Cleaning out your system before surgery...

I thought you were given a laxative (even a few) the night before surgery (VSG).  Has that changed?  When did it change??

They're not operating on your intestines.  You go NPO at midnight, and it was full liquids the day before.  That was it.

I had to do a clean out. A variation of pills and water every few minutes. It was AWFUL. To make it worse the medication wasn't covered by insurance and cost me $100. I wish I would have known better and spent a couple bucks on a mag laxative. 

I think they're all different.  I was on liquids two days before surgery and had to take milk of magnesia two nights before.

Isn't there like 1/2 of 1 percent of people who go in for a VSG and for some reason (anatomy) the doctor will convert to a RNY...They will even tell you ahead of surgery..."You could wake up with an RNY".  But that wouldn't happen if they haven't cleaned out their intestine.  Just talking out loud...

what are you talking about???? 

It has happened...Very very rare.  I've been on these boards for over 10 years.  And there are a few people who go in for one procedure...(The anatomy isn't correct inside...Maybe an ulcer) and the surgeon has to adjust.  Some people have strange anatomy or birth defects...The surgeons (since they are there) will continue with a different procedure if you have signed a waver to allow it.  Otherwise you get no procedure and start again from scratch.  Again, a handful of cases...But it has happened.  Brian

I'd assume it's the other way around.  It doesn't make sense they'd have to convert to an RNY from a VSG, but it would make sense converting to a VSG instead of an RNY.  It's much easier to reduce the stomach than to reroute intestines if you are obese and have adhesions, I assume.

I think it is just surgeon's preference.  I got bad constipation after surgery and ended up having to use a fleet's enema to get things moving again so I think its not such a bad thing to have things pretty empty to start with.  

I was on liquids for 2 weeks before surgery and did not need to do anything but not eat after midnight the night before surgery. 

best wishes,

Carol