laxative

I am required to take a laxative 3 days before surgery and I've never taken one before...

I bought one the other day, but I realized it's not a "right away" kind. It takes 6-12 hours to work. I have to take it on the tuesday, and I work tuesday/wednesday.

I've got about a 12 hour window from the time I get home from work until i wake up to get ready for work. Is there a different brand I should use that will work as soon as I take it? I don't really want to miss work because it decides to work at 5am when I'm going to work...

Any advice or suggestions would be great..thanks

Can't remember the window time... but My docs required I used clear lemon flavored magnesium citrate. I had to drink one bottle 2 days before surgery and one the day before. Good luck... Laxatives are no fun.

You don't have to take a laxative, it is recommended. I did and I only had gas for 4 days. The laxative is to aid with gas relief after surgery.

The nurse recommend me to used colace you can get it on waltmart or Walgreens

I took Milk of Mag- no bad effects...worked to aid in gas.

I used Colace (it's more of a softener than a laxative) for the full week BEFORE surgery and continuously until about 2 weeks post op. Your body does strange things with anesthesia and pain meds after surgery and the more 'regular' you are before, the less discomfort after (in my opinion)

Laxatives overwork on me. I took it two days instead of the day before surgery, and only had water the day before surgery (mostly because I felt ill and thought I would throw anything up, or it would go right through me.) I had zero gas pains post surgery.

I had to drink magnesium citrate the day before surgery. I didn't have a bowel movement though. I just vomited A LOT! but on the up side it was within 30 minutes of drinking it lol