Is there anything else you can do besides an enema?

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Originally Posted by Leia L ... I wonder why some doctors have all this pre-op poo stuff and some don't have any at all. Anyone know?? Is it for planned intestinal procedures as well as hysterectomys? Mine was a planned LSH with exploration by a second surgeon for potential appendectomy (which ended up not being needed).

It has to do with what the surgeon wants, I suppose.

I am doing mine as a matter of precaution...just in case. The gyno doing mine did my 2nd c-section and dealt with a LOT of adhesion (right ovary was stuck to my uterus). Because he had my surgery reports to go back through. Because I've had a previous laparoscopic surgery through the belly button...because the ultrasounds indicated that my right ovary might be stuck again....The chances are there is an increased amount of adhesion from what he saw previously. He's even going in under my ribcage with a scope to balloon the site and look to see where to make his other incisions so he can do them safely, he's afraid my intestines might be involved the adhesion and other things because of where the tearing pain is.

He wants my bowels clean so IF while doing his thing they get nicked or anything of the sorts I'll have a clean bowel to stitch back up with much lower risks.

So for me in particular, it is a precautionary thing...not because I doubt his ability but because there are too many what ifs...so...we're going in prepared and praying for the best.

I get to do a complete bowel prep...laxatives, drinking the magic stuff, clear fluids...I've got my hem creams ready to go thanks to my primary doctor who was kind enough to write me a Rx for it when I was getting my diagnosis for bronchitis this week.

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Originally Posted by Weiser Your doctor is going to proceed with your surgery as if you had followed the pre op orders to the "T." You can cause life threatening issues if you do not follow your doctor's orders and your surgery proceeds. If you are questioned--and you should be--and you didn't follow all the instructions exactly, your surgery could be canceled for your safety.

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Originally Posted by 4guysandme ....He wants my bowels clean so IF while doing his thing they get nicked or anything of the sorts I'll have a clean bowel to stitch back up with much lower risks.

THANK you both for explaining that!!! I have been wondering for weeks why doc's were doing that and it makes perfect sense. Thanks girls!

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Originally Posted by kennerchick Thanks a friend just asked me if it was a drink or up the butt enema. Now would it make a difference if I got the drink if I could find it? As long as the bowels are empty? I wish I would have been able to speak to someone there, but all I got was an answering machine and there is no way I am going to ask my husband to help me with an enema on his 30 minute lunch break. So if I can do it on my own, how do you do that? I'm really uncomfortable putting anything in that area that should be! Not to mention like I said before, bad experience with an enema when I had my child 28 yrs ago

An enema is always "up the butt." Anything else is a laxative. As far as doing it yourself, you can lightly lube the tip of the bottle and just patiently and gently insert it. The Fleet enema is only about 5 oz and doesn't take long for you to use. It took me a few minutes to gently squeeze the bottle and empty it (it can't flow back into the bottle as it is a one-way valve) and within about 2-3 minutes I had a BM. The package comes with directions and diagrams. Just be patient and try to relax.