Nervous About Pre-OP Details

You'll be okay. It's really not that bad... it's bad... but it's also tollerable. Keep you sights on the light at the end of the tunnel

Try to remember that your getting answers from a big baby ME. It's funny... I have tattoos, but I get scared of shots!

I can't remember where I wrote about it... but you can always do what I did... I put together a whole puzzle while sitting on the toilet

I am a big baby too! No tattoos for me but shots are no problem. Maybe thats because someone is always either giving me one or taking blood.

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Originally Posted by dolphin1173 You'll be okay. It's really not that bad... it's bad... but it's also tollerable. Keep you sights on the light at the end of the tunnel Try to remember that your getting answers from a big baby ME. It's funny... I have tattoos, but I get scared of shots! I can't remember where I wrote about it... but you can always do what I did... I put together a whole puzzle while sitting on the toilet

Dolphin~

I am gonna try that!! I too have to drink a whole gallon of that wonderful stuff and am not looking forward to it! I think I can tollerate it if I mix it with the lemonade.

I am only 4'11 and 90(something) pounds I told my doctor I didn't think I could drink the whole gallon~she said to get down as much as I could and call her if I have any problems. Sooooo I prolly would of been calling her all day sayin stuff like "I can't drink this", "Its really nasty", "I drank half~IS that enough?" I honestly would of driven her nuts~prolly still will.

But again thanks for the advise!!!

Angie,
I was told to drink the whole gallon, but I was only able to get down 2/3 of it. (I am not suggesting that anyone does NOT follow their doc's orders, just my own experience)

I knew that as long as my BMs were coming out clear liquid I would be okay... I had a friend who drank the whole gallon in about 15 minutes (not sure how he did that) but then the goof went and ate something the following morning.... he had to do it all over again

I'm sure you'll be fine. The lemonade helped make it not upset my stomach as much. We go through some pretty rough stuff just to get better don't we?..........but we're almost there!!!

I am going to have to call and talk with my doctor about mine, all it says is to take 2 tbs at 4, 2 tbs at 5, 2tbs at 6 until all gone or stools are "clear". When I had my colonoscopy I had to mix half the bottle with any drinkable clear liquid up to a certain amount. I then drank all of that followed by 1/2 gallon of water or broth. Then I waited an hour and drank the other half of a bottle with a clear drink followed by another 1/2 gallon of water or broth. I am so hoping I can mix those 2tbs in with something else or I am going to gag. I personally find this the worst part of pre-op.

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Originally Posted by Gipsi I am scheduled on a early Tuesday morning...so Sunday night I start my clearn liquid diet, then Monday afternoon i have to take Fleets Phospho-soda buffered Oral Saline Laxative with 2 tablespoons at 4pm, 2 more at 5pm, 2 more at 6pm, etc until stools are clear and remain on a clear liquid diet until surgery. I haven't had my meeting with the anesthesiologist yet so I am not sure which of my daily medications I can or cannot take. I am not too thrilled about doing the bowel prep, but alas...I suppose it is necessary. I could have worked Monday prior to surgery, but I figured I would be rather cranky due to the liquid diet and all that, so I told my boss I wouldn't be in that day. As for clear liquids, the list I received of approved liquids were plain jello, broth, juice, clear soda, tea and anything you can put a light up to and see through. I personally mixed my bowel meds with Sprite spruced up with a bit of pink lemonade crystal light, but I think this time I am supposed to take it straight up? Might make it fun and do that in a shot glass!

I didn't have to do a bowel prep with my Lavh, just couldn't have anything after mid-night for my 9:30 a.m. surgery. I take Thyroid Meds & any surgery I have ever had I was told to still take it.
I did have a colonoscopy a few weeks ago and used the phospho-soda, it wasn't bad, I was told I could mix it with any liquid, just nothing purple or red. I would think if you can drink the crystal lite you can mix it with that.

Good Luck!
mshowdy

I finally got the nurse to call me back this afternoon and I can mix my yuckie stuff with anything "clear" and spruce it up with chrystal light too. I was so happy to hear that!

Here is a list of hints I put on the forum earlier today, that will help with the pre-op prep the day before:

Hi Everyone again,

I have finally made it out of the bathroom. I entered it at 12:30 noonish earlier today and have some hints on maybe how to make it through this part.

First of all, make sure you have plenty of water, gatorade, anything liquid to rehydrate yourself HANDY. My mother needed to go babysit my nephew, and so I was home alone. I had 12 water bottles and marked them with a marker 1-12 on the lids. I brought 3 bottles into the bathroom at a time. And, once I downed the first Phospho-Soda solution, within 30 minutes the stomach started rumbling and then the flood-gates opened.

DO NOT use wet ones or any other kind of prewetted material in a box, as they almost all have alcohol on them (can I say OUCH), they will burn you after the second round of solution. I started wiping after every episode, and in no time I was raw...my advice...ONLY PAT as you go.

Have some hard-candy handy, your mouth gets dry. WEIRD, I know, but it did.

DRINK LOTS OF LIQUIDS...basically, drink MORE than you are losing. I thought I would never be able to drink and pee so much in my whole life.

Bring a book, and get used to sitting for long periods.

I Got up in between episodes and went downstairs to refill drinks, or make more Phospho-Soda Solution, and sometimes have a cigarette. But BE CAREFUL, when you need to go, it will be imediately if NOT SOONER.

Also, have a cold, wet washcloth to wipe your forehead, or hang it behind your neck, to cool off.

I actually laid down for a few minutes, between my two Phospho-Soda solutions I had to take at 12:00 and 2:00.

The first one wasn't so bad, you don't have to do anything but sit there. In fact, I was rather amused at the fact that the stuff was just running through me, and I didn't need to push or anything.

The second session was not so much fun, and by the end of it, I wanted to cry, but because only my cats could hear me, I just gave in to the pain, and somehow made it through it.

It wasn't fun, but I am now sitting in front of the PC and going to finish this, so I can pack my overnight/hospital bag.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you all know.

It wasn't so bad, and I know I am definately cleaned out for tomorrow.

Good luck everyone, and I'll come back later after I have my princess-bag packed.

Aww Saraphina~
Thanks for the advise. Although it doesn't sound like you had the best of days. It will all be over tomorrow and you will be on the road to recovery!!
Get better and let me know when you make it home safely.
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
{{{{Hugs}}}}

To this day, I cannot ever drink crystal light again. My coloscopy was 2 years ago and I can still taste it!
Good Luck everyone!
Jen