any tips for using magnesium citrate for bowels before op?

my doc said to drink half a bottle of magnesium citrate the night before surgery...any flavor (she said they are all bad!)

anyone had experience with this one?

I had the exact same instructions but was told to drink it the day before my surgery in the morning. I found it in grape flavor (wasn't too bad). I put it in the refrigerator for two days before to make sure it was very cold (my Dr said to drink it cold). I just sat there and took a sip and then took a sip of ice cold water at the same time until I had drank my half bottle. I don't know if that was how I was suppose to take it but within a couple of hours I was going off and on the rest of the day. No cramps at all.

Ask the doc if you can do miralax instead. No flavor, just a thicker whatever (apple juice, gatorade, etc.).

I had the lemon lime "flavor"....ewww.
I was supposed to drink the whole bottle.
I was able to get about half down, and that was with mixing it with Sprite.
Then I was supposed to give myself a Fleet enema....(2 actually!) but only was able to contort myself long enough to get half a bottle in.

And then I was spewing until the break of dawn.

Thanks to an attack of IBS that AM I think I was pretty much cleaned out anyway LOL....but barium, mag citrate, etc are not my friends. They make me nauseous.

I had to drink a whole bottle of mag. citrate for my bowel prep. I chose the lemon flavor, and actually, to me, it wasn't too bad. It tasted like a sour lemon soda. I put the bottle in the refrigerator to chill, but found it too cold, so I let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and then just drank it down. Once I drank it, I followed it up with some water and that was the end of it...

No cramping or camping out my the bathroom - everything worked the way it was supposed to.

I had the lemon flavor, too. Had to drink the whole bottle, was very sour but I had it cold. Went down fine(drank it quickly) and everything came out ok. No problems with cramping either. My Dr suggested last big meal be at noon the day before sx and to drink the magnesium citrate around 4:00 so I would not be in the bathroom all night. I did and it started working around 7:30 until about 10:00 pm. Then it was over. I'm glad I had my big meal at noon (ate a chicken salad) and followed my Dr instructions.

i too had to drink mag. citrate... i got the lemon flavor. i was told to only have liquids the day before surgery and to drink the WHOLE bottle around 2 the day before.... i also drank it cold and it wasn't that bad- taste like sour/tart lemon... afterwards, i began to feel the affect about 30 minutes once i was done drinking.... it wasn't that bad just don't go to far away from the bathroom because it can sneak up on you... good luck!!

i didnt find it awful. i washed mine down with a diet cranberry drink. did your dr tell you exactly what time to start drinking it? you wouldnt want to drink it at night and try to go to sleep..also you'd probably still be going to the bathroom the morning of your surgery. i think i had to drink mine at 2:00 the day before. do you have orders to also fast?

i was also told not to eat/drink anything red!!!

I have used the cherry flavor in the past , and it is heaven compared to any of the "-lytely" preparations. I take Mirilax every other day anyway because I take so many pain meds ,including narcotics for I have daily severe pain challenge..

It works fairly well , but for a complete clean-out my guess is that you would use more than I do for my challenges. Mirilax is tasteless and especially good in diet Pepsi. IMHO
I think like many have said , chasers of lots of water or clear liquid are very important. Don't force it down too fast because that is what increases the nausea . Better as much as you can than not at all.

Holly