Harm Reduction Using Enemas To Relieve Opioid-Related Constipation. Any Dangers??

[daddysgone]

hey guys,
It's been a while since I posted, but I just wanted to start a discussion about opiate-related constipation, and using enemas to relieve this problem.

I recently read in another thread that one of our members is possibly undergoing surgery to remove an impacted ball of feces lodged in his small intestines. He states that he had been having bowel movements 1-3 times per week (far more frequently then many opioid users), and he still ended up with impacted feces which is likely to require surgery.

I take 2mg of bupe per day, and it constipates me terribly. I have tried everything to relieve it, but the only thing that helps is a fleet enema (basically a salt water enema). I use these enemas about 3 times a week, and they basically flush out all of the feces that have accumulated since my last enema (usually 2-3 days earlier).
I feel SOOO much better after I use one, and then about 2-3 days later, I start to feel clogged up again and so I use one again. Sometimes I will have small bowel movements on my in between days.

Now I know that the frequent use of enemas can cause the user to become dependent on them to the point that they basically cannot have a BM without one. However, I just don't see the alternative for me. As I said, I have tried every other laxative and this is the only thing that cleans me out.

Does anyone know if there are any dangers or long-term effects (aside from being dependent on them) that can result from this frequent use of enemas? I recently went to a GI doctor and asked him and he said they were safe to use, but I have gotten my fair share of wrong advice from docs.

Does anyone else do this, or have any insight regarding using enemas this frequently? Thanks.

 

[Timland]

Look for those sugar free bags of candy at the store. EDIT: Go for the gummy bears in case there's a bowel obstruction so you'll only be adding gelatin. Eat ONE bag. You'll be going from constipation to having loose stools in no time.

Look for Xylitol on the ingredients. That sweetner is particularly strong in the laxative area.

Sorry no info on enemas though. I'd make sure the equipment you use is all sterile of course.

 

[daddysgone]

Thanks, I know xylitol acts as a laxative for many ppl, but I consume alot of it and it doesn't do anything for me.

As far as the sterility of my equipment, I only use packaged, disposable fleet enemas, so sterility is not an issue.

The enemas are simply water and sodium phosphate. I am just worried that using them 3X a week over the course of years (literally) might do some manage to my body (perhaps liver or kidney damage). Just looking for some info on this subject and any experiences or opinions. Thanks.

 

[NightLight*]

I work in a medical facility... I just questioned a doctor who specilises in intensive care about Enemas and she said she hasent come across any serious issues relating to the matter..
I wouldn't worry to much! Sorry I don't have more information... The doctor seemed perplexed that I even asked, tho she didn't question me about why i was curious..
I know you've probley been told a million times, but a diet high in fiber and drinking lots of water will help, even if it is minimal..
Peace.
NightLight*

 

[dokomo]

The only danger in using store-bought osmotic enemas is a possible electrolyte imbalance from repeated used without drinking enough water.

I'd recommend simply using lukewarm water or even a mineral oil enema for more long-term use.

 

[daddysgone]

what is an enema? i know where it goes, but i dont know what it is. Is it something you buy from the store, or is it simply the act of squirting something up you but?

next question: what is the deal with salt water? will squirting that up there help matters? if so how much salt, and how much water?

Thanks

Well an enema is a fairly broad term referring to the act of squirting a liquid up your rectum.

However, the enema I am referring to is a sodium phosphate enema, which is basically a salt water enema.
If you understand anything about osmosis, you can imagine how a salt water enema would produce a bowel movement.

Essentially, the water in the enema has a very high salt content. When you squirt this salt water up your rectum, fluid floods past the membrane of your colon and into your colon in order to equalize the salt concentration of the fluid inside and outside of your colon. So, this flood of fluid into your colon causes you to have a forceful and thorough bowel movement.

Good to hear that it sounds like I am not doing any damage. I just hate the feeling of walking around all backed up, and after reading a recent post of someone who has seriously impacted feces, I want to make sure that I do not allow this to happen to me.

Does anyone else you an enema frequently to alleviate constipation?

 

[jamesBrown]

Well an enema is a fairly broad term referring to the act of squirting a liquid up your rectum.

