Constipation after RARP - does it always happen ?

Not necessarily.
But it's a major operation (despite the short hospital stay) with everything being shoved around, bits removed & gas put into the body to move organs out of the way.
It takes a while for the gas to dissipate & gravity to allow the organs to slide their way back to the usual places once he's up & walking.

Plus there's always concerns about straining & damaging the surgical incisions.
He'll probably be given some kind of constipation medication regardless.

Constipation is pretty much guaranteed after general anesthesia.

That's what causes it not the surgery itself.

Interesting - none of my family members had constipation (4 of us in immediate family , plus my mom and sister as extended family ) after surgeries, so I was confused. OK - I will be on a lookout ! Thanks for the warning.

Thanks Peter for the explanation : )))
Yes, I can imagine how painful it would be to strain after such surgery, god forbid ... I will ask doctor to give him something mild just in case.

Also, opiods can cause it as well

That is a good point ! Thanks : )))

Morphine. Lots of morphine while in hospital.

Ha ha, I do not think we will get any XP, already got info that opioids are very rarely given in this hospital or prescribed to bring home. Info packet said that Tylenol and Advil should be used in rotation and exact dosage was given of how to use them. Heh - and they say you Ausies are a rugged bunch - I THINK NOT 😉 heheheheeee. XP

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.

I had 3 types of morphine. 3 different colour pills. Didn't know there *were* 3 different types.
I must have been a delightful patient.