I don't want to do an enema....

My surgeon wanted an enema, and I talked to my pharmacist first to find out what options were available. Then I asked my surgeon's office if I could do the mag citrate instead (the generic stuff had a lemon-ginger flavour - and I compared labels....same amount and type of stuff as the unflavoured Fleet!)

Just give the surgeon's office a call, and ask for an option.

(Funnily enough, I had faxed a letter with the 3 options on it to the office - and the mag citrate, which I wanted, was #2 , and the receptionist called me back and said I could go ahead with number 2...lol....Freudian slip! )

Hi. My surgery isn't until March 20th, I am sure I will have some kind of surgery prep as well, not sure what it is yet because of the weather I haven't been able to pick up my paper work. With all that said, I can still sympathize with you as well as tell you my experience with the previous surgery prep I had to do.

I have had a few "exploritory" surgies to try to figure why I had bleeding from the rectum and so much pain...so one of the surgies was the beloved colonoscopy....oh what fun that is ! LOL With that surgery they make you drink a gallon of mix and take two pills AND do a fleet enema. The fleet enema and the mix that you have to drink will only make feel like you have to go but it isn't painful and when you do go, it is watery, after about 45 minutes you won't feel like you have to go and probably won't, you should be clean by then. But, I was given pills to take, I had heard those cause cramping...so I didn't take them. I was feeling bad enough from my pain I certainly wasn't going to knowingly add more discomfort to the mix....so I didn't take them. I know...MY BAD. The nurse asked me the day of surgery if I took the pills and I said no, she said that was ok, that usually the mixed drink and the enema was sufficient. It must have been because the doctor didn't yell at me after the surgery. LOL

So, I am not advocating to not do what your doctor tells you, I am just telling you what I did and how my experience went. I will also say this, if I go to my doctor's office to pick up my paperwork and they tell me to do the drink mix thing, the enema and the pills...I will do the drink mix and the enema but I am not doing the pills. I was totally terrified to do any of it the first time....but now I am not afraid of the mix or the enema...they weren't all that bad...certainly not what I had dreamed up in my head.

Stay calm, everything will be ok. Good Luck.

The way that I thought about it was this. Better to do the bowel prep than have the surgen nick the bowels. This thought helped me.

Hi There

Just came across your post and wanted to tell you I'm scheduled for March 31 also. They are hoping to do a LSH. Does everyone have to do an enema?
Good luck.

Hey girlfriends- waiting to go to the hospital just thought you should know....bowel prep was a piece of cake. Not really even uncomfortable. I was shocked now it is over...and off I go. Speaking of piece of cake I could sure use one now.....how bout now?


Warmest thoughts and thanks for the tips!!!!!

I was dreading the enema since I had never done one. My hubby thought it was funny. So I read through the instructions over and over (yes, all 3 steps), lol. And it turned out to be SO simple. My hubby told me that he took the mag citrate and it gave him stomach cramps. The enema was just odd to do but once I got it, it was a breeze! I only used half the liquid and it worked great.

Good luck!

Hi I don't think everyone has to da an enema. I think it depends on your doctor. I have to do both- drink the solution(forget what it's called) and later in the day do the enema. From what these wonderful ladies have said it doesn't sound to bad.

Good luck to you - it's nice to know someone else will be having the surgery on the same day. I'll be thinking of you.
Lisa