Question:
Did anyone have a doctor that required no bowel prep or special diet prior to sugery?
My doctor said just don't eat anything after midnight. But I feel like my stomach should not be full of all my favorite foods until the night before surgery. Am I just being paranoid? Any Advice would be greatly appreciated! Scheduled Lap RNY Ocotber 14, 2003. — Lizette A. (posted on October 2, 2003)
October 2, 2003
My surgeon also told me to just not eat anything after midnight and I
didn't have any bowel prep at all. At first I thought it was strange, but
then I thought, well, the doc knows his stuff better than I. I just think
all doctors are different in their way to do surgery. Just doc preference I
guess. I didn't have any problems the day of surgery and I ate a big meal
the night before. I had open RNY on April 3 of this year. Just trust your
doctor from what he told you to do, and you'll do fine. Just remember,
everyone is different. Just because someone else had to do certain things
before surgery doesn't mean everyone had to do it that way.
— tpalmer
October 2, 2003
Hi Lizette - Not to worry! My surgeon said the same thing...nothing by
mouth after midnight. My surgery went fine and bowels worked too!! You'll
find that many different surgeons have many different preferences. My
advice is stay on track with your surgeon and his preferences. Best of
luck to you!!! Open RNY 3/20/03 255/178/145
— teresa M.
October 2, 2003
My doc said to eat nothing after 7pm and there was no bowel prep either.
Everything went very well. You'll be fine, just do as you're told! Good
luck to you.
— [Deactivated Member]
October 2, 2003
I was on clear liquids starting at noon the day before my surgery and
after midnight nothing. No bowel prep.
— charanewme
October 2, 2003
Each surgeon is different in what they ask the patient to do prior to
surgery. My surgeon requires two days of "cleansing" (YUCK)and
clear liquids. If you are concerned, why not just eat very light the two
days before surgery. That wouldn't hurt you and it may just give you piece
of mind.
— [Deactivated Member]
October 2, 2003
My doctor required no bowel prep or special instructions either...but...I
did feel up on my favorite dinner the night before around 6pm and let me
tell you I was so uncomfortable after surgery for 3 days because of needing
to go to the bathroom so be careful and don't eat to heavy, I had spanish
food and it hurt me more after the surgery than the actual surgery.
— Keishia R.
October 2, 2003
Go easy w/ the food for a couple days prior to surgery. I'm sure your
Surgeon also told you that sometimes they end up having to open you
although the surgery started out LAP. If your colon is full then they will
have difficulty lifting it w/ the tools and have to open you. For that
reason my Surgeon had me lower my fat intake for a few days prior to
surgery to shrink the liver and of course, the bowel prep to empty the
colon. I followed his instructions because I did not want to be opened....
PostOp I had no real gas or discomfort.
— [Deactivated Member]
October 2, 2003
My dr also said nothing after midnight. For my last meal I had some kind of
pasta dish with beef tips and a cream sauce and tiramisu for dessert. I
didn't overeat but I didn't deny myself either. I was terribly hungry the
morning of the surgery, but I remember it well because it was the last time
I ever felt hunger like that! I didn't have any complications, lap surgery
went as expected, and I was out of the hospital right on schedule. I
wouldn't worry about it. If it had caused problems for your surgeon's
patients in the past, surely he would not still be doing it! :) Best of
luck to you and happy losing!
— ctyst
October 2, 2003
You are so funny! You sound just like me. I did not have to do any prep
before my surgery. My mom came in town the day before and we had our
"last supper". Chinese buffet. I kept thinking oh my gosh, what
if I wasn't supposed to do that. But, the Dr. said your food is processed
& in your bowels now, don't worry. You can poop up to 5 minutes before
they take you in to surgery, if there is no urge, don't worry, in the time
it takes to do your surgery, it won't exit the body! Now the non-lap
surgeries, I have talked to 2 friends who have had to do slimfast or
protien drinks up to 2 weeks before (they are quite heavy). Then one
friend who did not have to do that, but she had to take an enema. All Lap
Band folks I've talked to were similar to me, had their last meal the night
before surgery & didn't regret it.
Good Luck, I had my surgery one week ago today and am very happy!
Theresa
— tcrewse
October 2, 2003
My surgeon did reqiure a liquid only diet the day before surgery with
nothing past midnight plus 2 laxitives the day before. I have never been so
empty. I think it helped because I had no nausea at all. I have had other
surgeries and woke up sick for hours.
