Effects of straining during BM

I hope everyone is having a lovely Easter.

I am 12 days post-op after open RP, and I just had what I would describe as my first normal BM (I've had lots of very small ones, but nothing approaching normal size).

This one decided to lodge itself after it got about a quarter way out, and it took some straining to get it free.. that was followed by two more that followed the same pattern. All in all, there was quite a lot of straining throughout (I would say 20 moderate strains, but 0 really hard ones).

I've been one of the lucky ones - since surgery, I've had zero urine or blood coming out around the catheter, so I'm wondering: how do I know if I've damaged something internally? (and to those who will suggest this, YES, I will be starting laxatives asap - docusate has been pretty useless for me).

Thanks in advance!

Thanks GoBucks for the reply. I'm definitely not in pain, so I guess that's a good sign. And yes, I still have my catheter at day 12. Two weeks seems to be standard with my doctor.

cScott - Have you had any constipation issues before your RP or with any other surgeries? Surgery anesthesia and opioid pain killers will plug you up big time and should be limited to just the first day or two. The consequences of straining tend to be long term such as hemorrhoids but can also be the cause of hernias and stresses the repaired area.

I am a big believer in lots of water and fiber (Metamucil, Citrucel, etc) but generic Miralax does the best for me and is “gentle”. A capful in the morning and evening with juice (I throw in a blended smoothie) will get you going regularly in a day or two without side effects (my experience over the years). Once you are going good you can reduce the dosage over a few days and then stop when you are ready. Long term use is not advised but it is pretty safe. Keep the water and fiber going to avoid a repeat until you are all healed up. Glad to hear that the recovery is going well otherwise.

When you start getting symptoms of an inquinal hernia...google for such...no lie

Scott, one key thing about using fiber supplements, whether metamucil, or miralax, or eating oatmeal is this: make sure you keep yourself hydrated. If you don't keep enough water in your system, the fiber can set up like a brick.

Scott, Keep us posted on your progress. Once the leash is off, life improves dramatically. The goal is Trifecta: PSA non-detectable at 3 months, Continent (my definition is that an occasional drip is a non-issue), and no ED issues. Cialis or Viagra might become your best friend.