Pre-surg prep

[ireneo]

I know I'll probably get my answer on Friday when I see the doctor but it's a little thing that's eating away at my imagination. Those of you who had laparoscopic surgery to remove an ovary, what kind of prep did you have to do? Just the usual "no food, no drink"? I vaguely remember PDXSharon saying something about getting cleaned out (?) Do you have to clean the bowels like they do with a colonoscopy? Sounds miserable.

Guess why I'm worried is because if I go spend a night in the bathroom with enforced diarrhea I worry about my electrolytes. If my electrolytes go wacky, so does my heart. Not a great way to go to surgery. Yes, they'll hook me up to the IV but I just dread the arrhythmias on top of the poopy party. The closer this gets, the more tense I'm feeling. Brrrr, just want to shake it off.

[Serenityblue]

Thinking of you today x

[silver&gold]

When I had a laporoscopy i had the dreaded bowel prep and was told it was incase your bowel is punctured accidently in surgery , apparently you can get blood poisoning if there is spillage from the bowel. Very very rarely does this happen though.

   Good luck with the surgery , take care Angie xx

[kathy1948]

I should have listened to you ladies.  Yesterday I had only liquids til the hospital pre op visit where I was told the only restriction was nothing by mouth after midnight tonight...so I got to the dr appt (11--saw him at 1) and they said oh, you've been on liquids right?  Ugh...anyway I'm psyching up to drink that stuff...It was funny I've held it together pretty well but when I got to the pharmacy and the prescription hadn't been called in I about lost it!
K

[crecco]

That is the same stuff I had to drink before my surgery. They didn't tell me the name of it, just what it was for. When I got to the hospital that morning, the nurse asked what kind of bowel prep I had used. And I told her (my pronunciation) Golly Telly. She looked at me real strange for a minute and then said, "Oh, Go Lightly" Needless to say I felt like a real moron.
It was rather hard to drink that much but other than that it wasn't real rough or anything.
   Good luck. Love, Chris

[Casey06]

If there is ANY suspicion of cancer or endometriosis and maybe even adhesions, the doctor SHOULD order a bowel prep and some do it as standard practice for any abdominal surgery, depends on the doctor.
Ask for GOLYTLY (sp?), it is god awful to drink (not because of taste, but because of the volume of liquid), but clears things out with no enemas or burn.It also contains electrolytes to prvent any issues with this. Good luck.

[Treebee]

Hi Ladies,
I had no bowel prep and had both ovaries, uterus and cervix out on Jan. 3rd by laparomtomy (TAH/BSO). I think it depends on your Dr. I was told to eat lightly the day before. The waiting is the worst but once I actually got to the hospital I was okay and woke up in pre op to good news! I wish you all the very best and will keep you in my prayers.
Teresa

[kathy1948]

That is funny...I am at my wits end and asked the dr for something to calm me down today.  Got 5mg lorazapam which I can take 2x a day...even the morning of surgery.

[kathy1948]

That is funny...I am at my wits end and asked the dr for something to calm me down today.  Got 5mg lorazapam which I can take 2x a day...even the morning of surgery.

[ireneo]

Yikes - this Thursday!?  You sound so calm and brave. This is a busy week for the women on this board. Please rest and take care of yourself.

[kathy1948]

Thanks for posting your question, and to everyone who answered.  I am having both ovaries + cyst out on Thursday and have been wondering the same thing.  Think I will pass on much for lunch.  I have the hospital pre-op today and see the dr. tomorrow, but no reason bulk up if the prep is as described above.
Good luck tomorrow!

[ireneo]

Thanks for the hope that I'll be a lucky one, no poop juice. Years ago when I had a basic exploratory laparoscopy it was just the usual no drink, no food so many hours before. But the doc wasn't doing any cutting inside.

