Chapter 1 - The Beginning

Susan had come home feeling wretched. She hadn’t moved her bowels in six days. Sue had lost count. She had a two quart enema bag at home that she ordinarily used on herself but she felt too sick and too uncomfortable to make the solution herself. On her way home from work she had purchased a fleet enema at a local drug store thinking it would be faster and bring her some relief. Sue was very self-conscience and hated going into the pharmacy. The young man behind the counter had a dirty smirk on his pimply face when he handed her the parcel. He obnoxiously asked, “Plugged up pretty lady? Need any help?” Susan quickly snatched the bag from him and gave him a look to kill. She was appalled and humiliated beyond belief.

Men, they were all such pigs! Susan did not have a very high regard for men in general. She felt that they were always making attempts to try to control her and her body by getting into her pants. Consequently, there was no one special in her life at the moment. She had done some dating yet never had a real lusty relationship with any one man. Susan needed a REAL man in her life. A man that would truly adore and love her. That important aspect of her life was long over due and would soon change.

When she came through the kitchen door, Shannon, her younger sister, knew immediately what the problem was. She’d known since yesterday. She knew all the signs of severe constipation. She suffered from the same ailment herself though not as often as her sister. Shannon also knew it would mean a long night of an endless series of enemas for her sister. She shuddered at the thought.

Shannon herself had deplorable memories of her childhood concerning enemas administered by their Aunt Lucy. A cruel woman that made the Wicked Witch of the West look like a Fairy God Mother.

Shannon thought enemas were implements of torture. When ever she saw one hanging with hot soapy water in it, it conjured up horrible feelings and memories. The smells and odors associated with enemas got her very emotionally upset and even physically ill. If the word ENEMA was even mentioned in her presence, her heart would begin to pound and she would brake out into a cold sweat.

Sue came out of the bathroom holding her stomach and looking picket. She had just used the fleet enema on herself with no success. Sue, knowing full well Shannon’s distasteful feelings about enemas, knew she would need to get help elsewhere. She than asked her sister to call the convent at St. Anthony’s and ask for Sister Katherine to come over to help her.

Shannon was on the phone quickly. “Please, it is very important that I speak to her, thank you.” Her voice sounded nervous, and excited. She was biting her bottom lip in anticipation while she waited on the phone. Finally, a woman’s sweet voice was heard on the other end of the line.

“Hello, this is Sr. Katherine speaking.”

“Sister, this is Shannon Sheridan ,” She said excitedly.

In a friendly, warm voice Sr. Katherine said, “Shannon my dear, hello, how are you?”

“I am fine Sister but Susan is not doing very well at the moment.” Her sweet voice was laced with anxiety.

“What’s wrong?” Sister asked in a concerned voice.

“Susan is badly constipated and she needs some assistance. As you know, I am not a nurse and not very good in such matters. I or I should say Sue was wondering if you could come over here and help her out?”

“The poor thing. Of course, no problem.” Sister said warmly. She knew that Susan and Shannon were from out of state, without family and had not lived very long in Colorado. They were still in the process of making friends.

“Is it possible to put Susan on the phone?” Sister asked calmly.

“Yes Sister, wait a few moments while I bring the phone to her.” Shannon answered.

Susan was a nurse at the hospital, St.Anthony’s, where Sr. Katherine also worked as a private nurse for one of the doctors on staff. Shannon, her younger sister by two years, was a kindergarten teacher at the same parish school. There was also a church by the same name that was affiliated with the hospital and school. Shannon and Susan attended services regularly there and helped out in their spare time with various church functions. Both girls grew to know, love and respect Sr. Katherine as if she were family. Sr. Katherine felt a mutual affection for both girls as well.

Shannon gave the phone to Susan as she lay in bed. “Sister Katherine, it’s Susan speaking.”

Sister spoke in a worried tone. “Shannon says you are in distress.” And than asked, “Susan, when was your last bowel movement?”

“It was about six days a go Sister.” Sue answered.

