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3 weeks post op constipation, vomiting

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Posted 6/20/2007 7:27 PM (GMT -8)
My husband had robotic prostatectomy 3 weeks ago, and did very well in recovery until a few days ago.  Too many kegels, too much walking... had a continence set back...  Lab work = no cancer in surrounding area.  He's 53, had a Gleason score 6, psa 2.5.  Totally healthy otherwise.

The past few days he's been really uncomfortable w/constipation,said it felt like a block of wood in his abdomen...  he's been taking dss laxative 2 - 3 spread over a day since surgery, but suddenly it wasn't as effective this week. 

He's been vomiting (really heaving hard) and having diahhrea this afternoon, and it's kind of worrying me now.  He basically sleeps from weakness in between bouts. 

Does anybody know if vomiting and not being able to keep anything down would have anything to do with his surgery-recovery?  Is vomiting harmful to the areas where the ureters were stitched? 

No fever, maybe he drank a "bad" bubble tea this afternoon...

He has a follow up appointment with Dr. Patel in one week.

I'm feeling kind of nervous that it's not office hours and Dr. Patel's nurse is not available at night for these kinds of questions...

hope somebody is reading this tonight who can share info, I'm looking for reassurance...

naimnut's wife

 

Posted 6/20/2007 7:30 PM (GMT -8)

Hi there!

This definitely sounds like something to check out with the doctor.  In the morning if it lets up some; otherwise a trip to ER might be in order.  A bowel blockage can act like your description (thinking constipation . . .diarheaa follows)  This could be caused from the surgery and warrants attention.  Please keep us posted!

;o) Linda

Posted 6/20/2007 7:33 PM (GMT -8)
Naimnut's wife,

I don't want to alarm you but you must call the doctor. Don't worry about it being late - it's their job. Please don't put this off. It may just be a virus but you need to find out asap.

Hugs,

AEG
Posted 6/20/2007 7:44 PM (GMT -8)
Dear AEG and ;o),

Thank you so much for your quick replies, I'll go check on him right now and see how he's feeling--  to help us decide about calling the doctor now or in the morning. 

I realize now I actually don't know how to "call the doctor" at night, since Dr. Patel was his surgeon (we flew to Columbus for the surgery) but not his local urologist.  He has not seen his local urologist since the surgery... 

Advice on night dr. call?

naimnut's wife

 

Posted 6/20/2007 7:49 PM (GMT -8)

Where we are it would have to be a trip to the ER.  If it's a bowel issue it needs to be done.  Some doctor's offices have messages that advise you what to do at night or in an emergency . . . .have you tried his #?

Good luck!

:o) Linda

Posted 6/20/2007 7:59 PM (GMT -8)

I'll call Dr. Patel's nurse's number now, if she does not answer, I think I'll call my husband's local doctor or maybe just take him to the ER.  He's telling me he feels a little better now... maybe I'll ask him to drink some water so we can find out if he's able to keep it down yet...

Thanks for your fast help--

naimnut's wife

Posted 6/20/2007 8:20 PM (GMT -8)
I agree with Linda,

The symptoms above warrent ruling out a bowel blockage. Hope Naimnut feels better soon.

Swim
Posted 6/20/2007 8:41 PM (GMT -8)
Get hold of your URo or Family Doctor ASAP. Yes, vomiting could cause stress on his internal sutures. It would be best if your doctor called the ER before you get there, so they have specific instructions and don't start their own course of action. Sorry to see you having to go through this. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. It will work out.
Tom
Posted 6/21/2007 4:51 AM (GMT -8)
Thanks for the good advice everybody-- we went to the ERaround mindnight, and at about 2 a.m. he stopped vomitting, and the diahhrea lightened up. He started to feel better then. They didn't do bloodwork or xray until 6 a.m. since he was not so acutely in need as others in the er.

The doc there said that he probably had had an obstruction, but that post op bowel obstructions often resolve themselves on there own. The bloodwork and xrays were good, what a huge relief!

Totally glad we went to the er-- what a God-send you all are!

Now we're going to sleep!
naimnut's sleepy wife
Posted 6/21/2007 5:31 AM (GMT -8)

Good news and so glad you went to ER!  Thanks for letting us know so quickly.  Have a good sleep.

