Constipation - Anesthesia or pain meds?

Just a quick question. While in hospital after surgery is constipation caused by the Anesthesia or pain meds? Have had 2 kidney transplants and both times became constipated. Nurses tried everything until the surgeon said OK soapsuds enema. First time worked OK, but after the second transplant the soapsuds didn't work. Had to beg for them to discharge me. Everything eventually worked itself out. Does the sleep stuff shut down your system that bad?

My understanding is that some meds used in surgery can result in serious constipation, and also in Post-Op Urinary Retention (POUR). It may not happen to everyone, every time, but it certainly does happen.

After a surgery some years ago, I got badly constipated and the doctor ordered a Lactulose enema. That was quite an experience, which I've described elsewhere in discussions. Such an enema goes in easily, but has to be retained at least 30 minutes, and produces very dramatic results with a lot of cramping.

I think a combination of both, last back surgery was at like 9am, supposed to take an hr. I woke up and it was like 4pm, I was in agony and the doc said you can't be?? I truly was, they gave me a lot of pain meds and when I got to my room after a confrontation with the doc he wanted to send me to a rehab facility to walk. The nurse did the check on vitals and asked me if I had to pee, she said I had a lot of I V fluids. I said I didn't. At 11pm she came in with an ultra sound scanner and checked my bladder and said she would give me an hour and if I didn't pee it was catheter time. I had had one before and didn't want any part of that. Alas at midnight it was catheter time I filled the first bag and almost the second ??