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Colon Surgery Prep Instructions
**PLEASE READ THIS AT LEAST ONE WEEK PRIOR TO YOUR
PROCEDURE**
Call our office at 781-729-2020 if you have any questions.
PROCEDURE
You are scheduled to have surgery on your lower gastrointestinal tract
(colon or rectum). Since the colon is filled with bacteria, it is helpful to
clean it out and decrease the number of bacteria in order to help prevent
infection.
Pre-Procedure Instruction for Colon Surgery: MIRALAX PREP
Five (5) days before your procedure:
•
Purchase an 8.3 ounce (238 grams) bottle of Miralax. Also purchase
Dulcolax Tablets (Bisacodyl). You will only need four of these and they
come in a package of 10.
•
•
Purchase 64 ounces of a clear liquid i.e. Gatorade, Powerade, Vitamin
Water, or Crystal Lite (not purple or red) to mix Miralax in. You may
also use water.
You will be given a prescription for antibiotics to take the day before
the surgery. These will be sent electronically to your pharmacy.
Please pick up the antibiotics today.
Two (2) days before the procedure:
•
•
If you are usually constipated or sometimes use a laxative, take two
tablespoons of Milk of Magnesia at 8:00pm.
Mix the entire 8.3 ounce bottle of Miralax with 2 quarts (64 ounces)
of water or your clear liquid of choice and refrigerate it.
The Day before your Procedure:
•
•
•
•
Begin a CLEAR LIQUID DIET at lunch (you can eat a regular
breakfast) and continue this diet until midnight. Do not eat or drink
anything after midnight. A clear liquid diet includes water, tea,
black coffee, clear broth, apple juice, white grape juice, Gatorade,
soda, and Jell-O. Avoid sugar free drinks. All patients, including
those with diabetes, should be sure to get enough sugar during this
time.
Early afternoon (by at least 3pm), take two of the Dulcolax tablets by
mouth with a glass of water. If you do not have a bowel movement
within two hours of taking the Dulcolax, take another two tablets of
Dulcolax.
Approximately 2 to 3 hours after taking the first dose of Dulcolax,
begin taking the Miralax drink. Try to drink an 8 ounce glass every
15 to 30 minutes until the entire 64 ounces is finished. Do not eat or
drink anything after midnight.
Take the antibiotics as prescribed. You will have 2 different
antibiotics to take, 3 doses of each (at 1pm, 3pm and 7pm). If you
have had any problems with these antibiotics before, please call our
office.
HINTS:
• Most patients find the solution is easier to drink when chilled.
• Drink through a straw; rinse mouth with clear liquid between glasses,
use sugar-free candy or ice pops between glasses.
• If you have severe discomfort or distention (bloating), stop drinking
the solution for a while or wait longer between each glass until the
discomfort goes away.
• If you feel nauseous, a glass of water or ginger ale may help settle
your stomach. Wait a while and continue with the prep.
• Use moist baby wipes instead of toilet paper.
Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.