;o) Linda

Posted 6/21/2007 11:47 AM (GMT -8)
naimnuts wife,

Good quick advice from the forum members.
Glad you went to ER. Hope your husband is feeling better. Remember to take good care of yourself, too

Good thoughts,
Veteran1
Posted 6/21/2007 5:23 PM (GMT -8)
Be sure he eats lots of soft-type foods for awhile, like soups, meat loaf, melon etc. It's very important right now.

I remember one day early on (after eating some fried mozzarella the day before) I felt like I was trying to pass a two-by-four. Brutal.

For the first four weeks, I took the stool softeners every day and had my coffee every morning, followed by about eight ounces of very warm prune juice (gag) followed by a cold glass of water. Lemme tell ya, if that combo doesn't open the floodgates, nothing will.

I had spoken to some other guys and agreed that it's better to have diarrhea in the morning than constipation during your recovery. Any guy will tell you that the bowel movements can be nightmares after surgery. That's when the straining can happen, the hemorrhoids, bleeding from the urethra etc.
My two cents -- but ask your doc.!!
Posted 6/21/2007 5:26 PM (GMT -8)
I have not needed quick medical advice for my husband this whole time since his diagnosis in November 2006.  We are all so lucky to have this forum to help us through!!  I thank each one of you who took my questions so seriously and urged me to take quick action.

What do you "caregivers" do to take care of yourselves? 

Akumal

(naimnut's wife)

Posted 6/21/2007 5:40 PM (GMT -8)
Thanks to all for your thoughtful and informative responses.

The Dr. in the ER could not provide a definitive diagnosis about what had been happening to me yesterday and last night.  Could have been food poisoning, or a 12 hour virus or it could have been a blockage which eventually went away, though a blockage would have typically spanned several days time.  I've been regular, every morning, like clockwork so I guess that's unlikely.

It is personally touching that there are so many connections here on this board.  So many of you feel familiar, like old friends.  And the responses and advice you all have shared are really wonderful.  Thank you so much.

My nurse practitioner has advised me to start taking a tablespoon or two of mineral oil at bedtime.  Guess I'll try that tomorrow night.  Right now I've basically had minimal solid food in my system all day.  I'm looking forward to a normal diet tomorrow!  I'm sick of jello!

Did you know that the stool softener pills and many other laxatives can have a side effect of gas?  That's it for me--enough with the griping tummy already.

Thanks again friends.

Mark

 

Posted 6/21/2007 5:46 PM (GMT -8)
Naimnut's wife:  Few of us here are "caregivers" by profession -- we have a nurse or two "on staff," so to speak.
We're just all in the same boat; sharing what we can, when we can.
When something alarming happens to us, it's comforting to hear from others who have "been there and done that" and gotten through it.
We've all gotten a lot of positive advice from this forum.
That's what it's all about.
I have never experienced anything like it. So many nice people.
Posted 6/21/2007 5:49 PM (GMT -8)
What a caring community network we have here on HealingWell ….   I am in tears at the quick response to a cry for help from one of our own!!! God Bless each and every one of you on this forum....   WOW!!!!!   This is powerful stuff.....  In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy   «   bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum  
Posted 6/21/2007 6:11 PM (GMT -8)
Hi ~ Markus & Akumal,   Really glad to see things are settling down.   Thank you for letting us know so quickly that you’re okay!!   Hugs to both of you!! and hopefully you’ll get a good night sleep tonight. Our thoughts are with you…   Akumal ~ in reference to your question…   What do you "caregivers" do to take care of yourselves?      It’s been 14 months since surgery… and looking back I feel we did a great job on the healing/recovery stepping stone.   I made sure that I slept when Buddy slept.   I ate when he ate.   I gardened while he walked the driveway… am/noon/pm.   I truly believe in order for me to have the strength that he would need to pull from ~ I had to take care of me….   If I didn’t we would both suffer.     You did a great job with your quick response to Mark…   Special Hugs….   It’s a long journey for both.   And having friends “HealingWell” to travel with you makes all the difference in the world.   You found out and it touches our heart to be a part of this wonderful ~ caring ~ community of friends…   Keeping you close as you continue moving forward on you healing/recovery stepping-stone. In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy
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