Loop Ileostomy Pre-Op: Is Bowel Irrigation Needed if Not Fully Clear?

As expected, my surgeon has advised me to do a bowel prep before my loop ileostomy surgery. I've tried nearly everything available in the past, but it usually just results in some oily mucus-like diarrhea. My question is: if I'm not fully “cleaned out,” will they irrigate my colon during the procedure? I know this is a question that should be discussed with my surgeon, but I'm curious if anyone else has experienced this issue before their surgery.

Hi,

I had loop ileostomy surgery last month. After the surgery, my surgeon told me that I had some stool in my J-pouch. It didn't affect the surgery; he said everything went well.

Yes. If you aren't clean enough down there, they prep you. Don't worry about it. You may not even need irrigation.

Hello,

I had emergency exploratory surgery. No prep, no ostomy location marking. I didn't even fill out consent paperwork.

Surgery was long, but successful. Reading my post-surgical report, lots of stool was cleaned out by the surgeon.

I am a bit confused... When you're cleaning out your system and take a bowel prep, which your doctor should have given you, you will have diarrhea. You're supposed to; it's breaking it up and clearing you out.

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I have colon inertia and colon motility issues. When I take laxatives of any sort, they usually don’t produce a lot of stool or any at all. 

Before my colonoscopy surgery, I did a bowel prep that failed. I had active diarrhea at the time I was being prepped for surgery. I was terrified that they would postpone the surgery. But the surgeon told me it would be OK and they proceeded with the surgery. Do the best you can; it will be fine.

I understand that one all too well; I have been there. The best advice is to take the prep they told you about or gave you, and take your prep earlier than what they say, and drink lots of water with it. Whatever your body will allow in this situation comes out. Did they give you a prep? In this case, it should have been this gallon you pick up from the pharmacy.

I have prep instructions that don’t require a prescription for the polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based laxative. My plan includes Gatorade, Miralax, and Dulcolax, which I already have on hand.

I intended to start earlier than advised, as you suggested. Since I'm not currently eating many hard-to-digest foods, I anticipate that the cleanout will be easier.

That's the prep I used when it failed. Definitely start early. Good luck.