Can someone please share the preparation for this surgery especially the day before. I'm wondering if you have to clean out your colon, etc. I'm so scared but I know I have to do this. Thanks.
Hi nobody said to me about emptying my tummy ,but I made sure I went to loo day before because I didt want t straight after op ,so think it would help . Don't be scared the Dr,s and nurse will look after you just remember to do what your told and rest ,good luck x
I didn't but if you suffer from constipation I would advise using a stool softener for a few days before and you may need it a couple of days after till thing start working properly. I have Crohn's disease so for once it worked in my favour and I had no problems !! Good luck
the bowel preparation is usually before a bowel prolapse
I agree but the last thing you want is feeling like you need to strain after surgery
I was the told not to eat anything solid the day before my surgery an to add miralax to my drink the day before an to do a enema the morning on the day of my surgery but I had rectocele sugery it might have been because alot of my surgery involved my rectum it wasnt bad you can't even taste the miralax but I was hungry the morning after surgery dont worry everything will be fine good luck on your surgery
Dear Frances13101,
I didn't have surgery for bladder problems - I had bowel problems so my vaginal surgery was posterier. However, some of this may apply... Unless your surgeon gives you specific instructions, you probably do not need to do a bowel cleanse. I wondered about that myself and asked - they said it was not needed. Relief. It would be the same prep as for a colonoscopy, I suppose. But again, check with your surgeon or his/her nurse. Also ask if you need anything special for after the surgery. I needed a lot of ice packs - to put them on externally. Also I was told to do baths in Epsom salts, so you may want to have some on hand. Baby wipes are helpful.
But again, please consult your surgeon or his/her staff. I didn't know about the after-care needs.
As long as you aren't constipated you will be ok. If your surgeon wants you to have a bowel preparation he'll prescribe one but as someone who was a ward sister on a gynaecology ward I know there is no need for any prescribed bowel preparation prior to a bladder repair. If you were constipated you would be given a small enema in hospital.
Thank you!
I was told about a stool softener for after the surgery but it probably won't hurt anything to do it a few days before too. I don't really suffer from constipation. Thanks!
Thank you!
Thank you!
That's the other thing I was wondering about is what do you eat the day before? Thank you!
Thank you very much, this is very helpful!
Eat normally. There's no reason why you can't. You'll be told by the hospital staff when you are nil by mouth.
Another note - Even if you don't need to cleanse your colon before surgery buy some Miralax. You might use it before surgery to make sure things are moving smoothly and then if you need it you might start taking it right after surgery, too. I didn't have a bowel movement for 5 days after surgery (I don't know why - it's not usually a problem for me) and it hurt quite a bit. Well, more than quite a bit. I took enough Miralax over several days (as well as stool softeners and fiber drink).that I finally had relief.
I guess surgeons have different approaches - even though I had rectocele surgery I had no prep whatsoever. So ask your surgeon.
I didn't either but that was 5 years ago. A friend had a rectocele repaired last year and had to take Movicol for 2 weeks before her operation.
My surgery was at the end of December 2014. No bowel prep. In fact the doctor said something like "I'm not even going to need to go in there".
That's so true Raesue. Gone are the days when every patient had to have an enema before surgery and I mean any surgery. Even if you were having an ear, nose or throat operation. It became an obsession which thankfully doesn't happen any more.