“OH my!” Sister exclaimed. She than asked, “Susan, what have you done to help yourself get some relief?”

“I gave myself an over the counter Fleet enema.” Sister Katherine could tell from Susan’s voice that she was in agony. “Nothing came out of me!” Sue went on to say in a breathless voice, “Sister, my stomach hurts something awful! I would give myself a bag enema but I am in too much discomfort to do it by myself.”

“Sue, are you running a fever?”

“No, I’m not.”

“Have you vomited?”

“NO, but I DO feel nauseous.”

“Is your abdominal pain coming from your right side?”

“Sister, I DID have my appendix out when I was fifteen.”

“Fine , I just wanted to rule that out.” Sister said.

“Susan, do you have a small syringe at home?” Sister asked and added, “It sounds like you may have some impacted fecal matter blocking the passage way.” She added, “Stool may have to be soften up first before a regular enema is given.”

“Yes, sister I do have a syringe.” There was a slight pause. “I think you are right about the blockage.” Susan answered.

Sister said, “Heat some mineral oil or olive oil for the syringe and inject it into yourself. Retain it for an hour while lying on your stomach or in a fetal position. By the time I get there it will be time for your first enema.” She added. “Sue, do you think your physically able to do that.?”

“I think I can.” Susan answered while wincing in abdominal pain.

“What things do you have there at home for enema giving?” Sister asked.

I have an IV pole, and a two quart enema bag. I also have a portable commode.” Susan answered.

“Well, I think we can dispense with the commode. If I remember correctly you have a bathroom connecting to your bedroom, right?” Sister asked.

“Yes Sister, I do.” Susan answered.

“Will you be OK until I get there?” Sister asked.

“I’ll be fine.” Sue replied.

“Good girl, I’ll be there shortly.” Sister said reassuringly, “Susan, don’t worry everything is going to be all right.”

Sister knew where they lived because the girls had had a bridal shower for one of the nurses a few weeks prior.

“Thank you sister.” She hung up and gave the phone back to her sister while holding her stomach.

“Sue, what did she say? Is she coming over?” Shannon asked anxiously with a worried look on her face. She loved her sister very much and was concerned about her.

“Yes, she will be over in about an hour and instructed me to heat some oil for a small syringe and inject it into myself.”

“I can at least heat the oil for you, Sue. Where is the syringe?” Sue proceeded to tell her where it was and what to do. Than Sue followed sister’s instructions.

Sue was laying on the bed when Shannon came back in the room.

“Sue, I’m not going to stay here while Sister helps you. Is that OK with you?” Shannon bashfully asked.

“Honey, it’s all right. I know and understand how you feel about these situations. You don’t have to stay.” Shannon gave her a weak smile knowing too well what was in store for her. They both waited for sister to arrive.

Before sister went over to the girls apartment she stopped by the hospital to pick up four disposable enemas and some other enema paraphernalia. She figured that she would use Susan’s enema bag to give her a good rinse when all the enemas were completed.

The girls lived in a large restored Victorian house made up into smaller apartments. Their apartment was the only one with an upstairs and three working fireplaces. Sister thought it a charming edifice.

It was the beginning of September and it was the first chilled brisk evening since the long, hot summer they had encountered. Continuous Autumn weather would now be prevalent.

Sister arrived and Shannon hung up her coat and than proceeded to bring her upstairs to Susan’s all pink and white bedroom. When they entered the room Susan was seen laying face down on the bed propped up with pillows under her tummy with a pink blanket covering her.

“How are you doing there, Suzy?” Sister leaned over and gave Susan an affectionate pat on her shoulder. Sister could see that Susan had been crying because her beautiful green eyes were puffy.

Sister was wearing her black and white habit and was beginning to put on her long white elastic sleeve protectors over her habit’s wide sleeves. She than asked Shannon to tie back her black vale with a string she handed to her.

“I can feel the oil working a bit, Sister.” Susan said a little breathlessly.

