QuestionQUESTION: Hi Dr.Borucki,
My 22 year old son had emergency surgery on Tuesday AM to remove his appendix.(He was fine Monday afternoon but had terrible pain and vomiting Monday night - went to the hospital where a cat scan determined it was his appendix.)Thank Goodness it did not burst and he was not ill for long.
All went well Tuesday during laparoscopic surgery and son is feeling a little better today but he has not moved his bowels since Monday afternoon prior to becoming ill.
I bought him some prunes to eat tonight.Just wondered if you had an idea how long it can take for things to get more normal for him bathroom wise.
He goes back next Tuesday to the surgeon for a follow up.
Thankyou
ANSWER: that is not unusual.... the pain medicine before during and after the operation slow down his bowels then not eating much afterwards and operating on the bowels also slow them down (ileus)
As long as he isn't throwing up or having a fever, it is OK to wait.... if he can limit the pain medicines and continue lot of liquids and keep up with the prunes.... it may be a few more days before he moves them......
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Dr.Borucki,
My son ended up going to the bathroom a few days ago and has been doing well(he has been driving some too.)
My follow up question is tonight,though, when he urinated he mentioned it hurt a bit.(He's not been taking the pain pills for a few days now.)
He is supposed to see the surgeon for the one week post surgery follow up tomorrow but I am wondering if you had any thoughts about that little bit of pain on urination?
Otherwise no fever nothing.Thankyou
AnswerThey had stuck a urinary catheter in his penis during the surgery. This irritates the area -- the prostate, the urethra. It is not unusual to have some pain post op. If it is getting worse though, he needs a urinalysis to check for an infection.... sometimes that is introduced with the catheter, although the antibiotics should have prevented that. I hope this helps.....
