Did you have to do a bowel prep before surgery?

It's Monday night and my surgery is on Wed morning at 8:30am (arrive at hospital at 6:30).  I was supposed to get a call from a nurse at the hospital today to walk me through what I need to do and bring and such but didn't get the call.  I'll call in the morning to see what I can find out, but I'd like to be prepared.

I'm assuming that I'd have to do a bowel prep prior to surgery.  Since this might affect my afternoon work schedule tomorrow, I am curious about what time you had to start it if you did have one?  Afternoon, evening?   

Hello!

Congratulations on making the decision to have WLS.

I am not sure where you are from.  I did Opti Fast protein shakes in preparation for 21 days before my RNY.  My weight management centre said that the 21 days of shakes prepare the bowel.  I found that the shakes had tendency to constipated me so I did a bowel prep 3 days before my RNY.

Wish I could be more helpful.

Good luck!

Everything is going to go well...

Sandra.  

Mahalo.  

Wow, 21 days!  I'm on a 14 day pre-op that's < 1000 cals but there is one small meal per day (under 300 cals) and 1 cup of raw or steamed veggies per day allowed.  

I don't want to poop during surgery or recovery before I'm able to get up and do it myself! 

My surgeon instructed me to drink one half a bottle of Magnesium Citrate. I looked up how it most often works, and decided to take it approx 24 hours prior to surgery and needed to ne close to a restroom the rest of the day. Good luck! I'm sure everything will work out perfect :)

I did not have to do a bowel prep at all, just had to stop eating and drinking 12 hours before.

Audrey

Nope.  Nothing to eat the night before and I was good.  I was on a liquid diet 2 weeks before the surgery but it wasn't clear liquid.  I didn't actually have a bm until about a week after the surgery.  It's funny because I remember several surgeries in the 80's and I had to do a prep and then couldn't go home until I pooped.  No wonder they kept me there for almost a week and that was just to have a baby by c-section.  Times have changed.  

I had to do bowel prep just like when you have a colonoscopy the day before surgery

Hi Renee,

We're surgery buddies!  I'm having mine one hour after you, at 9:30 AM on Wednesday morning.

I'm in Ontario, Canada, and did not have to do a bowel prep as I had to do 21 days of Optifast protein shakes.  I was also allowed clear broth and 2 cups of green veggies per day.  I only had veggies once this week, about 4 days ago because I was worried about having full bowels.  I had to take fibre capsules because the shakes needed assistance, and the day before yesterday I took a laxative, because the fibre wasn't working. I would have taken one last night too but I have to fly to my surgery center today so didn't take the risk.  I have to stop eating and drinking after midnight.  I bought some biotene spray to help with dry mouth and I'm hoping that will help.  I have a booklet, plus a lot of loose sheets with instructions on what to do/bring.

Good luck!

they should tell you when they give you instruction, I think I started mine at noon or a little after, took the rest of the day off work as being next a toilet is not always practical. plus there are a zillion times you will go.

I was on 2 weeks of protein drinks prior but had no bowel prep. I was not to eat or drink after midnight except a sip to take my blood pressure pill.