However, the enema I am referring to is a sodium phosphate enema, which is basically a salt water enema.
If you understand anything about osmosis, you can imagine how a salt water enema would produce a bowel movement.

Essentially, the water in the enema has a very high salt content. When you squirt this salt water up your rectum, fluid floods past the membrane of your colon and into your colon in order to equalize the salt concentration of the fluid inside and outside of your colon. So, this flood of fluid into your colon causes you to have a forceful and thorough bowel movement.

Good to hear that it sounds like I am not doing any damage. I just hate the feeling of walking around all backed up, and after reading a recent post of someone who has seriously impacted feces, I want to make sure that I do not allow this to happen to me.

Does anyone else you an enema frequently to alleviate constipation?

I do now, about once a week tops, cuz the doc said any more is very dangerous. Im assuming the person you were reffering too was me.....and yes, having severely impacted feces is not fun.....at all.

 

[daddysgone]

I do now, about once a week tops, cuz the doc said any more is very dangerous. Im assuming the person you were reffering too was me.....and yes, having severely impacted feces is not fun.....at all.

Yes, I was referring to you. So, your doc said using a sodium phosphate enema more then once a week is "very dangerous". Did he explain what was dangerous about it? Now I am a bit concerned since I have been using 2-3 per week for at least a year now.

Seems to be some conflicting info here on this subject. Someone earlier in this thread stated that a doctor they asked said it would pose no problem.

 

[daddysgone]

hey bro thanks fro the info. so where do i get this "odium phosphate enema"?

and if its "basically just salt water", can i make my own solution? like just mix up some salt with water? if so, do you have any idea how much salt and water i should use?

this is something i would only do once a week, to be safe. and bc i dont think i need it anymore than that.

thanks again!

Im sure you can make one yourself, but I dont know what the correct ratios are, so you should just buy them.

They will be available at any drug store. Just look or ask for a fleet disposable enema. They are like 2 dollars for a 3 pack of them, so cost is not an issue. They contain about 8 ounces of fluid and you insert the pre-lubricated tip in your rectum (its not as uncomfortable as it sounds), and slowly squeeze the bottle until all the fluid has been emptied into your colon. You should then just lie on your side and wait (some ppl like to massage their abdomen to sort of move the fluid around). Hold the fluid in as long as you can, and within 5 minutes or so, you should feel a very strong urge to move your bowels (you should probably do this whole process in the bathroom so you don't have far to run when the urge hits you). You will probably be surprised by how much comes out of you. After the first "wave" of fecal matter comes out, I recommend staying on the toilet for another 5 minutes or so because in my experience, there is usually a second "wave" of feces that comes out from higher up in your colon.

Good luck.

Anyone else have any experience with this and/or know if using these enemas several times a week for long periods of time can do any damage?

 

[amapola]

Bowel stimulating enemas usually consist of water, which works primarily as a mechanical stimulant, or they may be made up of water with baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) or water with a mild hand soap dissolved in it; buffered sodium phosphate solution, which draws additional water from the bloodstream into the colon and increases the effectiveness of the enema – which often can be rather irritating to the colon, causing intense cramping or "griping" – or mineral oil, which functions as a lubricant and stool softener, but which often has the side effect of sporadic seepage from the patient's anus which can soil the patient's undergarments for up to 24 hours. Other types of enema solutions are also used, including equal parts of milk and molasses heated together to slightly above normal body temperature. In the past, castile soap was a common additive in an enema, but it has largely fallen out of use because of its irritating action in the rectum and because of the risk of chemical colitis as well as the ready availability of other enema preparations that are perhaps more effective than soap in stimulating a bowel movement. At the opposite end of the spectrum, an isotonic saline solution is least irritating to the rectum and colon, having a neutral concentration gradient. This neither draws electrolytes from the body – as can happen with plain water – nor draws water into the colon, as will occur with phosphates. Thus, a salt water solution can be used when a longer period of retention is desired, such as to soften an impaction.

The danger of chronic enema usage is your body becoming dependent on them and losing the ability to move your bowels without them.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Im sure you can make one yourself, but I dont know what the correct ratios are, so you should just buy them.

