Can't handle the Magnesium citrate drink. Doc said just take any OTC laxative. What the heck?

Tomorrow is the big day and I have been stressing out most of the day. It was 5 hours after I first called the center (Kane Center) that I got a call back. I threw up the first sip of magnesium of citrate for prep. I knew I would. And no one was calling me back. I get it was the first day back that they were in the office since the holiday but I was supposed to start this at 10am! It is now 4pm and I am taking my first 2 Phillips (it was the only pill form I saw with the word magnesium in it). So any sleeved people have this problem. How many of these pills should I be taking. They aren't doing anything to my butt area so why all this prep? And then on top of it my husband asked if he could have a pizza in front of me tonight. I told him to go for it, I'll be on the toilet anyway. Tell me this gets better after surgery!! :mad:

Not at first, the first week is hell for most but everyday it gets better! Your husband needs to be a little more supportive or it will make it harder on you. You will not be able to have pizza for months after surgery and eating it infront of you will just be upsetting! Can he not eat that kind of stuff while at work or any other time you are not around to see it or smell it? Just hang in there, it does get better in time!

LindaC, Awww I feel for you honey! I really do. I have surgery tomorrow also. I am supposed to do my magnesium drink at 4pm today, then a second bottle at 6pm. I don't know if I can do it. AND to top it off I am supposed to give myself an enema before bed. That is when I really said "WHHHHAAAAT WHAT WHAT???" haha. A friend of mine wanted to visit tonite and I cancelled and told her I would be on the toilet all nite. And everyone says it gets better after surgery. I guess they just want us to start with clean bowels and flush everything from our stomach and intestines. Best wishes for tomorrow, I will let you know later how I do with the drink. My contact at my Dr office called it a soda. she said drink your soda at 4 and 6. I was excited for a second. Soda SCHmoda!

Thanks, and good luck Vleigh. I feel so gross today. And thanks to giving birth naturally to my twins 18 years ago, i have to deal with the painful third child named hemorrhoid that I am dealing with today also. oweee! :+)

I used laxatives...quicker and no bad taste. Dulcolax tends to work fastest.

I bought the grape flavored magnesium citrate, Walgreen's brand. Not gonna say it was good, but certainly wasn't horrible. Maybe Milk of Mag? It doesn't taste good either, but it's only an ounce. Good luck.

Now I'm stressing out about how much I should be pooping out. This isn't supposed to be like prepping for a colonoscopy right? Because I've only gone 3 times in 2.5 hours. Sorry to be gross, just don't want to postpone surgery for any reason that is my fault.

LindaC, Well Its almost 11pm and 2 bottles of Magnesium Citrate down. I plugged my nose a pounded them. And followed by a bottle of water, I got nothin except a bloated stomach and lots of grumbles. I'm with you when you say I cant have surgery cancelled because of something beyond my control. I guess I will be up a while tonite. I can sleep tomorrow.

Hey ladies! I know its a little late but for other who may read this...I bought the lemon flavored MC and mixed it with Sprite. It took me about an hour to drink but it was so much easier to drink than to drink it straight. It also cleaned me out! Good Luck to ya!

I chugged mine and it was awful but I kept ti down. they say to start with it about 4, but with previous experience i knew to start by noon or earlier. I just didnt eat anything after. I do appreciate the fact the they only tell you to do this RIGHT before you have to go to the hospital. jeez!
Im not real sure what the point of it is except maybe they dont want an "accident" during surgery? we are pretty relaxed. I havent heard of anybody's surgery being held up because of that. only bc of not losing enough preop. I just wonder why they expect us to have a BM before we leave if we come in empty and can only have liquids after.
btw, its not a good idea to use this after the surgery. I used to do it occasionally bc I get pretty constipated and need a good cleanse. so last month I decided it was time for a 'treatment'. of course I didnt use as much but it wasnt the amount, it was the effect. I was so sick and dizzy and miserable and never got enough in to really help anyway. I actually kinda knew better but was in dire need and thought I could tough it out. I was mistaken.

I wasn't required to do this - they aren't operating on the intestines so surgeon said not needed. I am glad for me, sorry you are having to deal with this, but just like the rest of it, will be over soon!

I also had to drink that nasty stuff the day before surgery! Talk about gross. I held my nose, took advantage of my last day I could use straws and chugged it down. It took about 4 hours to kick in but when it did...it did!

Hope everything went well for you!

Hello everyone,

Very sorry for just logging on, as my surgeon had a much better approach to "cleaning out" they system. It won't help you, but maybe it can assist someone else.

You buy a 64 oz bottle of Gaterade or Powerade, and one bottle of Mirulax (the 938 g bottle), and 4 Dulcolax pills (or the smallest box).
Prepare mixing the entire bottle of the Mirulax into the Gaterade or Powerade ahead of time.
Take 2 Dulcolax at 3pm.
At 5pm or 6pm (your choice) start drinking 8oz increments of the drink mixture, every 15 minutes (should take you two hours to complete the 64 oz bottle).
At 8 pm take two more Dulcolax.

It's a very gentle on the stomach process (even though it doesn't sound like it). NO cramping at all.
By 7 pm - you WILL be "moving".
By 10 pm - you will be (or should be) releasing clear fluid out of the rear [sorry for the graphic visual].

Toodles...

My Dr. said we didn't have to do a clean out of down below as they don't operate any where near that area.
Julie