I'm not a steak person so no worry there. I'm not much of a meat person either. Beans on the other hand....   They could give me a head start (Ba-booom!)  LOL  

I'm feeling a little better this morning. Nights are getting worse for me with the mind running wild and my imagination taking over. The meds will put me out of my misery when the time comes. It's just the whole idea of being naked and having strangers poke around, makes me want to throw up. The heart procedures were just as bad since I was naked, tied down and had all kinds of wires and such dangling from my body. Plus. . . I was awake for part of it. Talk about nightmares. I guess if I got through those, I can get through this. Sorry for the rant. I have to pick up a Cooper's Hawk and release it this morning. That's a nice diversion.

[Jan214]

I had a TAH-BSO and that may be different, but I did not have to do a bowel prep.  It was suggested that i go on a semi liquid diet for 3 days before the surgery and i did.  You definitely don't want a full colon going into abdominal surgery but...It is VITALLY important that you do not take it upon yourself to do a bowel cleansing before any surgery.  There are times when Drs DON'T want you to do that because it can dehydrate you severely and you may spend more time in surgery and more time rehydrating in the recovery room or worse.  If you are dehydrated, they may not catch on right away because they don't know you did a bowel cleansing.   If the Dr wants you to have it he will tell you and yes it is HORRIBLE having to do it and it makes you feel so weak but I promise it too shall pass.  Drink that stuff and everything will. :-)  

Try not to worry and i promise it is so much easier if you try to do a semi liquid diet for several days before surgery.  If he does want you to do the cleansing you probably don't want a steak in your colon anyway.  Sorry, graphic but true.
They know your heart conditions and are aware of the electrolyte dangers so will have taken that into consideration, either by planning to rehydrate you or not having you do the cleansing.  So please definitely ask your Dr.
Good luck to you,
Jan

[Fiveft4]

LOL! I know you're joking about the Desitin, but seriously, by the time I was finished doing the clearinghouse that area felt like a burning ring of fire!! I remember now that I was actually in tears due to the raw burn! If you have to do a super clean be sure to protect the exit door!!! I wish I had been on top of that part before it was too late. OUCH!!

Yes...I was starving by the time I went to the hospital. But, before long I was medicated and next thing I knew I was waking up in recovery with good news! And that's how we're all hoping it will go for you :-)  Do you know how long you will stay in the hospital?

Talk to you soon...and don't forget to be kind to your behind!!!

[ireneo]

Wonder if I'm too old for Desitin LOL  I can't stand going to the doctor and here they are messing with all my secret body parts. Yuck! No eating solids for 48 hours? Gosh, I get edgy and cranky if I don't eat for 8 hours. Just ask my husband. I don't say much but he can tell. Next thing I know he's pulling over to a 7 Eleven for some crackers or something. I just buzz when I'm hungry. I'll try to be a honey bee, not a wasp.

[Fiveft4]

Oh yes, my bowels were so clean they shined!!! I couldn't eat anything solid 48 hours prior, and I think at either 24 or 12 hours prior I had to drink one little bottle and another follow up two hours later...and, as if that wasn't enough, 2 enemas!!

I've been thinking of you and want you to know you are in my prayers. It will be good to have this behind you. Let us know how everything turns out. Best to you, Irene :-)

Sharon

[nyc lady]

deep breaths....of course you are nervous....wouldn't be normal otherwise.....they have to clean you out in case they find something unexpected and have to open you up....you wouldn' t want to have to go back....is it gross and yucky, yup - but, it's not the worst thing in the world....you can have clear liquids....speak to your doctor about your concerns....they will tell you how to counter act the loss of electrolytes....also, start eating lightly a couple of days before and you won't have all that much to empty out.
Good luck....
Pam

[Sandymac]

Hi,
  Just had the laparoscopic surgery to remove left ovary/tube. They also did a D&C since I had some fluid in the uterus. Yes, I had to drink that horrible Citrate of Magnesia the day before at 4PM.It helps if you chill it. But I also drank lots and lots of water that day.. 7 Up, etc. No eating or drinking anything after midnight . even water. But I had really filled up the day before.Then, the fleet enema first thing in AM yeach......
     Try to keep calm (easy to say). I went in early in AM and was out in just an hour or so from surgery... They made me stay till I had used bathroom, had something to drink and dizziness had passed. Good luck !!!  Sandy