No Bowel Prep Before Surgery?

Hi, this is my first time posting here. I'm due to have ileocolic resection and/or strictureplasty next week after diagnostic lap, possibly will end up with a stoma. I was told I don't need to do a bowel prep. I haven't had an intestinal surgery in over 2 decades so I am not sure what current science suggests, but if the digestive tract isn't clean, isn't there more of a chance of infection? I am on both prednisone and Humira which is why I am extra concerned as the immune system isn't at peak right now. What are your experiences with this topic? TIA!

I didn't have to do a bowel prep before my surgery. Are you having open surgery? I think they literally take the intestines out of your cavity to operate and flush them out away from your body so that there isn't any chance that fecal matter would get into your body (gross, right?). I wondered the same thing when I was preparing for surgery and my surgeon just said "I'm not going to put you through that". I was very sick at the time of my surgery and on TPN, but I was eating solid foods when I could. I was also on prednisone but had stopped taking Remicade in preparation for the surgery.

I think the main thing is that there's nothing in your stomach so you don't vomit, for that they do liquid diet prior. I don't remember having to do a bowel prep either-often they are removing things and for a lot of it, it doesn't matter what's in there really. The prep is generally to clean you out for visibility with a scope- when the intestines are in the surgeon's hands, visibility is based on different factors.

Thank you for your response, I imagine the enimas must have been tough. Today went for preop appointment and they confirmed no bowel prep, at the very least though I might stick with liquids to at least keep things in there as minimal as possible without potentially throwing off electrolytes before surgery with the prep. Yeah the drinks -depending on which ones they give you, are usually tolerable. I am personally a miralax prep fan but have a very hard time with magnesium citrate

I bet the "lemon" flavor is not the part that improves well being. :/

I wish they would find a way to put non-fruity flavors into some of the medical drinks people are required to take for procedures, it is so easy to develop an aversion and clear liquid diet alone probably gets to a lot of people.

NiceCupOfTea when are you going for your surgery and what are they doing? I wish you well with it, and hope the drinks are relatively easy/tastey. That is super interesting about the research regarding positive surgical outcomes after them.