How to take bowel prep for your gynaecological cancer surgery
This page gives you instructions about how and when to start taking bowel prep before your gynaecological surgery.
How to take the bowel prep
Your bowel needs to be as empty as possible before your surgery. Please follow the instructions below.
7 days before the operation
If you are diabetic, taking any medication that thins your blood or you are not sure how to take your medication before surgery, please contact the Gynaecological Clinical Nurse Specialist on the number at the end of this page.
Stop taking any of the following medication:
- Imodium® (loperamide)
- Codeine phosphate
- Lomotil® (co-phenotrope)
- Iron tablets (ferrous sulphate, ferrous fumarate)
- Fybogel® (ispaghula husk)
You should continue to take all of your other medications, including medications for your heart and blood pressure. This will have been discussed with you in the pre-assessment clinic.
If you are not sure or you have any questions, please contact your Gynaecological Clinical Nurse Specialist on number at the end of this page.
2 days before your operation
Begin a low fibre diet. Listed below are the foods which we would prefer you to eat:
- Eggs – boiled or poached
- White fish
- Chicken
- Lean meat, for example beef, lamb, veal or ham
- Gravy using stock cubes (white flour or corn flour to thicken)
- White bread or rolls (avoid bread that has seeds in)
- Potatoes – boiled or mashed (avoid the potato skins)
- Pasta/noodles
- White rice
- Butter/margarine – use sparingly
- Jelly (avoid jelly that is red in colour)
- Sugar/honey/syrup/treacle/fruit jelly (such as bramble jelly)/jams/marmalade (without peel)
- Boiled sweets or clear mints
- Tea or coffee
- Lucozade®, beer, water, soda water
- Fizzy drinks, squashes, clear fruit juice (no bits)
- Quorn, tofu, textured vegetable protein
Do not fry food. You should also avoid seeds and grains, especially sweetcorn.
Drink plenty of fluids.
1 day before your appointment
At 8:00 am have a good breakfast of low fibre food taken from the list. After this do not eat any solid food.
Drink plenty of clear fluid (tea/coffee/fruit squash/carbonated (fizzy) water drinks or tap water, clear apple juice with no bits). You can have small amounts of milk in tea or coffee. Clear jelly is allowed.
Please follow the instructions provided by your healthcare professional.
It is important that you do not become dehydrated so please drink clear fluids between each sachet. You can drink plain water only from midnight right up to 6:00 am on the day of your surgery.
No solid food.
The bowel prep may be flavoured with clear fruit juices (such as apple) or clear squash (such as lemon) and can be made up beforehand and chilled in the fridge.
You should expect many bowel actions and finally diarrhoea. Some cramping in your stomach is normal.
Your bottom may become quite sore, a barrier cream may help. There are several types of barrier cream products available from your local pharmacy.
If you experience difficulties
Occasionally, the bowel preparation may cause side effects such as nausea, sickness or stomach pain.
If you feel that you will not be able to finish the bowel prep sachets as directed, please contact the Gynaecological Clinical Nurse Specialist for advice.
Contact information
Gynaecological Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist
Tel: 0300 422 4047 or
Tel: 0300 422 3181
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm