Toilet time

Toilet time

User

Posted 24 Jul 2026 at 23:11

Before my radical prostatectomy op I used to get the feeling that I need a poo, you could feel it in the departure lounge if you know what I mean, but now after my op I don't get that feeling anymore, I just get a stomach ache.

I have come off of Movical to soften the poo about 4 days ago.

I use the squeezy app 4 time a day.

Has anyone else get stomach ache instead of the good old feeling of needing a poo.

1) Is this normal?

2) Is there something I can do to sort this?

3) should I see someone about this?

User

Posted 28 Jul 2026 at 21:18

Jason, I wonder if this is similar to what I occasionally experience since having salvage radiotherapy.

I had no problems after surgery, but after RT I sometimes get cramps and urgency. It seems to be caused by trapped wind which can only be released by pooing.

I don't actually know how the body normally copes with wind, but it seems to be able to bypass any poo and end up able to be expelled as a fart. There is presumably some subtle nerve control of that process, and I suspect RT (surgery in your case) has made it work less well.

Happily the issue has become much less frequent with time. These days it most often happens in the morning - possibly the move from horizontal to vertical being a trigger - when I am in easy reach of the toilet anyway. I hope the same happens with you.

User

Posted 29 Jul 2026 at 23:11

Thanks JB

I have spoken to a nurse about this issue and she said it is quite common after Robot Surgery due to moving thing about, it should settle down, but if it's still the same after 6 months then they will investigate.

But she was confident it would settle down.

Edited by member 29 Jul 2026 at 23:11 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 30 Jul 2026 at 20:47

Yes, I think you can be optimistic. I think everyone here who has had surgery reports it takes quite a few months for things to recover. It does vary a bit between individuals, but you can continue to hope for improvements at least until a year after the operation.

User

Posted 30 Jul 2026 at 22:01

JB always trying to be optimistic, very easy to get fed up and down, so always trying to look on the brighter side, since half the battle is trying to be in the right frame of mind to battle this, and try and be positive as best you can.

Thank you for replying, always nice to have someone reply :-)

Edited by member 30 Jul 2026 at 22:05 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 02 Aug 2026 at 21:07

Apologies for being a bit slow in responding.

However my suspicion is that the reason no one else has said anything means it isn't a common issue. Though the bottom end of the colon does get knocked around a bit during prostatectomy, it is normally right behind the prostate so has to be pushed well out of the way to create space for the robotic arm to get in. I think most of us are acutely aware of sensitivity there immediately after surgery - that is why they give Movicol - but you seem to have been unlucky in having it persist longer. I hope it will slowly return to normal.

User

Posted 03 Aug 2026 at 21:04

My thoughts are that due to the incontinence issues the surgery causes we tend to drink less and may be become a bit dehydrated resulting in stomach issues.

Radiotherapy has certainly caused me issues and there's some foods that still affect me 7 months on. Chocolate is one of these, I can't even have a two finger kit kat without suffering for a few days.

User

Posted 06 Aug 2026 at 20:32

Hi All,

Just an update, now 12 week after my op, yesterday for the first time I actually felt I needed a poo, felt like it used to, in a strange way was such a nice feeling I didn't want to go and we all know what I mean, anyway today it has gone back to stomach ache, lets hope that this could be a start to getting back to normal ish.

will keep everyone updated just in case it helps anyone.

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