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Waking bowels up after surgery

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 3/7/2014 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

I just had my first resection surgery on Monday. For the last three days I have been taking Dilaudid, going on walks 3 times a day, and I still am not passing gas. My surgeon says this is not abnormal because I've had so much trauma down there (roux en-y gastrojejunostomy, resection of TI, and several fistula take downs). Is there anything I can do to speed this up? Should I stop taking the Dilaudid? I still have pain without it. Could I take Tylenol 3 in its place? They have been giving me lidocaine patches that last 12 hours as well. I just want to get out of here.
Posted 3/7/2014 7:10 PM (GMT 0)
I don't have the experience with the specific pain meds you mention to comment on that.

Are you walking a little more each day compared to the previous day? The nurses also had me out of bed and sitting in the chair a few times a day. Not sure if you are at a pain level yet where you could do that.
Posted 3/8/2014 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
Walk, walk, walk. Oh and t3's have codeine, constipating. Have been home since Tuesday night and today a have gas pains. Not enough walking. Glad to hear you weathered surgery well
Posted 3/9/2014 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I'm glad you are past your surgery and on the road to recovery.  I have had 3 bowel resections, and the more walking you do the better.  It does take 3 to 5 days sometimes to pass gas.  Then you will start a fluid diet for a couple days then onto soft foods.  I have only had Demerol for pain (IV) so I don't know about the med you are taking, but I would stay away from Tylenol 3 as it will constipate you, and we are trying to wake the bowel up.  I really don't think your surgeon would give you that anyway.

All the best,

Julia

 

Posted 3/9/2014 4:56 AM (GMT 0)
I've been on dilaudid I believe that's at the top of the meds chain hence the fact most ppl haven't heard of it before. I would recommend staying on it until your pain level goes down. I know it feels like you've been in there forever but it's still early I didn't pass until the fifth day. I kept worrying if something was wrong. Once you got on solid foods and keep up the walking. It should come soon enough. Wish a healthy and speedy recovery!
Posted 3/9/2014 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
walk, walk, walk, walk. It's different for everyone. You need the pain meds to walk, walk, walk. I prefer morphine over dilaudid.

Took me 7 days to pass gas. But I did and so will you :)
Posted 3/11/2014 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
I was on dilaudid as well when I had surgery in January.... but only took for maybe a day or two following surgery, then went to tylenol. I am all about fast healing and have a strong pain tolerance, so I try to get off all of these special meds as fast as possible. My bowels still didn't wake up though for about 5-6 days after surgery... though I walked more than three days as I was there longer... up to 5 per day. First surgery, it only took 3... this one was 5 (small woke up 3 days in, but large still was stubborn!).... so it varies....
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