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Posted 5/11/2009 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
I just finished a bottle of 60 and am due to go in for my first psa check in a week. Should I be taking more of those things or is the reason I was told to take them passed now? Or should I call the Doc's office on Monday and ask them if I should continue on them?
Posted 5/11/2009 1:42 AM (GMT 0)
For starters, welcome here. Glad you found us. As for your question, are you now having BM's fine on your own? Are you struggling, or is it painful? It's not about how many you take, it's about how many you need to help you get regular again. Did you have recent PC surgery? Kind of sounds like you did, or perhaps some other treatment method. If you wish, include some more information about your self. It certainly wouldn't hurt to simply ask your doctor, no such thing as a dumb question to them, so ask away.

As for my own example, took them for about two weeks after my surgery once I was home from the hospital. Then I was regular again and able to go without any pain or struggle, I simply stopped taking them.

David in SC
Posted 5/11/2009 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
You should add your information to your sig since it will help everyone to see what stage you are at.

Stool softeners have two general purposes. First to help establish bowel function shortly after surgery -- ideally bowel function should resume 3-5 days post surgery. The second purpose is to prevent you from damaging your newly repaired parts by straining too hard when passing a stool. I presume that you are at least six weeks post surgery. If your bowel movements have been regular and without much strain you are probably past the need for the stool softeners. Try going without for a day or two and if everything is OK you no longer need them. If you find yourself constipated, go back to the softeners and ask your doctor about possible dietary changes.

Wishing you a a zero for your first PSA
Posted 5/11/2009 2:42 AM (GMT 0)
If you are not having problems with your stool then you probably don't need them any more. I only took laxative medication for few days after surgery.
Posted 5/11/2009 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Prunes became my friends in the beginning. Still eat 5 a day.
Posted 5/12/2009 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I took stool softener and prunes for about 2 weeks. I was afraid to push when performing a BM. I continued the prunes for another couple of months, probably because I liked them.

Bob
Posted 5/13/2009 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I'm still taking stool softeners 2x daily. The anethesia and pain meds at hospital tend to plug me up. I've only taken a few percocets since back home and they did plug me a bit, too. I think I'm done with those so I think I'll be back to normal in a day or so. The same happened when I had hernia repair a few years ago. I only took softeners long enough to help with BM to keep from straining. 

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