I had this posted in pre-op and didn't get any response. I could really use some advice. I knew there was going to be some challenges associate with an out of town procedure.

My surgery is Wednesday. I've been told to drink 10oz of magnesium citrate the day before surgery to clean things out. The problem is I have to work all day Tuesday, so I don't want to take the stuff at work. I am immediately leaving work on Tuesday at 5:00 to head to KC where the surgery will be done. It is a 3 1/2 hour drive, so I don't want to take it after work or during the drive. I will spend the night in a KC hotel, but I may not get there until 9:00pm. If I take the stuff after I get to KC, I likely won't get any sleep and be sore down there going to the hospital.

I am on a clear liquid diet, so there can't be much in there. What if I were to take the stuff late Monday. The magnesium citrate would wrap up during the night. Do you think this would be OK?

You said yourself - you are on a clear liquid diet so there can't be much - My instructions were to take it at 3pm the night before, I did and was "cleaned out" within a few hours, and it wasn't bad since there was not much in there. Take it when you are suppose to, even at work. I wouldn't take it Monday unless your Dr ok's this.

Never had to take mag citrate before my surgery. I was on liquids for 2 week preop. As you said there is not that much in there. I just had to be NPO after 9pm the night before surgery and I had no problems. I would check with your doctor regarding this issue.

You said yourself - you are on a clear liquid diet so there can't be much - My instructions were to take it at 3pm the night before, I did and was "cleaned out" within a few hours, and it wasn't bad since there was not much in there. Take it when you are suppose to, even at work. I wouldn't take it Monday unless your Dr ok's this.

How fast acting was it? I've heard horror stories about not being able to make it to the bathroom on time. This is why I'm reluctant to use it at work. How long was the after effect? You mentioned a few hours.

I would say pretty quick, within a 1/2 hour maybe. I didn't have any problem making it to the bathroom, I wasn't on a complete liquid diet, could have veggies and a few other things. I would say I was "done" long before bed, by 7-8pm. And after the initial affect, it was lighter from there on out. The stomach cramping gave me plenty warning to get to the bathroom.

How fast acting was it? I've heard horror stories about not being able to make it to the bathroom on time. This is why I'm reluctant to use it at work. How long was the after effect? You mentioned a few hours.

Well, on a positive note, even if you are up all night going to the bathroom, You can still catch up on sleep during and after surgery. you will be sleep during surgery and probably a few hours after if you are on a PCA pump.

I *just* choked down a bottle 5 minutes ago. I will update you on how fast it works LOL

ETA: I'm just now starting to feel nauseous and a little stomach rumbling. I think Shells hit the nail on the head with 2 hours.

Edited March 4, 201214 yr by NaturalRhapsody33

It takes 2 hours to activate I think. DEFINATELY drink it with water. On that day I had only 4 oz of chicken broth and maybe 2 glasses of water throughout the whole day- I was so excited for the surgery. I drank MC at 6 with NO water and didn't realize I had to have that with water. So at 8 I had a glass of water and felt so nauseas. Went to the bathroom around 10 and it hurt and I didn't understand why. Then again around 11. I went to take a shower around 1130pm and fainted! My mom got me up and I fainted again! I was so scared and tired when paramedics came they said I was dehydrated and the MC was taking the water from my important organ areas (excreting it so I can release stools) and this was causing me to faint. Low blood pressure mixed with a hot shower increased the fainting as well. So a word of caution please take plenty of water and maybe you should leave work early. GL.

Well I must be a sucker for punishment. I bought two bottles of the stuff. I took one Sunday afternoon to see how well it worked. It wasn’t that bad. It took exactly 2 hours to hit, then a few trips through the night and one this morning. Everything was pretty predictable so I plan to take the other bottle tomorrow morning while at work. This should have it pretty much wrapped up by evening.

Per my doctor's instructions I took the magnesium citrate on the Saturday before my surgery on Monday. I'm sure they did this because I live 350 miles from the hospital where I had my surgery and they knew that I would be traveling on Sunday. I was on liquids on Sunday and of course, nothing after midnight the night before surgery. I think I would call my doctor's office and talk to them about making the change.

My doctor had me take MC 3 days before surgery and I was on a liquid pre-op diet subsequently. I ended up tsking it on the 4th day before surgery because the 3rd day was a work day for me. Mine took longer to act than 2 hours...more like 3, but I think everyone probably reacts a bit differently. I wouldn't take it and drive though...not unless that drive was under an hour!