Enema before laporotomy surgery ? Having surgery this Monday...

[ANGELWINGS21]

Hi Ladiess'
A quick question ; I am having a laporotomy this Monday, did any  of you end up getting an enema and also shaved for the operation?
THANK YOU!
God Bless!
Angelwings21

[Mwest]

HI,
I am scheduled to have surgery on Sept 13 for an ovarian mass that was seen on a V ultrasound. It is only 2cm and they said it looks "suspicious" so the Dr wants to see what it is by cutting me open. I have to drink that "stuff" (Goleightly?) and do the enema at home. And also eat mushy foods 2 days before and only a liquid diet the day before. I would feel so violated if I woke up and found out I was shaved(!) I hate this, I have noone to talk to about it and I would have wanted to wait a few weeks to see if it gets smaller but noone asked me MY opinion. I have read medical articles online stating that 80% are resolved on their own. But I don't know if it is actually a Cancerous Tumor or not yet. I am freaking out over waking up in the hospital NOT Knowing what it is that they removed !! I had to sign forms giving them permission to remove my ovaries, my uterus, etc. I told him I may want more children, (I have one child) but they don't seem to care about what I say! I am so sick over this and I have never had any type of surgery before. Can anyone help me out with more info? Thanks

[wubbie3]

I only had a laparoscopy and I had to do the enema thing... Ack.

[turtledovemom]

If you haven't gotten instructions about low residue diet by now, you won't be going through that or the "delightful" beverage.  The enema really isn't so bad.  Shaving is really an optional thing, depending on your doc.  Good luck tomorrow....thoughts and prayers are with you!
peace,
Anne

[crazyturtle]

I'm in the US too. I did not have to drink the stuff or have an enema. They did shave me though but I don't know why. The incision does not go down that far for me.

[gah_70]

It really depends on your doctor's preference.  I was not shaved, however, I did not have a bikini line incision.  Mine was a vertical abdominal one because the mass they removed was so large.  I could not tolerate the magnesium citrate they told me to drink to clear out my bowels, so I did have an enema at the hospital.  It was not bad, though.  I'd gone to a low residue diet two days before, so there wasn't much left to clear out.  Has your doctor given you instructions?  

Gail :)

[brthbbs]

Here in the US you will be shaved (how much depends on the incision--vertical or horizontal) and you drink a horrible thing, I've also blessedly forgotten the name of the stuff, instead of an enema.

[motherof2cuteones]

I was told to do an enema b/c the area on which they will be working lies on top of the bowel and they want the bowel as cleared out and small and out of the way as possible so as to minimize the risks while in surgery.  

anyway, i did the enema at home (and i was really freaked out about it) but it wasn't horrible.  I tried not to eat a whole lot the day before so as to make the experience not so horrible.  And i woke up from surgery and discovered that i had been shaved.

I think it really comes down to the doctors preference and comfort level.

Don't worry.  Really.  I told myself that after the enema - it was all downhill from there...

[ANGELWINGS21]

Hi Ladies,
THANK YOU all for taking the time out to answer my question. Hopefully I won't have to get either done but I will do what they want me to, I just want to get it over.
God Bless each of you!
ANGELWINGS21

[Barney22]

No enema or shaving for me either thank god!  Had the drink whose name I can never remember to clear out all the digestive system - not as bad as one expects in my experience (twice).  I'm in the UK too, but I think from other posts that its a common system in the US too.  Good luck - it'll be over before you know it.  Jenny

[Kelly22]

Hello, I had a laparotomy and did not have either of those 2.  I was quite surprised they never shaved anything during the op actually as I had the cut from my belly button downwards and it does end up right near pubic bone.  Not sure whether you would have any of these tho, I am in England and this is the process they seem to use here.
Good luck with your op tho and try not to worry, its not half as bad as you prob think.
Kelly x