Post-surgical problem

A common complaint following surgery is constipation. Dr. Constance Chen, plastic surgeon and breast reconstruction specialist, suggests ways to prevent postsurgical constipation or minimize its effects:

• Ask your surgeon if it’s possible to avoid or reduce using opioids for pain control; substitute with acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), gabapentin and other non-opioids.

• Follow your doctor’s instructions about what and when to eat. When

• Snacking or eating small, frequent meals may promote digestive activity.

• Avoid foods that promote constipation like dairy products, processed

• Drink lots of fluids. Stay well-hydrated to promote bowel movements

• Start moving around as soon as your doctor gives you the OK, even

• With your doctor’s approval, take a stool softener, usually one that includes docusate sodium, to draw water from the intestines and moisten the stool, making it easier to pass. Do not take or use over-the-counter laxatives, probiotics, enemas or suppositories without talking to your

Source: PR Newswire devastating. Fighting that cancer is worse. Patients know the misery of countless doctor appointments, fatigue, and the nausea of chemotherapy. What could be worse?

Treatment-induced oral mucositis. These are mouth sores that make chewing and swallowing so painful that patients often are unable to maintain adequate nutrition and hydration.

The skin that lines the oral cavity, or oral mucosa, comprises cells that divide and are replaced quickly, making it a resilient and sensitive barrier. While it can withstand normal forces like chewing, swallowing, and the