What to take for bowels prior to surgery?

Ehummmmm, uh, kinda a personal question for the ladies....

At my pre-op the doc said that it would be nice to have had a normal BM the morning of my surgery, which is at 7:30 a.m.

I explained that my normal pattern doesn't include that happening till later in the morning! However, I do want to make the surgery as easy as possible for him, but not so 'easy' as to be uncomfortable or god-forbit 'messy' during the surgery.

Anyway, any recommendations out there for either softeners or laxatives that might be safe and effective for 'emptying myself' PRIOR to getting to the hospital... (I don't want to rely on feeling comfortable there for this to happen).... Gosh, I'll still be half asleep anyway........... 5:30 check in!!

Helpful hints appreciated!

Smiles,
Cori

Absolutely DO NOT use anything without the DR approval! Doing so can possibly put your life in jeopardy in during the surgery or it can result in your surgery being rescheduled. I'm sure you don't want either to happen. Get the o.k. first from your DR. They will probably have a suggestion or two for you!

Hi Cori,

If you told him that according to your normal pattern you wouldn't have a bm in the am before surgery and he didn't tell you to take something, don't.

Call him and explain again that without help you probably won't be having that bm he said would be nice, and ask him if you should take something to help, and ask him to specify what he would like you to take.

Best wishes!

HI! I was just thinking about this very thing today! When I had my tonsils out 20 years ago, the nurse told me I had a BM during the surgery. I thought I would DIE from embarrassment! When I had my lap. a few weeks ago, I was so concerned about this, I ate only liquids (like soup with no chunky stuff) the whole day before the surgery, hoping the pipes wouldn't get full after the last good BM (which is a rarity these days with all the constipation).

It didn't really help my embarrassment, but she did tell me they are prepared for this kind of stuff, I guess there's some kind of gap in the table with some kind of bucket or something. But, when I had surgery in later years, I asked the nurse before going in there because I couldn't get any cooperation from the bowels, and that nurse told me "don't worry, everything sort of shuts down because of the anesthesia, so it's not very likely your bowels will move during the surgery." Ha!

Cheryl

I had a great day planned for my day before my trip to the castle. It was all ruined w/ one phone call.
"Oh, by the way, the Dr. wants you to take this Fleet stuff 3 X's today"
that meant staying near a bathroon! This did not fit into my great plans.
That was bad enough, but I got to the hospital for my check-in and they gave me more!
Believe me, if they want your bowels clear they will be.

Hi, judy wanted to let you know what my doc is giving me. The night before my surgery, around 7 p.m. he gave me a ducolax suppository to use to empty my bowels, doesn't make you feel yucky, just cleans you out. Good luck Friday!

I would talk to your dr. before taking anything.

My dr. gave me 2 dulcolax to take the afternoon before surgery, then do a Fleet's enema the morning of surgery. I guess my dr. is more concerned about being cleaned out before surgery than a lot of others' docs I've noticed here on the board. And, my good friend had her hyster. yesterday and she didn't have to do any of that!

All the docs are different. If yours didn't give you special instructions, I wouldn't worry about it.

BTW, my surgery isn't scheduled yet, still in insurance authorization limbo.