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Post by JC on Jun 8, 2011 11:24:03 GMT -5
I got the dreaded letter in the mail saying I need to do a bowel prep the day before my surgery. I've never done one before but I'm sure just about everyone here has. I wanted to start this thread to ask you guys how your experience was. I've already come to terms with the fact that I'll be married to my toilet for the whole day. lol AHHHH the dreaded bowel prep!!
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Post by pretty on Jun 8, 2011 11:33:33 GMT -5
hate it, can't be helped, and no amount of positive thought can make it any better tasting! I just power it down and watch a movie or something and then crap my brains out feeling disgusted and strangely accomplished each time I poo... lol
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Post by JC on Jun 8, 2011 12:07:22 GMT -5
HAHAHAHA damn I figured it was terrible! And the bummer part is that my mom, brother, and sister are coming to town and I had to call her and cancel the plans for that day because there's no way in hell I'm leaving the house that day. lol
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Post by 1234 on Jun 8, 2011 13:45:40 GMT -5
I did one for my lap. I actually didn't think it was that bad. I really didn't.
I did my hippy salt water cleanse (which I posted somewhere else today) and got myself all cleaned out and then followed by drinking one of those magnesium thingies (which wasn't too bad) to make sure I was really all cleaned out. You poop a lot, but it's not as painful as many BMs because it's so loose.
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Post by JC on Jun 8, 2011 14:29:31 GMT -5
Maybe I'll drink some of my poop tea a few days before and do a "pre-cleanse" so that when I drink the magnesium citrate I won't agonizing with trying to poop because I'll be nearly clean! I'm more bummed out about the clear liquid only diet the day before. Only liquids?
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Post by pretty on Jun 8, 2011 14:35:55 GMT -5
my doc let me have see through foods too like jello and clear soup. I cheated and had chicken bullion with some rice in it also I ate a LOT of candy that day lol. your doc should tell you though exactly what is allowed? when warren did it his doc was way more strict than mine but then again he was having colonoscopy lol so it was FOR SURE they were going in there ha ha ha with me, it was just in case I needed a resection, so glad I didn't!
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Post by JC on Jun 8, 2011 15:35:59 GMT -5
Yeah I have a list of things. I consider Jello a liquid. lol I can have chicken and beef broth too. It's just a bummer! I love food! I can't eat for a few days after my surgery too.
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Post by 1234 on Jun 8, 2011 15:37:07 GMT -5
the magnesium citrate cleaned me out proper, so hopefully it won't be too much agonizing. I think if you do a more simple diet (high fiber, etc) the couple days before, it makes it really easy.
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Post by omaklackey on Jun 8, 2011 15:43:38 GMT -5
and you don't do the bowel prep until the evening before the surgery. Don't wait to late because then you'll be awake for a while but you don't' have to "spend all day near a toilet" or anything like that. My last one was done within an hour of the first cramps that signaled it "worked". I have now done four of these so I've become pretty resigned. My kids even like the liquid diet because I always share my jello so they think its great.
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Post by JC on Jun 8, 2011 16:00:40 GMT -5
My instructions say to do it the entire day before. UGHHHHHH. POOPY!
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Post by omaklackey on Jun 8, 2011 19:52:04 GMT -5
which prep are you using? My favorite was the Miralax and Gatorade. It was the easiest on my messed up bowels. MOM (milk of magnesia) is miserable for me and causes horrifying cramps. Go lightly is just kind of bad tasting and also caused pretty bad cramping. I have done clear liquid for several days and its pretty rough I have to admit. *sorry but it is * blech! None of my four preps have needed to be started until around 4 or 6 in the evening so I don't know why they want yours to be all day?
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Post by painttheseconds on Jun 9, 2011 0:33:30 GMT -5
Ugh the dreaded bowel prep. It's not a fun time I won't lie, but here's a few tips I'll share from my own experience a few months ago. Get really comfy because once you drink that stuff you are literally pooping every second. I told my Mom it was like peeing out of my butt. I lit a candle in the bathroom and spent time in my room with the TV on or some relaxing music.
I had a hard time drinking all of that stuff so near the end I was chasing it with some ginger ale. My Mom also got me some lemon slices to suck on. It really really helps cut out the nasty taste. I also got some baby wipes to wipe with and that worked really well.
The liquid diet is tough. I felt so weak the morning I went in for my colonscopy. I mostly just ate jello. I was also told the best flavor is lemon lime so that's the kind I got to put in my huge jug of grossness.
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Post by KSA on Jun 9, 2011 5:25:47 GMT -5
It is so hard but you will get thru it...Hydrate yourself the days prior to prep. Make sure you are eating and drinking plenty no need for dehydration before a prep or after bc everything comes out. The days following surgery you will have a nice bag attached to you to get it all pumped back in you:) If you do not go enough or still feel like something is in you the nurses are ready for a enema and it is not as bad as you think. You want to make sure that it is all out so they can see and do everything they need to do in there. Jello, juice, tea are usually offered on liquid diet trust me I know lived on it for so long I memorized the menu lol pick a favorite jello mine was red I never said a flavor I would just say the red jello and I stuck to it like a I was a kid again. Popsicles and ice chips are nice too after surgery to help with the naseua bring a little ginger too it is a nutural way to help calm the tummy. Anstesiaologist will be your new best friend Jenaya talk it all out with him and you should wake up in better shape then when you went in a nice trip to your HAPPY PLACE and a few days of 24hr room service you will feel like you are a spoiled kept woman at a nice boutique hotel. Any longer than a few days and you will want to be admitted to the crazy ward & hate everyone at the hospital LOL
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Post by JC on Jun 9, 2011 5:52:08 GMT -5
It seems like everyone here has done a bowel prep except for me! HAHA. I have to do my bowel prep the entire day before because of the possibility of removing a lot of my pancreas. My digestion is going to be all screwed up for a while. Plus since it's an open surgery in the abdomen, they want to make sure everything is cleaned out. If they accidentally cut my bowel I can get a really nasty infection if there is stool inside. I like the idea of having cleaned out bowels because I know I'll have a really hard time taking a crap after all this anesthesia.
I have to drink magnesium citrate. Blah...
Thanks for the suggestions ladies! It's going to be interesting... lol
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Post by Karen on Jun 9, 2011 5:57:31 GMT -5
Nah, I've been able to avoid the prep so far! Don't mean to rub it in as I'm sure my day will come...
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