that is normal esp if you had to drink that bowel prep stuff before. you were cleaned out then your diet was very light after. dont rush it. it will come. give it two weeks before you rush it.

I had the same problem after my surgeries. I was taking the same stool softener as you and still couldn't go. I am VERY sensitive to laxatives, even vegetable ones so I didn't want to try that again. I tried Milk of Magnesia & it totally did the trick by the next day(its a softener and a salt laxative). I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't get stomach cramping or diarrhea. Give it a try I bet it will help. Hope you feel better soon!

~Caryn

If you are taking pain medication you need to be especially careful because constipation is the number one side effect. I take one tablespoon of mineral oil for every pain pill I take. I prefer mineral oil because it is liquid and breaks down faster with little effort (I have problems with bowel mobility so tablets don't do well). I also use suppositories. A lot of stool softeners have thick casings on them and take days to breakdown (again this is my personal opinion with having a lot of GI problems).
I noticed after surgery, especially with my last one because he removed endo on my colon, that there is literally NO movement going on. I would try to "push" but I couldn't feel anything, almost like everything was numb. I didn't have gas either. After about the 4th day I did a suppository.
My feelings are that a suppository forces stool out with little to no effort on you or your bodies digestive system. I look at suppositories and mineral oil as "lubricants" that help loosen everything up.
Also, do not have fiber it will only make it worse!
Sometimes I take mineral oil and suppositories and approach it from "both ends" (sorry I know this is graphic but constipation especially after surgery is extruciating!) . This may be too harsh your for body though.
Also, I've found teas that help move your bowels really help.

I agree with Whyme. It will take a couple weeks. It took me almost three weeks after surgery. I was starting to freak out and then it just started moving.

Are you up moving around any yet? Ambulating is one of the best ways to get gas and your bowels moving. We preach it to our patients all the time. Also drink lots of water. Constipation can have a lot to do with how much pain medication you're taking. After my surgery I took an over the counter laxative and it was definitely effective, but an unpleasant experience so I wouldn't recommend that. Miralax is a powder (tasteless) that you can mix in a drink and it's pretty mild. Hope you get some relief!

Sigh, depends on what do you mean by BM now. I am in so much pain right now. I started have BM yesterday, finally, but then it is like I need to strain really hard, I am sweating seating in the loo and my bottom feels like it is cracking up. It persist today, that I feel that I really need to crap myself but then nothing are able to move to the "final stage". It is very painful :( I called my doc but of course answering machine. I drag myself to the walk in clinic, doc gave me Milk of Magnesia and lactulose. I took milk of magnesia once i gotten home, its been 6 hours now and I don't feel it coming. I need to go back to the hopsital tomorrow morning to take out the foley catherter (finally), and i am hoping I can get some relief tonight so I can make it to the hospital tomorrow morning. Believe it or not the hospital is 1.5 hours drive from my home.