I went in to doctor today to pick up my preop diet food and was told that 2 days before surgery I am to have only clear liquids and the day before, I have to have bowel prep. I have been on here for a while now and I have never heard of bowel prep. Probably because no one wants to talk about it. Will someone tell me what this entails. I was planning on working the day before surgery, getting ready to be off. The office girl told me, "no, you will be on the pot the day before!" HELP...I am scared enough. Thanks in advance.

Two days before surgery my doctor had me take milk of magnesia

to flush my bowels

Bowel prep is common before lots of ops. You drink it and it clears you out. BOY does it clear you out. Dont plan anything away from home the day after you drink it, lol.

Didn't have to have it for the banding, but did for my hysterectomy. I laugh now, but it was called something like "go-lightly"....OMG what a misnomer!!! Nothing lite about the hours spent in on the potty!!!

Pamela---while not pleasant---it isn't the worst!!! And it is good to not be constipated following surgery---which I have done before too---it is WAY worse!!! My suggestions are...#1. Go to Walmart and buy a product called TUCKS (or the Equate equivalent). They are little round moistened pads, that keep your hiney from getting raw when it kicks in. #2. Stock up some magazines or a book, and plan on doing some reading. Taking it with a good humor, and being prepared, is half the battle. I have to say "this too shall pass".... sorry had to!!!!

Hang in there---

Kat

I think they should have just named it "GO"!!! Because I did!!!

Kat

I totally understand bowel prep for a RNY, but I cannot understand why you'd need one for banding, and I've been in medicine for many years.

Then again, the more I read, the more obstinate I fear I'm going to be when I go for my surgical consult. I'll try to control myself, but I can't promise anything. If there's research and data that is good to back up what my surgeon want s me to do, that's one thing, but if there's not, then we're going to have issues. I think a lot of these practices (not taking birth control pills, bowel prep, pre-op diets, etc...) largely come from MD who are used to treating RNY patients and not Bandsters.

It's funny because I have been constipated after previous surgery - chidbirth - etc and actually asked my doc about it. He said that it wasn't necessary and I only had one day of pre-op dieting or liquids anyway. After wards my doc suggested that I take some "colace" stool softner and liquid fiber if I felt backed up.

Good luck with your surgey!

Thanks for explaining that one...whew. Thanks for the tips Kat...will take your advice. The doctors office said, and I quote, "your ass will be on fire" so I will get the tucks for sure. It is so nice to have this site/community to ask such questions. Wish me luck w/ the preop diet starting tomorrow...chocolate shakes here I come. I am pigging out tonight, bad, but necessary.

Thanks again!

Another good idea for the sore hiney is to buy some Desitin or diaper cream. I use it on my adult patients with diarrhea or frequent stools and it helps to protect the skin and keep it less irritated. Believe me, it works pretty well!

I went in to doctor today to pick up my preop diet food and was told that 2 days before surgery I am to have only clear liquids and the day before, I have to have bowel prep. I have been on here for a while now and I have never heard of bowel prep. Probably because no one wants to talk about it. Will someone tell me what this entails. I was planning on working the day before surgery, getting ready to be off. The office girl told me, "no, you will be on the pot the day before!" HELP...I am scared enough. Thanks in advance.

:faint:I too had this same reaction when I was out shopping for the scrips & such yesterday. My surgery has moved to 3/30 and I thought since I had a sub for my class, I would shop for my items needed postop. Well one of the things on my list from the Dr. I wasn't sure about so I asked a friend...needless to say hilarity ensued once I realized WHAT the item on the list was for....colon cleanse! (Her words, not mine)

Thus....since the preop instructions have me do this about 1:30 pm the day before...I'm taking a 1/2 day Kity....the sub can have them after that! I'm ready for Spring Break anyway, so there ya go! :guess

slikchik,

I hear that! I am ready for the break, but am a little worried about 5 days off in April, with testing coming up. I teach middle school ELD, and the kids are gonna be crazy for sure...hope the sub can handle it! I look forward to this so much, just want it behind me. Good luck on the 30th, please keep me/us posted. Good luck on the 29th too! Get the tucks!

peace out