Another thing for those about to have TKR -- constipation

[Guest guest]

Hi all!

I was talking with some friends yesterday about our surgeries and was

reminded of this important item that for some reasons doctors don¹t seem to

tell us:

Many pain medications and other meds we receive for this surgery are very

constipating. I understand that this is because the narcotic meds slow

the peristaltic action of the bowels as well as doing their other jobs. The

main medication that people on this list have talked about receiving is a

stool softener. But the stool softener doesn¹t seem to stimulate bowel

action and that¹s probably not its function. Personally I just kept taking

the stool softener, since that was what it was prescribed, and it did NOT

work for me. I finally talked to someone who had had the surgery and she

gave me a solution. This was one of the most miserable parts of the surgery

for me, and it was really unnecessary to have to go through that.

Some things that have been suggested to me

* Senna Senokot was mentioned by someone else on the list; I bought the

Walgreens version, called simply ³Senna²

> info at:

> http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Use-Senna-For-Constipation-Relief & id=40636

* Magnesium: info at http://ibs.about.com/od/constipation/a/magnesium.htm

* Massive amounts of dried fruit, stewed.

I would have these or your preferred solution on hand at home before

returning from surgery.

Best wishes for your upcoming surgery and rehab!

Peace,

Jackie