Bowel Prep

[irishmama2004 34]

I found out in my class yesterday that we have to do a bowel prep before surgery. I am totally fine with this because I like the idea of my insides being squeaky clean before they go in. . Anyway, I teach childbirth from 6:30 to 8:30 the night before and I really don't want to find a sub. Two of the four teachers have recently resigned and that would mean my boss would have to do it. She works 8-5 all day and then teaches a couple of nights as it is and I hate to ask her with all of her people having just quit. Anyway, my instructions say I have to do the bowel prep at 5pm. That seems so early. when I had a colonoscopy I had to do it later in the evening. Do you think I could cheat ahead and do it at like 7:30. I can cram the other classes and have us leave an hour early. I can even chug the stuff when I get a mile within our house.

[Tibbie 55]

Yeah I would say 7:30 would be more than fine. I had to do that with a previous surgery and I did it at 9pm the night before - my surgery was at 8am

[Wheetsin 714]

I would call your surgeon and ask. He's ultimately in control of what happens on the day of, so it's really his opinion that matters.

I was instructed to do magnesium citrate between 1 and 5. I did it at like 4:45. It took 13 hours to kick in for me (normally it's within a few hours). So what happened -- while getting checked-in and prepped for surgery, I'm making constant dashes to the toilet. And since my midnight cutoff for drinking passed BEFORE the diarrhea started, I couldn't replace any fluids. It took 11? Maybe 14 IV sticks to get a vein that didn't just collapse. They were even going between my fingers - ouch. I have no idea if I pooped on the OR table (they won't tell you if you do, but it happens).

So long story short - things like that have set times for a reason. If you want to fudge the times, just clear it with him or her first, so that if there is a delay or something, it can be accounted for. If he had known mine would take so long to kick in (not entirely dissimilar from taking it later than instructed) I'm sure something would have been done to faciliate the IV/prep process.

[kczar 166]

Wheesin, that's awful! It's bad enough to have the stress of an upcoming procedure, but then to be used as a pin cushion is adding insult to injury.

Is doing the bowel prep common for the sleeve surgery? I had to do it earlier this year for my colonoscopy and was banking on not having to go through that particular experience for another five years.

[Swimmer 199]

I just took a laxative three days before, but it wasn't required by my doctor.

[ChaChaBurch 60]

My surgeon didn't require any of that (thankfully). Are you doing a pre-op diet too? I had to do full liquids 10 days prior to surgery - maybe that took care of it?

[beautifulnewme2012 164]

Wheetsin I have had that happen, the part where they stick u a billion times...its hurts!! I am sorry that happened to u!

[RN Jenn 31]

I couldn't stop laughing at the part about pooping in the operating room, on the surgical table. Haha, anyone else gonna have a nightmare tonight that it happens to them?

[MonkeyNurse 26]

My surgeon just wants me to take Milk of Mag the day before surgery.

[Smoggy 152]

How much milk of magnesia do you take for this?

[MonkeyNurse 26]

Two tablespoons at noon.

[piercedphoenix 8]

I was never asked to do this, but I have been full luquids for two weeks... I'm wondering should I just do this to clear the ol poop chute before surgery Monday morning...

[kczar 166]

It might not be a bad idea. You probably won't be able to "go" for a couple days after surgery so it help avoid additional discomfort. Good luck on Monday!

[irishmama2004 34]

Not advocating this but there are Miralax prep instructions on the google.