Ileostomy Bowel Prep

[guest78]

Hi Guys,
I am booked in for an ileostomy in a few months, and am just wondering what the bowel prep consist of? How long before the surgery do you have to be in hospital? How long are you in hospital for afterwards?
I am also really nervous about the catheter!
I have terrible anxiety about the unexpected and am really worried.
xx

 

[superzeeman]

I had resection with an illeostomy and was not given any instructions for a prep. They did have me restrict my diet 2 days before surgery but no prep like I expected. I found it strange to do a resection with the risk of having stool coming out. I do know from looking at the hospital bills they used gallons of saline to wash me out so maybe that is the cleanout

 

[2thFairy]

Some surgeons require prep and some don't... it's weird. I did do a prep before colectomy and it was the same prep as for a colonoscopy: Drink the nasty crap and then crap it out for 6 hours.

 

[Jim (POPS)]

Hi there.I didn't do a prep for my ilyostomy. Just no eating for a day and a half.

Don't worry about the operation. I know, the unknown is something that bothered me also but you will be fine. After mine I could eat anything and everything. I kinda wish I didn't have a reversal a bit. But thats that. Is your ilyostomy going to be a lifer? My wife has one and she is so glad that she had it done. She was worried like you are but she can eat anything and do anything now and has got on with her life and she is so glad.

I hope and pray that everything goes well for you. Please keep all of us up to date and make sure to take a laptop to the hospital with you. I did and it was great to chat in the chatroom here when you are in the hospital.

Jim Pops

 

[guest78]

Hey guys.
Thanks so much for replying, I really appreciate it.
And you have put my mind at rest.
I was terrified of having an enema as due to having a perianal flare it was agony and I found the whole process quite traumatic along with the flexi itself.
I am also having a colonoscopy in the next few weeks.
Have any of you had a small bowel MRI? I'm due one of them too!
And been told they no longer do a barium meal? :/
Not sure what to expect!
X

 

[2thFairy]

Okay, I just read one of your other posts where you mentioned ileostomy for bowel rest, so I am guessing you are not having anything removed, i.e., resection or other, right? In that case, I suspect you will not be required to do a bowel prep other than restricted diet like superzeeman and Jim mentioned. Your small intestines don't retain food like your colon does, so usually dietary changes or an all-liquid diet the day before the surgery are enough to have the small bowel sufficiently clear for ileostomy surgery.

 

[2thFairy]

I had a small bowel MRI and drank a couple of quarts of barium beforehand. It was nasty, but tolerable. Not sure what you may or may not be required to do for your particular test, however.

 

[guest78]

Ah thanks so much! That is a weight off my mind! It's silly that out of the whole process of having this done I am concerned about the bowel prep! Ha
I'm going to email my dr regarding the small bowel MRI, to get a clearer picture of what that involves,
Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate it.
Xxx

 

[annawato]

Haha, I don't think its strange to be worried about the bowel prep. Its the most godawful thing ever invented. First you have to drink or gag down gallons of stuff then you spend the next 6 hours getting rid of it.
I've never had bowel prep for any of my resections or for the two ileostomys i've had.
I've also had literally hundreds of MRI's in the last 10 years (can you see me glowing from there?) and sometimes you have to drink a drink thats not too bad and other times they just inject you with the stuff that makes you feel all warm and as if you are wetting your pants. MRI's aren't scary, Its catscans that are awful, even if you aren't claustrophobic!
But all of them are bearable, just remember they don't last too long and if they do freak you out practice some relaxation or take your mind to someplace you feel happy and peaceful.
good luck with the colonoscopy, MRI and ileostomy surgery.