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Constipation after RARP - does it always happen ?

Posted by surftohealth88 @surftohealth88, 2 days ago

I am wondering if constipation always follow RARP ? My husband is never constipated, goes 2 times a day and we eat a lot of veggies and fruits, never anything fried or heavy in any way. We will be, of course , extra vigilant before and after the surgery BUT there is so much talk about it on every single medical site that I am wondering if it is actually obligatory event ???? Does everybody get constipation after RARP no matter what ?

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surftohealth88 | @surftohealth88 | 1 day ago
In reply to @retireditguy "I wasn't constipated at all after surgery. I had surgery in the morning, released mid-afternoon that..." + (show)
@retireditguy

I wasn't constipated at all after surgery. I had surgery in the morning, released mid-afternoon that same day, and then had a light dinner that evening. Later that evening I had an easy bowel movement. I credit that to the information I was given in my pre-surgery meeting with two urology NP's. They suggested using a non-stimulative stool softener such as Colace. I looked up the active ingredient and got a similar product at Costco. Then I tried it about 10 days before surgery so I knew how it affected me (as I didn't want to try it for the first time after surgery). I don't recall their exact instructions, but I religiously followed their instructions for diet and non-stimulative stool softener and never had any constipation after surgery. It probably helped that after surgery I only needed OTC meds (they had me alternate acetaminophen and ibuprofen) and my pain never got to the point that I needed any of my opioid pain prescription we had on hand. But I strictly followed all their instructions for diet, stool softener, and the OTC pain meds. Plus I'm sure it also helped that I had a great surgical team and some plain old good luck. I hope things go as well for your husband. Best wishes.

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Thanks Retiredguy for describing your experience in detail, it is very much appreciated :)))

Trying Colace ahead of time is a great idea ! I will buy some tomorrow. Thanks so much for the well wishes < 3.

We lately do not have much luck with anything lol (and when I say "lately" I mean for the past 20 years XP), so I have to be very diligent and rely on my preparedness for any adverse event ; ).

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1 reply
hirejohn | @hirejohn | 1 day ago

I don't recall having any constipation with my partial nephrectomy a year ago but had major constipation with my RARP in April. While I never took anything other than tylenol and motrin for pain for either procedure, I was given demerol in the recovery room after my RARP to address some shaking probably related to the anesthesia. Perhaps that resulted in the constipation. I'm typically very regular and I went seven days without a movement, tried different diets (soft, liquid, regular fiber, low fiber, no fiber), stool softeners, colace and miralax; and with the protocol of no straining or enemas, it became a real concern at least for me. Fortunately I passed at day 7 and returned to a typical routine within a week thereafter.
You should definitely discuss your concerns with your doctor and specially ask about pre-surgical diets and colace.
Hope all goes well.

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topf | @topf | 1 day ago

I was constipated for 2-3 days. But it is not a discomfort.

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survivor5280 | @survivor5280 | 1 day ago

Stick to easily digestible things for the first week or two, particularly with the catheter in. Things are going to be uncomfortable enough already and you CANNOT strain with such delicate surgery in that region. Use plenty of gas x and don't eat super fibrous stuff.

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1 reply
heavyphil | @heavyphil | 1 day ago
In reply to @surftohealth88 "Thanks Retiredguy for describing your experience in detail, it is very much appreciated :))) Trying Colace..." + (show)
@surftohealth88

Thanks Retiredguy for describing your experience in detail, it is very much appreciated :)))

Trying Colace ahead of time is a great idea ! I will buy some tomorrow. Thanks so much for the well wishes < 3.

We lately do not have much luck with anything lol (and when I say "lately" I mean for the past 20 years XP), so I have to be very diligent and rely on my preparedness for any adverse event ; ).

Jump to this post

Miralax is also excellent - no cramping or gas and it just uses osmosis to draw water into the stool to make passage easier.
I think a lot of the immediate post op constipation is from being npo the night before surgery, day of and immediately following, with a soft diet of Jello, pudding and ice cream…really interrupts normal bowel function!

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1 reply
peterj116 | @peterj116 | 1 day ago
In reply to @survivor5280 "Stick to easily digestible things for the first week or two, particularly with the catheter in...." + (show)
@survivor5280

Stick to easily digestible things for the first week or two, particularly with the catheter in. Things are going to be uncomfortable enough already and you CANNOT strain with such delicate surgery in that region. Use plenty of gas x and don't eat super fibrous stuff.

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Good point.
I forgot about that.
Food... all I wanted in the first 2 days post-op was soft food.
Ice cream.... jelly (jello?)
Make sure you have some easy-to-eat food for a guy with no appetite.

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peterj116 | @peterj116 | 1 day ago
In reply to @heavyphil "Miralax is also excellent - no cramping or gas and it just uses osmosis to draw..." + (show)
@heavyphil

Miralax is also excellent - no cramping or gas and it just uses osmosis to draw water into the stool to make passage easier.
I think a lot of the immediate post op constipation is from being npo the night before surgery, day of and immediately following, with a soft diet of Jello, pudding and ice cream…really interrupts normal bowel function!

Jump to this post

Yeah, that may have caused it. But it was all I could eat.

And Miralax is good.

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