HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Bowel Prep for Surgery!

Support Forums
>
Crohn's Disease
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/27/2010 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
cry  What sort of preps have you taken for ressection surgery? My surgeon insists on Go-Lightly, 4 Liters! OMG, I had that one other time and I had such a hard time getting it all down!!! I am depressed about this. I have used half-lightly for colonoscopies and had good results! I am thinking of calling and begging for another prep. What do you think? He insists it's the best. I guess for surgery, they have to be complete.
Posted 10/27/2010 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
Okay.. your surgeon can change his mind.

For my resection in June my surgeon had me use the clear liquid stuff (someone please fill in for my blank mind) that I got over the counter from walmart.. I drank a bottle each night 8oz and was on a liquid diet for 3 days. It really wasn't bad at all.

I've also used the tablets where you take 4 tablets with a glass of water every 15 minutes - i think it's the pill version of go-lightly. It's also not too bad.
Posted 10/27/2010 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
Even though the doc is telling you you have to use that one, I have done differently in the past. I go to the pharmacy and get one of the over the counter preps and use that instead. It does the same thing (clean you out), but one you are more comfortable using. They will never know, and I think its more important in getting yourself cleaned out.
Posted 10/27/2010 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
When I had surgery, my doc had me take Dulcolax and Miralax. Best prep ever!
Posted 10/28/2010 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I am with Nanners. Before the pill preps became available, I 'invented' my own preps because the doctor I was seeing at the time wouldn't allow anything but golytly and I just couldn't get it down. I would do liquids for a few days then use an over the counter prep. NOT ONCE was I questioned, and I must have done this over a dozen times. Now that the pill preps have been black boxed I panicked when I got a notice that I have to have my colonoscopy. But my current doctor is wonderful and scripted me the pill prep because he knows I just can't handle the other ones and the anxiety of it is just more than I can take.

You have enough on your plate with the surgery, do a prep you are comfortable with.
Posted 10/28/2010 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
I'll call them tomorrow and ask for another prep. I'll tell them I just can't do it. It's just too much fluid for me. I actually took it one time and didn't get all the way cleaned out! I guess they figure the more fluid the better but I'd be happy to do a liquid diet for a few days, anything besides the Go-lightly!
Posted 10/28/2010 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Just did th Golytely prep on Monday. (Have done Colyte previous 4 times). For me the dread and anticipation was worse than actually doing it. Had it pretty well ice cold.

Posted 10/28/2010 5:40 PM (GMT 0)
I also have had problems with the go lytely. One Dr. okayed the 3 day CLEAR liquid diet, a laxative the day before and then 2 OTC enemas, one the night before and one the morning of to make sure I was completely cleaned out. That was the easiest prep ever.

From now on, I'm going to do the Miralax and gatorade combo I read about on here. That one seems the easiest.
Posted 10/28/2010 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
I called today and the nurse said the doctor prefers go-lightly b/c he has better results with it: lower infections and such. She said to drink as much as I could of it, at least 2/3. I'll also start a liquid diet this weekend. I've been constipated this week so I am going to have to clear that up quickly too. Mine never goes completely clear, it usually has a yellow tint to it I guess from the bile.

Tea is ok on a clear liquid diet, right?
Posted 10/28/2010 10:15 PM (GMT 0)

Yes tea is OK. I ate lightly for a couple of days prior to the prep with Golytely and I was actually clearer than with any other prep and long before I drank the four litres. So hopefully you will be just fine.

Good luck.

 

Posted 10/28/2010 10:22 PM (GMT 0)
Tea is fine, but you probably should stick to decaf. You'll be jittery enough.

My surgeon agreed to let me use a different prep because the pictures from my previous colonoscopies showed that it cleaned me out well. I was having a tumor removed so I had a lot of colonoscopies and a lot of pictures.

My prep (no longer available) included eating solid food the day of the prep so she was a bit nervous at first. If I hadn't had pictures, she probably would have given me a hard time.

My new GI refused to let me use it during my last colonoscopy. I used it anyway and didn't tell them. Afterwards, the nurse said they could tell I used their prep because I was so clean. Since I was still a bit medicated, I unwisely told her that I had used my own prep and had lied about it. Not my best idea.
Posted 10/28/2010 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
I think I will take a stool softener and a laxative tonight along with an anti-spasmodic. The inflammation in my lower colon can make it difficult to go to the bathroom sometimes because things are narrow and inflammed. Then, it can spasm and cramp up too. Ugh! This has to be the worst part of it all. It also makes sense to eat lightly and you'll clean out faster too! LOL....
Posted 10/29/2010 5:14 AM (GMT 0)
The night before prep day, I took a full dose of milk of magnesia (4 tablespoons, I think). That got things moving along quickly!
Posted 10/29/2010 1:51 PM (GMT 0)

This makes me mad.  I did golighty (what a joke) first ever prep and have refused to do it since.  Here are the instructions I got and used before my surgery a year ago at John's Hopkins in Baltimore.  Easy peasy...I'd highly recommend.  I'd just tell them no problem with prep, if your cleaned out, you're cleaned out, doesn't matter if you do it how they say...

For the record my other favorite prep is the pill type....but I don't mind swallowing pills!

MIRALAX BOWEL PREPARATION

It is very important for your bowels to be empty prior to surgery. To do this, you many
only drink Clear Liquids, 1 days prior to surgery. A clear liquid is any liquid that
you can see through. We recommend that you do not drink anything with red
coloring.

MiraLax is a laxative commonly used for constipation. It has no sugar or sweetener,
no taste, grit, or residue. When used properly, it allows complete cleansing with
minimal discomfort. It can be purchased without a prescription.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:

At approximately 5:00 p.m. the night prior to your procedure, mix the MiraLax (entire
bottle 238 g) or (Glycolax, the generic brand) into 32 ounces of Gatorade or any other
clear non-carbonated liquid. Please shake well. Drink an 8 ounce glass of the mix every
hour on the hour until finished.

Be sure to drink at least 3 cups of clear liquids after the prep, but prior to midnight. You
may not eat or drink anything after midnight.

On the morning of surgery, take your designated medications with a small sip of
water. You may not have mints, candy, or gum the morning of surgery.

THESE ITEMS ARE ALLOWED:
§ Water
§ Clear borth: beef or chicken
§ Gatorade (not red)
§ Lemonade or Kool-Aid (not red)
§ Sodas
§ Tea
§ Coffee (without cream)
§ Gelatin (not red and without fruit)
§ Popsicles (not red and without fruit or cream)
§ Italian ices (not red)
§ Juices without pulp:
Apple juice
Pruce juice
White grape juice

You may use salt, pepper, and sugar

THESE ITEMS ARE NOT ALLOWED:

Milk
Cream
Milkshakes
Tomato juice
Orange or grapefruit juice
Cream soups
Any soup other than broth
Oatmeal
Cream of Wheat
Grits

Posted 10/29/2010 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, I might have to try that one. Today, I am in a fair amount of pain and not passing a lot of anything. Lots of spasms today. Arrgh!!
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply