Bowel prep

Bowel Prep

I'm scheduled for my hysterectomy via the da Vinci on July 18th and just picked up an Rx for a bowel prep that starts 2 days prior to surgery. All the literature that came with the pills say this process is to prepare for a colonoscopy. Is this procedure also normal prior to hysterectomy?

Yes, it's normal. The idea is to decompress the bowel so it doesn't get in the way during surgery, takes up less abdominal space when empty. There isore than one type of bowel prep and it's just MD preference, but the desired results are all the same.

Queenie123.
You are the first person I have met that has a two day bowel prep besides me. Yes, it is the same procedure as for a colonoscopy. But usually that is only for one day. They want the colon and bowels cleaned out prior to surgery. I am 7 weeks post op and had my prep 2 days before surgery. No food, only clear liquids and jello. I still do not know why I had to do it 2 days unless my DR. just doesn't like "poo". Even the pharmacist was surprised. Mine was a Davinci also. It wasn't fun but I survived it. Nice to know I'm not the only one on the planet. Cheryl

Wow, I thought I had it bad when I had to do mine 24 hrs before with the clear liquid diet. I guess I have it pretty good since I get the soft food diet 2 days prior then the day before do the prep and the clear liquid diet. Mine isn't pills though, it is magnesium citrate and a couple enemas. I'd rather have the pills! Mine is going to be with the Da Vinci method as well.

MIne wasn't pills either. It was that nasty magnesium stuff. I didn't have to do an enema tho. So glad that's over. GYN/ONC wants me to have a colonoscopy now but I have to wait until the memories of that bowel cleanse are behind me. lol

Hey "neighbor" I'm just down the road from you in Howell, Michigan...

My DaVinci is scheduled for July 14th. I just got my bowl prep instructions. Clear liquid diet day before, A few laxatives around 1pm and then mixing Miralax in Gaterade and pounding that around dinner. My surg. is scheduled for 7:30am.

I could not imagine 2 days of liquid diet. I'm a "fluffy" sister and love food too much! I understand they want you cleaned out, but I wonder about how great it is to deprive yourself so long and then put yourself in major surgery?

I would guess try and eat as much sugary stuff as you can so you can keep your blood sugar up and give yourself enough calories to make it through the day! Try and stay hydrated enough so then can get your IV in withourt having to make several attempts. I learned that one the hard way!

Good Luck to you Queenie!

You have to drink a lot!! it helps to keep you from being so hungry. I found a great white grape/peach juice that was so good. The juice is all sugar so don't worry about that. Just drink drink drink. It will also help if you send your DH and family somewhere else to eat and not have to cook for them. I also had some chicken broth a couple times. Popsicles were allowed on my protocol so I got to "chew" on something. Oh and jello, too. It's not impossible. Just remember if you dont' follow the protocol they can cancel your surgery! It is one of the first things they asked me when I went in the day of surgery. I thought I would be starving after surgery but I really didn't eat much for several days after.

Thank you all for responding and all the appreciated advice!