Csection pain meds - how long? and how are you managing constipation?

GE · August 2011

So I tried to stop taking my percocet at 4 days pp because I had a bad episode of constipation but I only lasted until the morning of day 7 (today), the burning at the incision site was just too much so I broke down and took one. I am wondering how long you found you needed pain meds and what you did to manage constipation. I am scared to take them for fear of getting very backed up like earlier this week but I need to be able to get around my house! I am taking 600 mg of Ibuprofen every 6 hours also.

racscott1 · August 2011

I have been taking stool softners since the day I had my c-section they have helped so much. Good Luck.

Mrs.Cords · August 2011

Milk of magnesia! When I left the hospital the nurses told me to take both a stool softener and MOM religiously it really helped me.

SarahP15 · August 2011

I stopped taking pain meds in the hospital before discharge and still had problems with constipation. My doc gave me a prescription for stool softeners which I take daily and I've also tried to bulk up on fiber to let things pass easier. Sometimes it still feels like chards of glass coming out when I go, but it's much better than the initial constipation. Good luck.

UncleBen · August 2011

I was hospitalized for just over two days and didn't need pain meds after that. I did have some constipation afterward though and I increased my water intake and all was well a day later.

JennV514 · August 2011

I took my pain meds for about a week after coming home. I'll still ocassionally take one if I'm having a rough day. The stool softeners I took for about 3 days after leaving the hospital, and I'm now doing fine, no constipation.

Take both as long as you feel necessary. Only you know what's best for your body.

Disneygeek77 · August 2011

I too had horrible constipation and stool softeners weren't doing it for me. I bought some glycerin suppositories and KY Jelly and used that. I had relief within 30 minutes. I know it isn't the most pleasant thing to do but I feel well worth it to get relief so quickly.

S-Tuna · August 2011

I took pain meds for about a week and a half. I took stool softeners in the hospital and continue to drink a ton of water. If people come visit and ask what they can bring, we always say fruit. I've been eating lots of fruit for the last 3 days or so, and that really helped the most.

genekelly · August 2011

I took them about a week or so and quit taking them b/c of constipation. I was able to manage the pain by then if I stayed on top of the ibuprofen dose and only occasionally percocet if I overdid it during the day. I took 2 colace a day while on percocet and for the week afterwards and then went to once a day and finally stopped taking it regularly by week 4(although I still sometimes take it b/c I am still not regular, not sure if that is due to the c-sec or BF'ing though). My sister is an ICU nurse and recommended prune juice as it is sometimes what they give patients tohelp "move things along". Good luck!

mum2jack&littleb · August 2011

1 dose of Miralax daily.

bethm03 · August 2011

I think I took mine for 10 days to a weeks or so and then still had the Ibuprofen if I had a bad day. I cut the percocet in half whenever I took it though so maybe that helped things not get too backed up! Be careful cutting pills in half though because certain pain meds have controled release and can't be cut. Also I would take 1 stool softener at night and that helped. Good luck!

EBathory997Wed74688 · August 2011

I did the 600 mg of advil for about a week and then reduced it to 2 pills only when absolutely necessary. I filled the perscription for percoset and never took one (now i would like to find a way to give them back). I only had the stool softeners in the hospital but kinda wished I had them for a week after. I took it slow, even when in the children's hospital for my daughter after she had heart surgery to correct her pulmonary valve.

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Csection pain meds - how long? and how are you managing constipation?

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