I seem to need larger volumes even when using strong solutions, anyone else noticed this?

My "usual" enema size is 1.5-3 quarts of either tap water or (usually) light soapsuds. I've noticed for a while that Fleet-type enemas don't usually "do it" for me - the urge is there, but the explusion is definitely not complete - the stuff in the rectum comes out, but not the sigmoid (or much of it). From experiences such as this as well as finger explorations it seems as though I tend to get backed up above the rectum, so clearing the sigmoid is important. Recently I've been trying some small enema alternatives for an upcoming trip, so I thought I'd mix up a real "ass-kicker" - 20mg bisacodyl, 2Tbsp/30 mL glycerin, 4oz/120mL water. Squirted it in, toughed it out for 15 minutes (it did definitely give an urge), then sat on the toilet and had a forceful expulsion of what was in my rectum (not much) and nothing more. Waited a bit, still nothing more. 2 quarts of soapsuds knocked out the rest of what was in there. I know I have tried stronger solutions in larger volumes, and if it gets up there it works well - but if it doesn't get up high in the colon it just doesn't work well on me.

Anyone else notice something similar where the stool seems to back up above the rectum and even a strong small enema/rectal laxative doesn't knock it out? Based on what I read it seems as though the laxative action should propagate upwards from the rectum to the sigmoid and part of the descending colon, but on me it just doesn't seem to. Anyone have any hypotheses as to why?

Try doing 4 or more quarts of plain water and hold it a while. If you are not clean/clear, do it again. You may have to do it several times. Plain water has the advantages of not killing the microbes living in your gut and also of not bothering your mucus membrane. It also is gentler and allows more pleasure in the process.

You might also take stool softeners and ,metamusil, which will tend to make the stool more pliable and make you more regular in your BM's. It helps me.

hankb

I'm on Metamucil plus Mirilax already . Things aren't fun in bowelville, but you're right - while I still need to use the enemas they do make it much easier. Thank you for not saying that "I just need more fiber and things will work on their own" as I have heard that one plenty.

I don't know about 4 quarts. I might have to work up to it, though it seems like I should be able to take that much water. I've definitely got a lot of colon in there.

My thoughts with the smaller (1 cup or so) enemas with a "stronger" solution was that they'd be more convenient at times, especially on trips, but I guess I might be best off sticking with the large volume enemas because they do work.

Everyone says distention is not permanent, but I know from my own experience that might not always be the case.

Right now my standard enema is 3 US Quarts, but it has not always been that way.

When I was 15 I found out about the 4-qt open-topped bag on line so I knew it existed. I was 18 before I was able to actually buy one for myself.

At that point, my standard enema had been 2 quarts since I was 7, and one imperial qt when I was 6.

When I first got that bag I was anxious to try it!

When I finally DID get to try it a week later, I fasted the night before and took 4 rounds the way I usually do when I do a clean out.

I filled the 4-qt bag with a heavy solution of soapsuds and water that was just a little hotter than usual. It went in surprisingly fast.and with some pain, and some nausea. Didn't actually vomit. Did scare myself on that however.

Overall I was satisfied.

Next time I took an enema a few months later I took a 2-qt bag like I usually had, any other time. The sensation just was not as strong any more.

Over the next few months I bought a 3-qt HWB style bag. That brought the feelings during injection and retention back to what they had been with 2 qt before that.

Deny, deny Deny if you will that distention can be permanent, but I know my own experiences. After my first use of a 4-qt open top bag, the 2-qt HWB style was never the same again.

Everyone says distention is not permanent, but I know from my own experience that might not always be the case.

Please explain more about this. I've written somewhere here about blaming my large belly on enemas. I was otherwise slim, but all the large enemas I took and my enjoyment of looking like I was pregnant seemed to have left me distended.

I can't really say it has made my belly visibly larger.

All my life, I have never been clinically obese but I have always been a little chunky.

Turns out the start of breast development and my first 2 Imperial Qt enema, with a bag my Mom left behind happened around the same time.