They will be available at any drug store. Just look or ask for a fleet disposable enema. They are like 2 dollars for a 3 pack of them, so cost is not an issue. They contain about 8 ounces of fluid and you insert the pre-lubricated tip in your rectum (its not as uncomfortable as it sounds), and slowly squeeze the bottle until all the fluid has been emptied into your colon. You should then just lie on your side and wait (some ppl like to massage their abdomen to sort of move the fluid around). Hold the fluid in as long as you can, and within 5 minutes or so, you should feel a very strong urge to move your bowels (you should probably do this whole process in the bathroom so you don't have far to run when the urge hits you). You will probably be surprised by how much comes out of you. After the first "wave" of fecal matter comes out, I recommend staying on the toilet for another 5 minutes or so because in my experience, there is usually a second "wave" of feces that comes out from higher up in your colon.

Good luck.

Anyone else have any experience with this and/or know if using these enemas several times a week for long periods of time can do any damage?

thank you

 

[hydrobliss]

There shouldnt be any long term effects of using enemas what-so-ever

in fact.. I guarentee its WAY healthier for you to get it out of there somehow than to let it sit there and clog you up.

I know many doctors will acctually tell you that frequently flushing the colon and surrounding area is very healthy and should be done on a fairly regular basis anyway

 

[splenda]

Eat a tub of splenda based sweetened no/low sugar ice cream or any other splenda-based sweetened product in large amounts. You WILL make a massive bowel movement within 24hours, pretty much guaranteed.

When I was taking Morphine sulphate I wouldn't make a bowel movement for weeks at a time, but whenever I ate a lot of splenda-based sweetend ice cream (a whole half pint tub in one day), my bowels were flushed out quite easily. Note that you do get some cramps by doing this though.

 

[JimmyCocks]

Ive been taking a colon-cleanse product for a while ( evercleanse). when I brought the product over the phone I told the so called "expert" about my drug usage. he said thier were other clients who did the same thing. overall I have noticed a difference, not that I have more bms its just that their more satifing and bigger than normal. could be in my head but Id try it

 

[JamtasticX]

Seriously, I know this is fucked up, but some people on this site do some questionable things, so judge me not.

Sometimes, I have to take some sort of lubricant, usually like hand lotion since I don't carry around much lube, put it on my finger, and manually remove balls of shit from up my ass- there I said it !

 

[SkagKush]

The danger of chronic enema usage is your body becoming dependent on them and losing the ability to move your bowels without them.

thats what i was thinking........

^ also, haha. at least your honest man.....

 

[JimmyCocks]

Seriously, I know this is fucked up, but some people on this site do some questionable things, so judge me not.

Sometimes, I have to take some sort of lubricant, usually like hand lotion since I don't carry around much lube, put it on my finger, and manually remove balls of shit from up my ass- there I said it !

Desperate times call for desperate measures... Ha

 

[SkagKush]

lol its true....

i wonder how others would admit to this....

 

[daddysgone]

The danger of chronic enema usage is your body becoming dependent on them and losing the ability to move your bowels without them.

I have heard this too, but what complicates the issue is that I have also read/heard from numerous sources that frequent enemas actually strengthen the tone of your colon and result in a stronger, more effective digestive tract.

So there are 2 completely opposing ideas.
-One says that using enemas frequently will make you become dependent upon them so that you cant BM without them

-The other says that frequent enemas tone your colon and result in better/more frequent BM's.

So....which is it?

 

[jamesBrown]

I have heard this too, but what complicates the issue is that I have also read/heard from numerous sources that frequent enemas actually strengthen the tone of your colon and result in a stronger, more effective digestive tract.

So there are 2 completely opposing ideas.
-One says that using enemas frequently will make you become dependent upon them so that you cant BM without them

-The other says that frequent enemas tone your colon and result in better/more frequent BM's.

So....which is it?

Its both.

If you use enemas frequently(more than once a week), you are putting yourself at risk of "becoming dependant on them" and not being able to have bowel movements without them.

If you use enemas frequently(only once a week), you are probably at very little risk of having negative effects other than a clean colon once a week.

...atleast thats what my doctors told me.

...Done.