Is it true they have to go in and clean out your bowels before surgery?
I doubt that there's anything else you need to worry about. I've asked for more information on the post you mentioned, since I've never heard of any additional "cleaning out" needing to be done after the pre-surgery diet. If there is anything additional that needs to be done, it's definitely done once you're under the anesthesia, so it's nothing to be concerned about at any rate. Just follow your surgeon's instructions to the letter regarding what to eat and drink before your surgery, and when, and you'll be fine.
Surgery: RNY on 12/18/2013 with Jay M. Snow, MD "Don't mistake my kindness for weakness." - Robert Herjavec, quoting Al Capone
No. They aren't operating on your bowels.
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
I only heard of it the day of my surgery. The doctor mentioned that while under he first goes in and cleans everything out before doing the procedure. Maybe not all doctors do this, but I know mine did. I am sure no doctor wants us eating steak and potatoes a few days before we go under, but I see the importance now of why they want you as emptied out as possible.
Whether your doctor does this or not, you won't be awake for it anyhow.
Robyn
HW 249 - CW 158 - GW 115 Blog: http://robynsweightlossjourney.blogspot.com/
They might be doing a gastric lavage to make sure that the stomach is empty, but even when we do colon resections, we don't go in and do enemas or any type of cleaning out. The surgeon I worked with, who did my elective colon resection, said that in many parts of Europe, they don't even do bowel preps for elective cases. The staplers do their job. That being said, I was asked the morning of my surgery if I did a prep. I suppose some doctors do it.