Even as a 'teen I never really had a waist, even though I am large busted. A bit chunky, with hips that were not real smooth.

At work I wear a classic Skirt-type girdle. I keep a couple of corsets around for under party dresses and such.

That was BEFORE carrying a set of twins almost to full term, and another child born at around 8 pounds several years later.

The two combined have given me a "baby pooch" that no amount of exercise will ever flatten. So I really need 4 qts to see any belly distention.

I don't really know what, if any percentage of that is permanent distention of the bowel, and what part is baby pooch, and what part is just being built chunky, but does it matter?? My tummy is not flat. It never has been!!

A 2-qt enema just does not feel the same as it did before I tried that 4-qt bag for the first time

I had to chuckle as I read LisaK's posts, as her description of her physique could be mine. Since I am a guy, it doesn't make as much difference to my acceptance by those who think skinny and wasp waisted is the shape to strive for. As for needing larger and larger volumes, I believe a 1 qt enema, held long enough, will work just as well as 4 qts if the goal is to treat constipation. That said, who among us is here because we only use enemas for constipation relief. So, I think what we should be saying is that we need larger and larger volumes to get the pleasure we seek from a tummy full of enema solution. I think this is true, because whether enemas enlarge our colons or not, like anything else being continuously repeated the body becomes used to it, and greater stimulus is required to get the same pleasure. So, short answer: yes.

To:

Soapy4me:

I see where you list your gender as male.

I doubt that you are as large busted as I am, or have ever gone through the nightmare of finding attractive bras that can do the job. Always an "Experience" often a nightmare.

I also doubt that you have a "baby pooch" that doesn't go away.

While some me are admired for their ability to wear tapered shirts, ( None in my family, not my dad, my husband, his dad or his brother none can wear tapered shirts.) the pressure is so much greater on us women to have a small waist!

So, I doubt it's the same!!

@ LisaK -

I see where you list your gender as male.

I doubt that you are as large busted as I am, or have ever gone through the nightmare of finding attractive bras that can do the job. Always an "Experience" often a nightmare.

I also doubt that you have a "baby pooch" that doesn't go away.

While some me are admired for their ability to wear tapered shirts, ( None in my family, not my dad, my husband, his dad or his brother none can wear tapered shirts.) the pressure is so much greater on us women to have a small waist!

Yes, I began by stating my sex, just to be clear in my comment. As for the above, what's your point? MY POINT is that women are unfairly judged more on their appearance than are men. I find that ridiculous, but what point are YOU trying to make?

That it's a whole different thing!!

Once you've been through labor and delivery, even if you don't try to be a hero, and take an epidural as I did both times, it still raises your pain threshold.

The glass ceiling is not just at work, it runs right through society. We are also seen as more "malleable consumers"

You can't have had the same experiences I've had!

So stop comparing yourself.

Compete at work because you NEED TO!

But you are you and I am me!!

I find large volumes now escape me. For me it's 2-3 qts max, AFTER a smaller enema of a pint or so. The reason seems to be that my rectum fills up and I need to clear that before I take a larger quantity. Today it took two small enemas to prepare for the 2+qt. That I took. When I was younger, I often took 2-2qt. Bags at once, without expelling in between. So for me, capacity appears to have declined. I also find it takes me longer to expel. I prefer to take "enemas till clear, but I suspect at the present it's going to take 3-5 2 qt.+ enemas, with at least the final two enemas being all I can take. If I had a steady giver, I'm pretty sure that 3 qts. Would be quite doable...

2qts does the job for me. I don't need to explode. 😮

Agree. Not a volume queen here. 2 or maybe 3 on occasion.

2qts does the job for me. I don't need to explode. 😮

Fleets never did it for me... I guess all the super strong Ivory soap enemas of 2 - 3 qts has increased my enema tolerance such that a Fleets does little. It was always my concern that if I were in a hospital, and given a Fleet, it wouldn't work and I'd be too embarrassed to explain I needed a real large hot soapy enema to do the trick.