....Longterm, Post-Surgery Constipation

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Question on alternative health care and healing: (some details removed to protect privacy) .....I had a big surgery.... I was in the hospital for 2 days. I didn't eat for those 2 days cause of all the pain medicine (morphine and synthetic heroin). Every since then I have to use an enema to go to the bathroom. I try not to use them cause I know you can become dependent on them...... I finally got in (to see) a gi doctor and they did a colonoscopy. They said my colon looked very good. They cut a small polyp out and are doing a byopsy on it. I am still having the same problem and can't go to the bathroom. When I go it's all in little pieces and very hard and dry. I have to strain to go , unless I use an enema. I take fibercon, but it doesn't help at all. It just makes my stomach hurt worse. I asked the doctor if my colon could be dehydrated and he said that is possible. but didn't tell me what to do to fix this. I know I should drink a lot of water. how do I tell if my colon is dehydrated and what can I do to fix this. Is there any medicine to fix this or should I just drink lots of juices and water. When can I tell if my colon is hydrated again, besides having a healthy bowel movement? Since the surgery I have had one normal bowel movement and thought my problem was fixed and this was just a freak thing. help me please

Healing facilitation response: I'm not sure I read your email correctly. If you really are saying you've only had one "normal" bowel movement in the past 8 months, that is most definitely not a healthy situation and I'm surprised your doctors aren't continuing testing.

Since you are under the care of a doctor, please discuss anything I tell you with him before trying anything new. This action on your part is vital because I am not a doctor and cannot diagnose or prescribe. The information below is educational and meant to provide avenues of exploration but not without the consent of your doctor.

You should be drinking half your weight in water and that's minimum. If not, that may contribute to the constipation you are experiencing. I would highly recommend checking into the benefits of alkaline water. You can either buy an ionizer or use any of several water additives that alkalize water. I have used Body Alkalizer before and it works well. I have an article on the subject at the end of this email.

I personally never suggest fiber if someone is already struggling with constipation. As you said, it just makes the pain worse. Fiber is terrific for maintaining colon health but until your colon is moving in a healthy way, my feeling is that fiber can clog the eliminatory process even more.

Some healing supplements that will support restoration of normal bowel movements include flax seed oil capsules and aloe vera juice. Flax seed oil is wonderful. Aloe vera is very healing internally but you should know that it also temporarily discolors the inside of the colon wall and some doctors won't approve it because it might make any additional colonoscopy reports harder to read.

Morphine and other strong pain relievers can, in themselves, be a big factor in post-surgery constipation. If you developed severe constipation at the time of the surgery, it may have just kept getting worse due to any number of factors including diet, stress, and water intake levels.

The flax seed oil capsules, coupled with drinking sufficient pure water for restoring normal bowel movements could provide quick relief, provided your doctor agrees to the addition of the flax seed oil capsules.

I actually feel enemas are much better than depending on laxatives but a better choice might be colonics. Colonics involves a very gradual filling of the intestines with pure water. This helps the colon walls to rehydrate and also helps hardened fecal matter to dissolve.

Again, please check with your doctor before scheduling a colonic. A colonic can be contraindicated in certain situations so have the appropriate tests done to be sure there are no colon problems.

If it's ok with your doc, then expect to do at least 2 or 3 colonics over the space of a week to get the colon back where it should be in terms of hydration. You may need more colonics than that, as many as ten, if your colon health was an issue before the surgery.

Reducing consumption of dense protiens like beef and pork is a good idea, as is reducing constipation-enhancing foods like white sugar and white flour products. Whole grains and natural sweeteners like organic agave are good substitutes for refined sugar and white flour products, both of which are no friend to the colon.

I'd like to know more about the nature of the surgery as well. If it was in an area of the brain affecting bowel control, it might be that there was damage. Did you have the constipation before surgery or only after?

Part Two of this Health Evaluation

Related articles that may be helpful:
Ionized Alkaline Water Benefits
Colon Inflammation Article
Chronic Constipation Causes and Help

Health Care Disclaimer: The information contained in this health evaluation about post-surgery complications and constipation is educational in nature and does not replace personal medical advice from your intestinal health specialists. Acting on the health information found here is the right and responsibility of the reader. If you have severe constipation or chronic bowel problems, please consult with your doctor.