Surgery Prep with Ileostomy

I'm having hernia repair surgery in January, and the surgeon's office has given me the standard prep instructions with laxative and enema. I told them that I have no large intestine, but the PA said the prep should be the same. I disagree and was hoping that someone who has had surgery after an existing ileostomy can tell me what prep they used. Thanks!

What do you disagree about? Seems logical to me to have your insides all cleaned out before surgery. I guess the enema part is kind of confusing since there shouldn't be anything in that area anyway. Did they prescribe the magnesium citrate to clean your system out?

Doing enemas and laxatives when I don't have a large intestine is unnecessary. If I don't eat anything and drink clear fluids the day before, my small intestine will be empty as my transit time for food to go through me is 4-5 hours. The prep will only dehydrate me.

Ok. However, not everything comes out each time. A person may think it does, but little bits will still be in there. So, they give you the stuff to finish cleaning you out, just like a colonoscopy. You won't get dehydrated in that short amount of time; it's not like you're cleaning yourself out a week in advance.

Can only speak from my own experience and what I've been told. It's dangerous to take prep with an ileostomy as you will dehydrate very quickly. You should be in the hospital if taken on a saline drip. I've had lots of surgery and never needed to take it. As you say, 4-5 hours without food and can usually drink water until 2 hours before surgery. I would double-check and ask them to speak to your surgeon. They quite often don't look at your notes properly and give advice out for a colostomy instead of an ileostomy, which is very wrong as in this case it makes a big difference in our care and treatment.

Tips on Hernia Prevention with Collin | Hollister

Thanks, I agree. I've contacted my surgeon's PA and asked her to plead my case with the surgeon. Fingers crossed!!

Definitely not, the same happened to me for a stoma redo. You have been given the generic form prior to surgery. My surgeon confirmed this was an error at the time; there is no prep needed other than the usual fasting.

ooh hot topic. u stand firm

ilioc.

like axl said. don't be a victim of their ignorance. stupid "professionals". 

THEY DONT READ YOUR FILE AND APPROACH YOU NOT KNOWING YOU AT ALL.

Screw that PA. Talk directly above her. Tell the surgeon about the PA's stupidity and how anxious and apprehensive that PA made you feel.

Go to the horse's mouth, not the horse's ass..😋

That's how I roll. Leave a stink bomb and advocate for yourself firmly.

Same with me. Speaking from experience, I don't have a large intestine either, and I didn't have to do any prep. It was clear liquids the day before surgery and nothing after midnight.

With no colon, I was the same as Beth… clear liquids the day before surgery… nothing to eat/drink after midnight. Good call on contacting the surgeon's PA. You're your own best advocate.