Question:
need your advice

ok everybody heres the deal, my surgery is tomorrow at 4pm. my preop instructions are to be on clear liquids the day before and take a tbs of fleets soda every ten minutes, three times. well i did that at 4:30 and by 8:00 i still had not used the restroom so i took another tbs. thats already over the recommended dose. here it is 11:20,still no BM! what the heck! will they cancel my surgery? help! i cant have anything by mouth after midnight, should i run to walmart and get something else?    — TIFFANY R. (posted on June 10, 2003)

June 10, 2003
If you have been on clear liquids you may not have anythng for a BM. I never had one on the day before surgery but we were only required to take Milk of Magnesia and that was it. Call your surgeons office in the morning but I am sure you arent the first one not to have a BM before surgery. It is kind of like life as a post op....I only go about once a week now. The less you put in the less that comes out. Good luck to you on your rebirthday tomorrow. Wendi open RNY 9/19/02 down 130lbs
   — lovemonterey

June 10, 2003
I agree with the previous poster. You might not go at all. Or, it might not happen till tomorrow sometime. I'd call the doc in the morning, but try not to worry. I wasn't even required to do anything like that. I just did clear liquids the day before, no bowel prep at all. So, it depends on the doc. Try to focus your energy on healing, and how much your health will improve after tomorrow! I'll be sending good thoughts your way!!
   — Diana L.

June 10, 2003
Hi Tiffany! I agree with what everyone else said, just wanted to say Congratulations! Good luck ~ Denise 316/153
   — lily1968

June 11, 2003
Just the thought of Fleet makes me practically start to heave! My surgeon did things a bit differently. We had to drink the Fleet (max dose) with 8 oz of water/juice, then drink another 24 ounces within that same hour, then, repeat the whole process three hours later. I think I made at least 20+ trips to the bathroom, and that was after being on a liquid diet all week! You didn't say, but, I was wondering if you weren't drinking enough water with it. The way that stuff works is by causing the large intestine to 'keep' all of the fluids that are normally taken up at that point, so more water in should mean more 'water' out. But in the end...no puns intended...if you don't go, you don't go. Good luck with your surgery.
   — eaamc

June 11, 2003
There is a kinda soda like drink that I used, it's called citrate of magnesia or magnesium citrate. Take the bottle with lots of water!
   — Melissa M.

June 11, 2003
You can also try an enema to get things started. Pick one.......please don't use all!!!
   — Melissa M.

June 11, 2003
My doctor didn't require any prep at all for my RNT. I just had to stop eating after dinner, I think 8 or 9 PM. I wouldn't think your surgery would be in jeopardy. Good luck!!
   — Fixnmyself