TAH: Bowel prep-magnesium citrate

Okay, so I am 10 days out from surgery and counting down. The doctor's office called me today to confirm my preop appt. next Thursday. The nurse was soooo nice and comforting. I had to ask - bowel prep or not - she said no. I mentioned to her that I have IBS/constipation and she suggested that it would be a good idea to ahead and do a bowel prep with magnesium citrate. I am working every day up to my surgery except next Friday so she suggested I "go for it" Thursday afternoon. My question is how quickly does the magnesium citrate work, especially if you suffer from constipation already, and will it be over by the time I have to be back at work Saturday morning? The nurse also suggested after doing this to eat very small light meals for the following days and drink more fluids and to stay away from milk and cheese. I have already been eating more veggies and fruit but their not helping much. The nurse said this would be best for me to do as I will probably have a "sleepy" colon for a few days to a week after surgery. Any help would be appreciated. If anyone has a faster solution that would be great too.

If you have to do a Bowel Prep how many days before surgery do you have it? You have asked some great questions can't wait to see the answers that will help me as well. Good Luck to you

I have to do it on the Friday before my surgery which is scheduled Tuesday 8/31. It is the only day that I am off work. I cannot ask for any more time off as they have already approved the 6 weeks after surgery and I just could not ask for any more for fear of losing my job. I'm now researching light foods that will digest easily and what to eat prior to surgery but after the prep. I cannot go 3 full days without eating. I've already discovered that I should drink gatorade to prevent dehydration.

Everyone is different, but I also suffer from constipation. The magnesium citrate hit me three hours after drinking it. It "tapered" off around 10pm that night, but my stomach made some weird noises the rest of the night. Hope this helps!

I couldn't go 3 days without eating as well... thanks for the info

My doc told me to drink the magnesium citrate at 10am while at work & it should hit me by the time I leave work at 5pm. It actually started working on me within 30 minutes and I ended up having to go home. I wasn't having an issue with constipation though so it may take a little longer to work on you. Good luck!!!
For Kim- I actually did my bowel prep the day before surgery. I was able to eat a light breakfast & lunch and then I had to eat a clear liquid diet until my surgery the next morning. Good luck to you as well!!!

The mag citrate took 4 hours to start working when I had had a"last big meal" the night before. That time I started it at 4 pm and was still dealing with it after midnight- including several get ups. This last time I ate very lightly starting 2 days prior to prep, started the citrate at noon, and it started working within 30 mins. I was done by 11 pm and only had to get up once in the night.

It took mine about 5:00 pm and it took about 2 hours to start working. I was up a few times in the night as it continued to work . I would suggest you drink the mag cit cold, it does help it go down just a little bit.

Oh man... Reading all of these it sounds like I am gonna be up most of the night with this. I have to be on a clear liquid diet after a light breakfast the morning before my surgery. Then at 4 pm I am to drink on bottle of mag citrate, then another bottle at 8 pm. It's gonna be a long night before my surgery and I am scheduled to be at the castle at 6 am. I will update and let you all know how it goes.

I was told the day before my surgey to drink mag at 9:00 am nothing but clear liquids all day and nothing after midnight my surgey is 6:00 am