Take a mild laxative the night before surgery such as 2 Tbsp. milk of magnesia or 2 Senekot tablets.
You can increase your carb intake by consuming high-fiber foods like whole grains and legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas, soybeans), which can also prevent constipation.
Clean out your bowel before surgery
To do this, you will need to drink a special liquid, called a colon lavage solution, the day before your operation. At the appointment before your surgery, your doctor will e-scribe a prescription directly to your pharmacy. This prescription should be picked up from your pharmacy.
Before your surgery, go to a pharmacy and obtain two bottles of Magnesium Citrate and one Fleet's enema. You do not need a prescription and can buy these products in the laxative section of any drugstore.
You should also have a good bowel movement the day before surgery. To ensure that you do, you can use a fleet enema or a mild laxative. This will help reduce postoperative gas and intestinal discomfort.
Narcotic pain medication can cause constipation in some patients. You may take a stool softener such as Colace to help prevent constipation. You will experience postoperative pain and this is normal.
Anesthesia paralyzes your muscles. This stops movement in the intestinal tract. Until your intestines "wake up," there is no movement of stool.
Avoiding Constipation: You may start a stool softener 2 days before surgery (Docusate 100mg, 1 pill twice daily) and continue it twice daily until you have a normal bowel movement or while you are taking narcotic pain medication. Stop the stool softener if you start to experience loose or watery stools.
6:00 pm Take 2 Dulcolax tablets by mouth. Between 6:00 pm and 10: 00 pm drink at least 4 glasses of clear liquids.
After you eat, it takes about six to eight hours for food to pass through your stomach and small intestine. Food then enters your large intestine (colon) for further digestion, absorption of water and, finally, elimination of undigested food. It takes about 36 hours for food to move through the entire colon.
Increase fiber intake through whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids. Use natural laxatives like herbal teas, aloe vera, and fermented foods. Try a saltwater flush or colonic irrigation under the guidance of a medical professional.
A day or two before surgery, your doctor may have you stop eating and have you drink only clear liquids. You may take laxatives to clean out your bowels. You also may take an enema. Your doctor will tell you how to do this.
The best meals before surgery will include a balance of lean protein, unprocessed carbohydrates, vegetables, and healthy (mainly plant-based) fats. Lean protein sources could include eggs, chicken, and fish. You can add a range of healthy carbohydrates like bananas, buckwheat, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and more.
Do NOT take Metamucil, Citrucel or other Fiber Supplements the day before or the day of surgery.
Why does anesthesia cause constipation? Constipation after surgery is caused by a combination of factors. General anesthesia slows down your digestive system, and the slower it is, the harder your stool. You may be given other medications during surgery that also slow your gut.
Eat high-fiber foods such as whole-wheat grains, fresh vegetables, and beans. Use products containing psyllium, such as Metamucil, to add bulk to the stools. Try to drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid a day (unless you have a medical condition that requires you to restrict your fluid intake).
Anesthesia won't make you confess your deepest secrets
It's normal to feel relaxed while receiving anesthesia, but most people don't say anything unusual. Rest assured, even if you do say something you wouldn't normally say while you are under sedation, Dr. Meisinger says, “it's always kept within the operating room.
The process of waking up from anesthesia is known as emergence. During emergence, the anesthesiologist will slowly reduce the amount of anesthetic drugs in the body. This helps to reduce the intensity of the effects of anesthesia and allows the patient to regain consciousness.
Failure to arouse and delayed awakening are the most common early neurologic problems following general anesthesia. True prolonged postoperative coma is relatively uncommon, with estimates ranging from 0.005 to 0.08 percent following general surgery, but with higher rates reported after cardiac surgery.