Bowel Prep Instructions/Colon Rectal Surgery
Do not take any products containing Aspirin for 7 days prior to your surgery. If you are on blood thinners such as Plavix (Clopidogrel) or Coumadin (Warfarin) or one of the newer alternatives, please let Dr. Aquino know so you may be given special instructions. If you are unsure whether or not to take a particular medication, please ask.
Do not take any diet medications or recreational drugs for two weeks before your colonoscopy.
Colon Rectal surgery preparation kit:
a. 3 bottles of Magnesium Citrate (300cc or 10 oz. each)
b. 2 Dulcolax tablets
c. Flagyl/Metronidazole (3 pills, 500 mg each)
d. Neomycin (3 pills, 1 gram each)
e. 1 Fleet Enema (green and white box)
The day before surgery:
White toast and butter with 2+ plain eggs for breakfast.
Clear liquid diet for the rest of the day before surgery.
It is important not to let yourself get dehydrated during this period, so drink at least a glass of clear juice/water every hour until 2 hours before the procedure.
The Flagyl/Metronidazole and Neomycin tablets are to be taken every 8 hours for 3 doses, starting at 8 am (then 2 pm and 10 pm) the day before the surgery. You will take one tablet of each for every dose.
At noon the day before the surgery take the 2 Dulcolax tablets.
At 2:00 PM, drink the contents (300cc) of the first bottle of Magnesium Citrate followed by a glass of juice. Repeat this at 4:00 PM.
If you normally tend to be very constipated, you may need to drink an additional bottle of Magnesium Citrate 2 hours after the first one to clean you out. You will know this if your bowel movements still have a lot of solid content.
TIP: using A&D ointment, Vaseline or diaper rash ointment between bowel movements will help prevent anal irritation. You may also use baby wipes in place of toilet tissue.
You may have clear liquids until 2 hours before your procedure. I like you to "carb load" with fluids that contain sugar and electrolytes (Gatorade). You may brush your teeth in the morning and take your usual medication with a sip of water.
On the morning of the procedure, administer the Fleet enema rectally 30-45 minutes before leaving your home or hotel.
Report to the hospital where your surgery is scheduled about an hour before the start time.