Sister answered, “That’s good. The oil is going to give you an effective expulsion. But we will have to make sure all the oil is out of you because we don’t want you to have an accident during the night.” Sister placed her hand on Susan’s forehead to see if she was warm. “Good, your forehead feels cool.” She than began to take out the clear see through enema bags with clear liquid in them out of a black bag and a Higginson pump type enema. Sister saw the IV stand by the bed. She hung the first enema on the IV pole. She was glad there was a connecting bathroom to Susan’s room. Sister turned to Shannon and asked, “You have your own room and bathroom ,downstairs , don’t you Shannon?”

“Yes Sister, I do .” Shannon answered.

Shannon’s hands and face began to feel warm and moist when she nervously saw what Sister had brought with her from the hospital. She asked in a trembling voice, “Sister Katherine, you’re not going to hurt my sister? Are you?”

Surprised at Shannon’s question her tall frame briskly turned and said, “Honey, I’m not going to hurt Susan. I came here to help her.” Sister added, “Shannon you have to keep in mind that your sister will have bad cramps with the first and possibly the second enema. I don’t want you to be alarmed if you hear her moaning up here? If I go slow, she will be all right.”

Shannon nodded and stammered almost tearfully, “I’m sorry sister. It’s.., it’s.. just that Susan and I had an aunt who was an RN. She.., she.. used to give us painful enemas when we were both small and into our teens. I.., I.. remember her bringing to our house ,pointing with a shaking finger, those similar enemas!” Sister saw in the bedroom light Shannon’s pink, pretty face become fearful while staring at the enema bag on the pole.

In a very soft compassionate voice Sister said, “Shannon, sweetheart I am NOT your aunt and I will be very gentle with your sister. I have been a nurse for the past 30 years and have been giving enemas for a very long time.” Sister gently placed her arm around Shannon’s shoulder as she led her to the door to leave the bedroom. Shannon continued to look wide eyed over her shoulder at the enema hanging from the IV pole. They stopped at the doorway and Sister placed both hands on either side of her arms and gently turned her to force her to look at her. “Shannon, please don’t worry.” While looking down into her face she asked, “You trust me, don’t you?” Shannon nodded. “Good, I’m glad. It’s better you leave me with your sister now. When I’m finish up here helping her you can make me a nice cup of tea, OK ?”

“Yes, sister of course.” Shannon than left the room and while descending the stairs she made up her mind that she was not coming back up to Sue’s room until the nasty task was over. She wanted no part of this distressful ordeal.

Susan spoke,“ Sister Katherine, I’m sorry Shannon related all that to you. Perhaps some time soon I will be able to tell you all about it when we have more time.” Susan’s breath came in short gasps.

“I am a very good listener Sue. When you are ready to tell me, I’ll be here to listen.” Sister said sympathetically.

Susan also noticed the clear fluid enema bags and was also reminded of a frightful time with their aunt. “Sister Katherine, those hospitals enemas are extremely uncomfortable. Perhaps we could use my red bag?” She asked in a timid voice.

“Susan, you are badly constipated. You are going to need some strong enema solution to thoroughly purge your body of all that waste. I thought this was a better alternative to a colon tube. You will be OK. I will talk you through it. I will hang the bag at the right height and go very slow. OK?” In a stern but gentle voice Sister asked, “You’re going to be a good girl for me, aren’t you Susan?”

“Yes, sister I’ll be good.” She said wearily and with a slight frown on her lovely face. She thought perhaps Shannon shouldn’t of called her for help after all. Well, it was too late now. She decided she would have to bite the bullet and take it. Despite the fact that she knew she needed these enemas badly she wished IT was all over.

“That’s my girl.” Sister smiled.

Sister helped Susan don a short pink tee shirt that came to her waist. She than had her go into the Sims position first. Susan could feel the cool air on her anus as Sister gently lifted her buttock cheek to lubricate her anal cavity. Sister’s gloved finger was small and she was very gentle as she went in and out of her anal opening. “That’s my girl relax for me.” Sister said gently, as if she was cooing a baby.

