Question About Enema

Hi, there!

This is my first forum post (outside of introducing myself). Currently the only question I have is how to get out of having the enema I'm supposed to do at home the night before. I'm of a size that I can't do this myself, so hubby will have to help.

I have some issues regarding enemas that date back to childhood. Anyway it's always traumatic for me. I suggested to my doctor's office having 2 days of clear liquid diet (I'd even go 3 and at my weight that's a real sacrifice) rather than submit to the enema. His staff said, no I've got to do it.

Now, I realize it's for safety's sake that this is supposed to be done. After all abdominal surgeries have great potential for infection. Although I understand this intellectually, I still want to avoid it. Maybe I should talk to the doctor directly.

Any thoughts or suggestions?
Or will have I have submit?

Thank you for your responses. I appreciate it.

HI Gratitude

I have to do the soda & enema as well. Spoke to my Dr about it as I am supposed to do it 2 hrs before going to castle which is scheduled for 5:30am & it's a good 40 minutes to castle. Well, as you probably know enemas & 40 minute drive isn't going to work. Only thing my Dr said is that she understands the issue (time & travel - yeah like getting up at 3:30am to do an enema is going to be good) but just said she prefers it &* "do the best you can" So I am taking that as doing the soda & then the enema at slightly different schedule then standard orders. Have yet to figure out but will be Monday night. Thursday is my DAY BTW, I will in no way have anyone help with enema - personal issues as well. Good luck - oh & ask to speak to your doctor not the nurses - you might be surprised. If they ask what you need to discuss with him/her, tell them you need to have personal chat regarding the surgery. You are not required to only talk to staff.

Best of everything
Endocat

Hi Gratitude,

to hystersisters.

Go ahead and explain to your Dr what your concerns are, but he probably has a very good reason for ordering the enema. I don't know if he can offer you any alternatives, but if it is going to be traumatic for you then you should let him know. Maybe he can give you something to help calm you the day before.

Endocat, In my experience, if my Dr says she "prefers" I do something a certain way, then she means that is the way she wants me to do it. You might want to let your Dr know that you plan to use the enema the night before and see what she says. Some women have had their surgeries cancelled by not following the Dr's orders specifically.

s,
Kay

Dear Gratitude, you should definitely check things out with your doc - but also consider (and mention to him/her) drinking a bottle or 2 of magnesium citrate as an alternative. I had to do this as a "bowel" prep prior to my hysterectomy and it cleaned me out VERY well. Good luck!!!

if you explain to your dr how much this will bother you, maybe he will substitute the magnesium citrate for it. my bowel prep was to drink one bottle and i was completely cleaned out. i didnt have to do an enema. good luck!!

Yeah, add me to the list of the gals who had to just use the mag citrate. Two bottles. It cleaned me out completely. I remember, two days before my surgery I asked the nurse about having an enema, and she said, 'heavens no! You will be cleaned out fine after the fleet sodas, there is no need.' It is weird how different docs have you do different things.

In the case I was remiss - I also have to do a bottle of the Phospho-Soda.

I'd personally talk to your doc and lay it on the line, perhaps he can come up with another solution. For me I had to do a semi bowel prep which didn't work so I had to do an enema. I gave it to myself and the disposable ones aren't that bad at all, just a lot of cramping which eventually passed, much better than one I had many years ago in the hospital where they used soap water! Good luck!

I had a day of bland/light eating, a day of clear liquids only, then around noon that afternoon I had to drink that stuff and at 8 that night do the enema... I wasn't thrilled and by that night there wasn't much left in me, but my doc explained that the reason was the fibroid he was removing was so large and I had asked that he refrain from cutting stomach muscle as much as possible... so he had very little room to work in... he wanted the intestines as flat as possible. Didn't have as much to do with infection as that. All that being said, they also offered the possibility of me getting there really early and having a nurse do the enema..... Definitely not fun, and I think having to worry about that as well as the surgery would have put me over the edge, but definitely discuss it directly with the doctor rather than the nurses. Many times they just follow the routine, and your doctor would be able to explain why you're having to do it... and would probably want to know if you have this past trauma to deal with as well. Best of luck however it works out!

I'm ALSO supposed to do the enema at 6:00 p.m. the evening before AND drink 2 bottles of Magnesium Citrate, one at 1:00 p.m. and the other at 5:00 pm the day before surgery.