Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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PICOLAX is a concentrated preparation: 2 sachets are supplied in a packet. |
Although the product leaflet may advise otherwise, please ensure you finish the dose of prescribed bowel preparation.
You will need to alter your diet and take specific preparations for a few days before the procedure. These changes are explained in this leaflet.
You must avoid any seeds, or bread containing seeds, for at least 48 hours before the procedure.
Preparation: Seven days before your Surgery:
- Stop taking any medicines that contain iron.
- Three days before your Surgery: Stop taking any medicines that contain codeine phosphate.
- Stop taking Loperamide/Lolotil or any other antidiarrhoeal medication.
Two days before your Surgery:
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Do not eat foods containing fibre such as pulses, lentils, brown rice, brown pasta, brown/wholemeal bread, high fibre breakfast cereals, fruits, vegetables, milk yoghurt, and milkshakes.
- Recommended diet would be lean beef/lamb/pork, fish, poultry, eggs, white rice/pasta/bread, rich tea or other plain biscuits, butter/margarine, cheese, baked/boiled/mashed potatoes without skins, soya and tofu.
On the day before your Surgery
- You will need to start taking your bowel preparation the day before your procedure. Once you have started your prep, you must not take any solid food and must only drink clear fluids. The preparation usually starts to work soon after starting, so you should be within easy reach of a toilet.
- Drink plenty of fluids: aim for two litres (about eight to ten glasses) per day. This can include clear soups (Bovril, stock cubes), lemonade, black tea, black coffee, fruit tea and clear fruit juices. Examples of clear fruit juices include white grape and apple.
- Do not drink red juices, juices with bits, hot chocolate, Horlicks, cordial or tea/coffee with milk.
- You may flavour your prep with fruit squash/cordial to taste. You may wish to drink the prep through a straw. At the end of the prep you should be passing yellowish watery diarrhoea.
Oral antibiotics take a day before surgery with the bowel preparation
| Metronidazole 400mg | Take at 3pm 4pm 10pm |
| Neomycin 1g | Take at 3pm 4pm 10pm |
| For 7.30 admission | For 12 noon Admission |
|
The day before the surgery, Start your bowel prep at 8am |
The day before the surgery, start prep after 12 noon |
| PICOLAX: 1 sachet in 250mls water, followed by 2 litres clear fluids. Try to drink between 250-500mls fluid per hour over 4 hrs. | PICOLAX: 1 sachet in 250mls water, followed by 2 litres clear fluids. Try to drink between 250-500mls fluid per hour over 4 hrs. |
| Repeat the bowel prep at 4.00pm | On the morning of surgery repeat the bowel prep from 8.00am. |
| PICOLAX: 2nd sachet in 250mls water, followed by 2 litres clear fluids. Try to drink between 250-500mls fluid per hour over 4 hrs. | PICOLAX: 2nd sachet in 250mls water, followed by 2 litres clear fluids. Try to drink between 250-500mls fluid per hour over 4 hrs. |
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us on 0300 615 3936 between 8am and 1pm, Monday – Friday.
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the General surgery service.
About this information
Service:
General surgery
Reference:
H/072
Approval date:
1 February 2022
Review date:
1 February 2025
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.