“OUCH!” Susan cried. The jell stung her hemorrhoids.

“Susan those hemorrhoids need to be treated and looked at by a doctor.” Sister said with concern in her voice.

Susan always got sexually aroused during this part of the enema. Of course she would never admit that to Sister or to anyone else for that matter. In fact, there were times that she had difficulty admitting it even to herself.

Sister said quietly “Susan, I am going to use a single inflatable nozzle to help you retain the enema. This will help you when it is time for you to walk to the toilet to expel the enema. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly when you feel in inflating inside you.” Susan could feel the nozzle slide pass her sphincter. Than she felt her anus being stretched inside and began to whimper. “Easy now Sue. I know it feels peculiar.” With that completed Sister than opened the clamp and Susan could feel the fluid go up her small bottom. She felt incredibly strong, intense cramps almost immediately.

“SISTER, SISTER PLEASE STOP! IT hurts SO MUCH!” She cried.

“SH, SH it is OK Susan.” Sister gently replied. Sister stopped the flow and lightly massaged her stomach and her lower back. She than helped Sue into the knee chess position. With her small bottom high in the air and her shapely legs and thighs spread she began the flow again. Once again Susan could here the click of the clamp open. Sue could feel her insides churn. There was a loud gurgling sound coming from her stomach. Susan pushed her face straight down, hard into the white pillow and began to clutch the pillow on both sides in pain when a new wave of cramps swept over her. She began to sweat and feel nauseous. Sister stroked the back of her head to comfort her. “Easy Susan, breath slowly for me. It will pass.” Susan’s long wavy dark brown hair kept getting into her eyes. Sister spied a pink ribbon on Sue’s night stand and leaned over to retrieve it so she could tie back her hair.

While Sister was in the process of pulling back her hair, Susan put forth inaudible words. Her voice was muffled since her face was still buried into the pillow. “OH,OH,OH, Sister Katherine PLEEEESE!” Sister stopped the flow and began to gently massage Susan’s abdomen and lower back simultaneously.

“Steady now Sue, breath in and out for me nice and slow till the cramps subside.”

This time she turned her head to the side on the pillow facing her caregiver. She wanted desperately to be heard clearly. “SISTER, I’m going to be SICK!” Sister Katherine was prepared for such an emergency. She placed a receptacle lined with a plastic bag in front of her to vomit in. Susan arched her stomach inward and her back upward and began to heave while Sister held her head over the container. Sue felt better after she regurgitated the clear bile.

After many stops and continuations of the first enema Sue was finally finished with the enema’s contents. Sister had turned her over on her back with her knees up and pressed towards her chest. “Susan, I want you to hold it for me for at least 5 minutes.” Sister instructed as she looked down on to Susan’s comely face.

“Sister, I don’t know if I CAN do that!” Susan spoke in a breathless voice while looking up at Sister. She was perspiring copiously. Leaning over Susan, Sister placed a cool damp cloth over her forehead and than began to wipe her face gently. “It’s all right Sue. Hang in there.”

Sister placed the cloth down and helped Sue get on her side. She said, “Susan, you can hold this enema.” Sue was now in the fetal position with her back to Sister. Sister was gently massaging her lower back.

At last, the 5 minutes were up and Susan was allowed to expel. Sister helped her off the bed and walked her to the bathroom. She left her alone to remove the nozzle herself so that Susan would have some privacy. When Sue knew for certain that she had expelled the entire contents of the enema she than cleansed herself on the bidet and emerged from the bathroom holding her stomach. They were by far the worse cramps she’d ever had in her life.

“Sister Katherine that was awful. It was SO painful.” Her voice sounded tearful.

“Susan I know that was a tough one for you.” Sister said sympathetically. “There is a lot of built up toxic waste inside you that needs to escape. Hopefully, this second enema won’t be so bad. Back on the bed with you now young lady with your bottom up.”

