GoLYTELY for Hysterectomy?

Question

My mother's having a hysterectomy tomorrow and she was prescribed Golytely which is supposed to be for Colonoscopy and/or barium e***a X-ray examination. I want to know if it is ok for someone who's having a Hysterectomy to be prescribed with Golytely.

Was the doctor mistaken and will perform a colonoscopy instead of a hysterectomy?

Answer 1

I had a hysterectomy about a year ago.  The doctor made me take a laxative and also do an e***a the night before.  Alot of times they want you to be totally cleaned out or as much as possible for surgery.  So you won't have problems with constipation.  Most people after a surgery will become constipated.  So this may be the reason why the doctor prescribed it.  I would make sure when you arrive at the hospital that they are going to do a hysterectomy on her.  They usually will ask you about 3 times we are going to do _____ kind of  surgery on you right?  It keeps them from doing the wrong kind.  If they don't then please tell every nurse that talks to you that she is having an hysterectomy.  Good Luck!!  You will feel so much better a few months after your hysterectomy.  

Answer 2

No it is not a mistake. Surgeons prescribe it before a hysterectomy on a regular basis. It is easier to perform abdominal surgery when the colon is empty. A full colon tends to get in the way. Also, suppose the colon is accidentally knicked during the surgery. You wouldn't want stool spilling out into the abdominal cavity. That can cause sepsis, or systemic poisoning. It is difficult to repair a knick in the colon if it is full of you-know-what also.  

Answer 3

No, they are likely going to do the right operation.  Its used to empty her out before the operation - some doctors prefer to do that before a hysterectomy as well.  

How is she taking the idea of having the hysterectomy?  It can be a stressfull time.  If she, or you, want to talk about it to try and calm down a bit, feel free to pop me a message on yahoo messenger - jasmith001.

Answer 4

I'm not exactly sure what Golytely is, but I have had a hysterectomy.  The night before my hysterectomy, I had similar directions to what my husband had to do before he had a colonoscopy.  My doctor explained that the e***a was important because it would prevent me from messing the table as he was in there.  He says that the prep is similar to colonoscopy because a full bowel can (1) make it difficult to get to the parts he needs to get to and (2) the bowel could empty itself when it's getting moved around from the inside.

The doctor was not mistaken.  Besides, when you have surgery, you are verified through several nurses.  It's their job to ask you what surgery you're having and why - over and over and over again.  

She's fine... and she's going to love life without her uterus!  =)

Answer 5

No, he was not mistaken. A bowel prep is used for many other abdominal surgeries, including hysterectomy. Because of the prep, the bowel will be completely empty and easier to move away from the area of surgery, and also, God forbid, if there is any accidental perforation then there will not be a serious spill of fecal material into the abdomen, which could lead to infection.

I am scheduled for a hyster in October, and was told I would have to undergo the same kind of prep.

Good luck to your Mom.