"Is Constipation After Heart Surgery Normal?" Asks Dahlia

Hi Dahlia,
I was given a stool softener in the hospital and instructed to continue to use it until I got back to ‘normal’ so to speak. Another constipating culpert is the iron suppliment which I am still taking 3 months after surgery.

Prunes to you.

Joan Parkinson

It’s been 9 months since my surgery. I was placed on a cholesterol drug called lipitor. Great drug but has one major problem… constipation. But I seemed to be able to deal with it by taking a mild laxative/stool softener called Ducalax. Following surgery, I was majorly constipated. I think the food that they provide heart patients is fiber-free. Because by the time I was released, I was wondering how I was ever going to eliminate waste again in my life. The Ducalax helped. Miralax helped a lot more. My doctor suggested that I take this OTC drug. It was formerly a prescription item. But it works… works… works!!!

For post -op constipation, Dulcolax suppositories and /or 2 ounces of Milk of Magnesia daily are very helpful. I am a surgeon and found these to be very helpful following my aortic valve replacement. I agree that straining can be very dangerous in the post-op period.

Yes, Colace was sent home with me and “regularly” prescribed for the first two months at home. I am fortunate I do not recall having this problem. But I do remember the staff at UCLA Med Center becoming increasingly concerned that I had not had a bowel movement before it was time to go home. I was asked that question 6 times a day in the last 2 days (it didn’t bother me – I was barely eating anything anyway) and asked if I wanted a laxative etc. Finally on the morning I was discharged magic struck! I never saw a nursing staff so happy. They are VERY unhappy if you don’t use the facilities before you leave!
Leslie

Yep, agree with the above. I’m 11 weeks post op from aortic valve replacement and last week finally felt my elimination system had returned almost to normal. The stool softeners are good but think you need to take them daily for a period of time to keep the system moving properly.

Midge

I must join the crowd. My surgeon prescribed 325 mg of Iron 3 times a day. To get to the nitty-gritty, it cause constipation and a very dark stool which had me worrying about blood loss. (tarry stool) which did occur later because of my reluctance to go to the lab and caused numerous problems.

In the hospital, they did give me stool softeners and encouraged me to eat. (bland and nasty food. I wanted a hamburger) When I finally had a passage, I felt like mommy was praising me.

Eight months after surgery, I’m still taking 350mg of iron a day but I have added psyllium and everything at that end seems to be working fine. My God, I can’t believe I’m talking about this but if it helps someone, so be it!

Thanks everybody!!!

These are fantastic anti-constipation remedies.

Keep on tickin!

Adam

Hello,
My dad had aortic valve,aortic root and ascending aorta replacement and basal septal myectomy.Dad stayed in the ICU for 10 days and then in the ward 5 days.Dad is refusing to walk and complains that he gets tired after walking for 3minutes.He spends the whole day sitting on the chair and walks only to the bathroom about 8 times for bowel motions and after most times he says he has constipation and he comes out of the bathroom very tired.I do not know what should I do!Plus he experienced sweating once from his head to the shoulders.Please may anyone advise me as to what is happening with my dad.Dad is not even sleeping on his bed,he just naps all day on the chair.