The second one was NOT better. The cramps were deplorable. Sue thought it would never end. Once again Susan felt sick to her stomach and began to sweat profusely. Sister was trying to make the ordeal as easy for her as she possibly could by encouraging her with words of affectionate praise. Sister would go slow and stop for Susan to recover with each powerful set of cramps. “Susan, you are being such a good patient. I am very proud of you.” She said tenderly.

Before a third enema bag was administered Sister used the Higginson enema syringe on Susan. She had Sue lie on her side in a fetal position. She than brought in a basin of hot sudsy water. She placed the end of the tube into the hot solution. The other end was the nozzle and it was inserted high into Sue’s rectum.

Before Sister squeezed the bulb in the middle, Sister said, “Susan, you are going to feel a surge of hot water go up your bottom. Take a deep breath for me.” Sister gave it a good hard squeeze.

“OH,OH,OH!” Sue cried out.

“Easy now, easy now.” Sister said as she leaned over and stroked her forehead from behind. “That’s a good girl. You are doing very well.”

She definitely could feel the surge of hot liquid go up her backside. After a few more additional squeezes, Sue was told to hold it for a few minutes and than she was helped to the commode and allowed to expel the enema.

The third and fourth enemas were far more comfortable for Sue. It felt like infinity but the moment had finally arrived. Sister was giving her a large rinse enema of salt and baking soda.

During all this time Shannon could hear her sister’s loud laments from downstairs. She was having a very difficult time having to be forced to listen to her sister suffer. She began to weep and shake all over just like she did when Aunt Lucy had Susan in the bathroom when they were little. At that point she decided to take the dog, Fluffy, out for a walk. She’d hope that Sister would be finish with Sue by the time she got back. When Shannon did return all she heard was the flushing of the toilet and hushed voices coming from up above. A little later on she heard the bath tub water run. She gave a sigh of relief and knew they were done.

Sue was soaking in a hot bubble bath while Sister cleaned up the equipment. As Susan sank her body deeper into the pleasant smelling hot water, she thanked God it was ALL OVER.

It was close to midnight when the three of them were sitting in front of a cozy warm fire downstairs in a beautifully furnished living room. They were sipping hot tea that Shannon had made. Susan looked pale after the tribulation she had just gone through. She was shifting from side to side in the chair because Sister had insisted she put on a pair of plastic pants under her robe before coming downstairs.

“Sue, did the hot bath make you feel any better?” Shannon asked still concerned about her sister.

Sue answered, “Yes, sis it made me feel a little better.” She felt SO drained.

Sister Katherine was still worried about her. And said, “Tomorrow’s Saturday, Susan. You can rest all day .”

“I certainly DO feel empty and lighter.” Susan said tiredly.

Sister Katherine answered, “I don’t doubt that you feel like that. A lot of fecal matter came out of you young lady.” Shannon felt embarrassed for her sister and lowered her eyes.

There was silence for a while and than Sister , looking very serious, leaned over and asked softly, “Susan, how long have you been having these problems with your bowels?”

“Since I was a child.” She answered lethargically.

“How about those painful hemorrhoids you have?” Sister asked again.

“The last two years. They seem to get worse with each passing year.” She answered. “I also have irritable bowel syndrome.” She added.

Sister said in a strong authoritative voice, “Susan I want you to make an appointment with Dr. Cummings, first thing Monday morning.”

A scowl appeared on Susan’s pretty face. “Sister, I couldn’t do that! It would be SO embarrassing! Dr. Cummings is FAR too good looking.” Sue’s cheeks turned pink. “I wouldn’t feel at all comfortable having a matinee idol, man handling me and looking up my most private part of my anatomy! Perhaps if HE was old and unattractive, I would go, I think.”

“Susan, I’m surprised in you! You are a nurse and a professional. Do you know how silly you sound.” Sister said in a very serious voice. “Besides, I would be there with you through out the entire exam.” Sister smiled, “ Would you prefer to have someone who resembled Quasimodo to look up your rectum?”

