Question 1

how long after small bowel emergency surgery till you can sleep on your side? what is best position to sleep in? should you keep incision site covered after getting home? thank you for you help?

Accepted Answer

: These are questions you should ask your surgeon since he/she knows the exact procedure that was done as well as if it was an open procedure, laparoscopic, what kind of sutures/staples you have, etc.? If you have sutures or staples, you should keep the incision site covered until these are removed and then your surgeon can give you further instructions, depending on what it looks like. Good luck!

Question 2

can i treat lazy bowel after surgery from home?

Accepted Answer

Move it: Best way to help the bowels wake up is to walk as much as you tolerate and to limit the intake of narcotic pain meds. Keep moving, if your doctor didn't tell you to not stand on your feet or walk.

Question 3

can you please tell me why it'simportant for a patient to open his/her bowel and pass wind after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Ileus/obstruction: Your docs need to know if your bowels are simply recovering from anesthesia, aka ileus or if you have a serious bowel obstruction. There are many imaging tests to help with this determination, however passing gas is reassuring your bowels are not obstructed.

Question 4

my 2yr old has become terrified of men including family seen daily. she's crying out in her sleep. started after surgery. what is wrong how do i help?

Accepted Answer

Stranger anxiety!: I see two different issues here.  One is the fear of men, or stranger anxiety.  Poor baby, she has had a recent stressor that is exacerbating this normal developmental stage.  Second problem, crying out in sleep is either a nightmare or night terror.  If she immediately consoles when you come in and hold her its a nightmare.  If she is confused, combative, its a night terror.  More in Prime visit!

Question 5

how can you sleep sitting up after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Get used to it...: I can sleep sitting up almost anywhere.  I say it's from all the boring medical texts i had to read as a student - we get a lot of practice... And i mean sitting straight up on the couch.  You will only have to do this for a short period of time and sooner or later your body will just crave sleep so much that it will start to come easier.  Have faith!

Question 6

i have been on amitriptyline 50 mg for about 25 years now. initially prescribed for back pain after surgery with no sleep. it did help greatly, i stay?

Accepted Answer

Still helping?: If you feel you still need it, it's reasonable to continue it. There's no report of accumulation or dependence (addiction). However, your dose is tiny and after 25 years, I'll bet it isn't doing anything.  Have you tried a "drug holiday" (going off it)?

Question 7

can you get constipation after surgery i had one recently and now i'm really constipated i normally am i bit as my diet is poor i don't drink enough and don't exercise that much but its got alot worse since the surgery it was not a bowel surgery?

Accepted Answer

: Did you receive a narcotic analgesic for post op pain? If yes, that is the cause. If not, stress could be contribute. Regardless of the precipitating factors, you need to be active, drink plenty for fluid, 1.5 -2 liters/day, eat high fiber foods, taking stool softener daily and take laxative as needed, 2 -3 times/week. Stopping the narcotic analgesic as soon as tolerated.

Question 8

when are bowel movements expected after surgery?

Accepted Answer

It depends: The return of bowel function varies widely based upon the type of surgery performed. Bowel function may return long before bowel movements occur. Passing gas is generally the first sign of bowel function. There are many factors which may affect the time before the first bowel movement.

Question 9

1i am having a 3 hour surgery tomorrow morning and i cannot sleep. will i be alright?
2 my doctor does not know i use cannabis. i haven't in 48 hours but could it still affect me and is it bad to take after surgery

Accepted Answer

Not a problem: Your treatment team will be able to work around either issue. I assume such a long procedure will require they put you to sleep anyway, this is not much of an issue &amp; pretty common. The cannabis issue is also minor but resuming it too soon after surgery could slow healing.

Question 10

should i be in so much pain on my left side after surgery? they did an appendectomy and looked at my bowel also. i have bruising on the left side.

Accepted Answer

Maybe: A certain amount of discomfort after surgery is expected. If your pain is worsening, a check in with your surgeon is appropriate. Fevers and increased abdominal distension days after surgery might indicate other problems such as abscess or hematoma.

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Doctor answers about:

Sleeping bowels after surgery

A member asked:

How long after small bowel emergency surgery till you can sleep on your side? what is best position to sleep in? should you keep incision site covered after getting home? thank you for you help?

A member asked:

Can i treat lazy bowel after surgery from home?

A member asked:

Can you please tell me why it'simportant for a patient to open his/her bowel and pass wind after surgery?

A member asked:

My 2yr old has become terrified of men including family seen daily. she's crying out in her sleep. started after surgery. what is wrong how do i help?

A member asked:

How can you sleep sitting up after surgery?

A member asked:

I have been on amitriptyline 50 mg for about 25 years now. initially prescribed for back pain after surgery with no sleep. it did help greatly, i stay?

A member asked:

Can you get constipation after surgery i had one recently and now i'm really constipated i normally am i bit as my diet is poor i don't drink enough and don't exercise that much but its got alot worse since the surgery it was not a bowel surgery?

A member asked:

When are bowel movements expected after surgery?

A member asked:

1i am having a 3 hour surgery tomorrow morning and i cannot sleep. will i be alright? 2 my doctor does not know i use cannabis. i haven't in 48 hours but could it still affect me and is it bad to take after surgery

A member asked:

Should i be in so much pain on my left side after surgery? they did an appendectomy and looked at my bowel also. i have bruising on the left side.

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