— Tawnda C.
October 2, 2003
I had open rny on July 15th 2003. My surgeon did not require any sort of
bowel prep. Just said not to eat after midnight. I had asked a surgeon in a
"Surgeon Chat" session what he did for prep and why. He replied
that he believes in doing a bowel prep because it decrease gas after the
surgery. I really didnt have much gas, but it did take me 10 days to have a
BM and was it a DOOZY. lol Good luck, you will do fine!!!
— TheresaC
October 2, 2003
I, too, had no bowel prep and nothing after midnight before my open RNY, my
open gall bladder surgery, and my huge hernia operation. My take is that
this helps your bowels to keep functioning normally. Maybe bowel prep and
just liquids before surgery contribute to the constipation afterwards -- ?
Just a thought. Nina in Maine
— [Deactivated Member]
October 2, 2003
My surgeon required 2 days of clear liquids, and bowel prep 2 days prior to
surgery, and 6 antibiotics the day before surgery. I've never been so
cleaned out in my life. Not eating food for 2 days helps the liver to
shrink and with the bowels cleaned out, I feel like this gives the surgeon
more room to work inside us (lap). This is my opinion and yes each surgeon
to his own preferences, just do as your doctor asks, and it wouldn't hurt
to be on clear liquids for 2 days, or at least a very light diet. My
surgery was 17 days ago, lap Roux N Y, gallbladder removed, and belly
button hernia repair, and I had absolutely no gas pains, and no
constipation from the pain medications.
— Donna Y.
October 2, 2003
My doc required full liquids for the 2 days before surgery, but they upped
my case so I only got in 1-1/2 days of liquids which was no problem. He
said the reason isn't because of a problem with the actual surgery, but so
that your first BM after surgery isn't constipated and you have
pain/problems in that regard (pain pills cause constipation). I would make
my last big meal maybe 2 days before surgery and eat light the day just
before surgery, only so that your first BM isn't too traumatic.
— bethybb
October 2, 2003
CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY IF YOU DONT HAVE TO DO A PREP. TODAY I AM DOING THE
PREP AND I AM MISERABLE. ONE GALLON OF NULYTELY. A WHOLE GALLON IN 4
HOURS!! I AM PURE NAUSUATED.THIS IS THE WORST TASTING JUNK. I WISH I COULD
TRADE PLACES WITH YOU.I STILL HAVE 1/3 GALLON TO GO.
— loisph
October 2, 2003
My doctor did not require a bowel prep or special diet. He did mention not
to eat after midnight and whatever I did eat the day prior to surgery
should be light such as grilled chicken or fish but it was not a mandatory
thing and I will admit I had some of my favorites the day prior!
— SassySamara
October 2, 2003
My doc was the same way he said he had no "rules" but he owuld
prefer if you ate a lighter diet the day prior, or even better I had a
little cottage cheese and the rest was jello & popsicles! NO BOWEL
PREP EITHER! YAAAAAY!
— Saxbyd
October 2, 2003
Liquid diet for 24 hours prior to surgery and nothing by mouth after
midnight the night before my 5 am appt for surgery. No bowel prep...he
said that he was finding patients were becoming dehydrated by the bowel
preps and it wasn't worth it for the low-risk associated with not doing it.
— [Deactivated Member]
October 2, 2003
You're so lucky! If you're doc says no, then for you it must not be
necessary. If I had known what it was going to taste like before I had to
GAG it down, I would have pleaded to my surgeon. Whoever prints the label
on the bottle that says "Pleasing Lemony Flavor" is a freaking
liar. Good luck to you!
— Kimberly S.
October 2, 2003
No bowel prep and no food after midnight. I was fine.
— Fixnmyself
October 2, 2003
Mine was the same as you. However, he had a harder time than expexted
during surgery and I think that's why. Shortly after me, he started
stricter pre-op requirements (maybe a coincidence?).
— jen41766
October 2, 2003
I just had the noting after midnight. Since then, they have added clear
liquids after 6pm the night before. It was fine. At least I didn't have the
ghastly GAS I had after been purged totally for an early gall bladder
procedure.
— vitalady
October 5, 2003
I couldnt eat for 24 hours before my surgery, and had to drink a bottle of
magnesium citrate (is that right) to clear me out the day before. that is
what my surgeon requires. :-) good luck to you! and God Bless!
— Katrina K.
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