Shannon put her hand up to her mouth and giggled. Sue gave her sister an ominous look and thought that Shannon would never giggle if she ever DID see THE REAL Dr. Kenneth Cummings up close and in person.

Shannon than asked in an excited voice, “Is THAT, the same Dr. Cummings that all the nurses say is an arrogant bastard?” Sue gave her sister a disapproving look for using bad language in front of Sr. Katherine.

Noticing her sister’s gesture she said apologetically. “I’m sorry Sister for my choice of words.” Shannon said awkwardly.

“That’s OK Shannon. I hear the doctors at the hospital use worse language than that.” Sister said.

“So, Susan is that the same doctor that Sister wants you to see?” Shannon asked.

Susan answered, “No, sis that’s Dr. Mark Cummings. The Dr. Cummings that Sister is referring to is his brother, Dr. Ken Cummings.” She added, “Dr. Ken is an gastroenterologist and a proctologist. Sister Katherine works for him as his private nurse in his office at the hospital”

“Dr. Ken is a sweetheart when it comes to his patients. They all love him.” Sister remarked.

“I heard that he has a charming bed side manner.” Sue said as she rolled her eyes.

Sister smiled, “That’s true he certainly does. It so happens he is one of the few doctors that care about his patients.” In a stern voice she said, “None the less, I want you to seriously think about going to see him. He has helped many patients with similar problems. Your symptoms are NOT going to go away my themselves young lady. That should be apparent to you by now.”

Sue didn’t say anything. She just kept staring into her empty teacup feeling exhausted.

Sister than turned her attention and asked Shannon if she had similar health problems. Shannon’s face turned scarlet and refused to answer. Susan answered for her.

“Shannon gets badly constipated two or three times a year Sister Katherine. I help her out when those episodes occur.” Shannon gave her sister a dirty look for divulging her secret. Sue continued, “In fact, when Shannon is sick I am the only person that she will allow to come near her.”

“Well, perhaps YOU BOTH should make appointments to see Dr. Cimmings.” Sister said adamantly.

With that comment Shannon cried, “Susan how could you?” and ran out of the living room and into the kitchen.

Sue spoke looking dejected, “Sorry, Sister Katherine, Shannon still has horrendous memories of our Aunt Lucy and refuses even to GO to a doctor. I do too, but I seem to cope a little better than her. I might add, Shannon is an extremely uncooperative patient when she is sick.”

Sister thought such lovely girls. How awful for them to have had such trauma when they were so young. “You don’t have to apologize to me Sue . I understand.” Sister got up from her chair to place her arm around Sue’s shoulder to comfort her. “Remember I am here for you and Shannon, if you ever want to talk about it.” Sister than stood up and raised her chin along with her voice towards the kitchen, “Shannon I am leaving now. Would you like to fetch my coat and say good bye?”

Shannon emerged from the kitchen sheepishly wiping her eyes. She offered another apology to Sister for her sudden outburst and went to the vestibule to retrieve her coat.

Sister said while walking towards the foyer, “Please Susan, at least think about it. You don’t want to keep on suffering and go through another night like this, do you?”

Susan said she would think about what she suggested and thanked Sister Katherine for coming over and helping her. She became distracted, while deep in thought. Dr. Ken Cummings was an extremely handsome man. She didn’t think she could get through a rectal exam performed by him. It would be an humiliating undergoing for her. Her face got warm a second time just thinking about the implied possibility.

Sister Katherine’s voice took her out of deep thought. “Nonsense, there is no need to thank me. I was glad to be able to help you attain some relief.” Sister gave Susan a hug. Shannon walked Sister to the front door.

Sister Katherine turned to Shannon and said, “Shannon, please talk to your sister and try to get her to make an appointment with Dr. Cummings. I have been working for him for some time now. He is a good doctor and he will be able to help her.”

“I’ll try sister, but we both know Susan has a mind of her own. In any event, I’ll give it my best effort.” Shannon said with a weak smile.

Shannon thanked Sister for her help. They hugged and said good night.