health nut, and my digestion is usually pretty regular, I tried to go the natural way. If you're ever in the same boat (from surgery or just from life), here are several tips for some great pooping:
- Chia seeds: Either blend in with a smoothie or pour a few tablespoons into some OJ – great source of fiber, protein, and omega 3′s.
- Psyllium husk: My Godmamma brought this one to me. Take a teaspoon or two of this powder and stir into some OJ or water, but drink it fast because it turns into jell-o texture really fast. It’s basically just an ultra-dose of fiber.
- Massive amounts of water (mind you I could still only let out little bits of pee at a time thanks to the meds, so this option wasn't easy).
- Papaya: It’s so good for settling bellies because it’s filled with proteolytic enzymes which help with digestion. Trader Joes sells a fruit salad made of papaya, pineapple, and mago – I’ve indulged in several of those.
- Probiotics: After surgery I got several courses of antibiotics – probiotics are the antidote to those, restoring all of the good bacteria in your belly. My fav ones are by Dr. Ohhira.
- Calcium Magnesium Citrate: Magnesium itself has muscle relaxing properties and the calcium helps your body to absorb the magnesium. Take 1-2 tablespoons of this milky liquid – I buy mine from Whole Foods.
Ok...that's all I've gotta say about pooping (for now), bye.
Mihal,
ReplyDeleteIn 2007, I was hit by a car while crossing the street after work. The car fractured my tibia & fibula and I was rushed into surgery the next day. Your entire account of surgery and the days afterwards remind me of a lot of stuff I forgot (being completely zoinked out on painkillers, waking up to a mouth full of cracker bits due to night drugs). But the pooping (or lack thereof?) I TOTALLY REMEMBER THAT! I couldn't really walk until 5 days (maybe 6?) after my surgery and the FIRST thing I did was make a beeline to the bathroom because...yea there was some major back-up.
Rooting for a complete recovery and return to yoga and all the fun stuff you did pre-break!!
my tib & fib were fractured too!! how did your healing go? i'm dying to hear success stories. glad the pooping account resonated with you :)
DeleteI broke my tib & fib too. I had to get plates and screws on the inside and outside of my right ankle. Thanks to Grandma, she made me eat sun-dried plums that she kept in the refrigerator. They were easy on my throat (I had the tube during surgery) and when I would go to the bathroom I had minimal strain (Lord knows I did not want to be on bed rest with a freakin hemorrhoid).
ReplyDeleteYour grandma sounds awesome. I didn't tell my grandma when I had surgery, she would have freaked out. Yes, dried fruit are definitely good for poops (but oh the gas!). Glad that worked for you. Maybe I'll try that for surgery #2, getting the hardware out.
DeleteOh I'm so glad I found your blog .. I just recently fractured my right distal fibula and medial malleolus fracture with severe widening of the ankle mortise.. I also fractured my second,third, and fourth metatarsals
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