Hysterectomy and flare

In July my Crohn's flared up. I started Stelara at the end of July and I've been on prednisone since August. It was just settling back down when I had a hysterectomy on 9/15, both the GI and gynecologist gave the green light to proceed. My gut hasn't been happy since the surgery. On one hand that seems reasonable, but I am having a lot of pain and cramping when I do go to the bathroom. I'm swinging from not going for a day to going up to 6 times a day and from it being soft to diarrhea. I've been using stool softeners and yesterday the GI nurse suggested adding a little bit of fiber supplement.

The GI nurse wants to do a c diff test, but that seems a bit much to me. I was given antibiotics during the surgery, but didn't take any pre or post op. While I'm moving around OK after my surgery, it's not great. I live alone so it's a big energy expenditure to do the labs. So it makes me a bit whiny. I've never had c diff. I can understand being cautious, but I'm feeling a bit resistant. Should I suck it up and get tested?

Anyone have any advice for getting the bowel working better after surgery?

They called today...not long after I posted and wanted to do some bloodwork too. I'm sucking it up and proceeding with the c diff testing. Surgery is no joke, and I am feeling just well enough to be stubborn and not get some friends to help.

I switched GI docs in May, and I think she and her staff are actually really good. It's a shock after 4-5 years of pretty mediocre care to have a bunch of labs done (this is my 3rd stool sample since May) but when I stop and think about it, I appreciate that I'm being looked after.

That's good to know about the stool softeners! I'm still intermittently taking Norco, but haven't since Sunday.

Yeah, my appetite isn't back to usual yet. I'm not a great hydrator so have been trying to make sure I get enough water or herbal tea in to help move things too. I still have a fair bit of gas from the surgery and that is so uncomfortable to pass. I swing between constipation and diarrhea from time to time any way. I would prefer it without cramping. I'm still sore in my lower abdomen so that is just rude.

I will hopefully get my blood test back tomorrow and we'll see what my inflammatory markers are. They were elevated in August when we started me on steroids. If they are still high then we'll bump my prednisone back up and if not, then I think I just keep experimenting.

I feel like I underestimated proceeding with this surgery and the impact of doing it while in a flare. I suspect there might not have been a great time, but I think this will at least tamp down a couple issues that have plagued me the last couple years. Maybe my Crohn's will fall in line and my migraines will die down and I will feel like a new woman.