Flow rate and ease of retention

Of late I have noticed that enemas from my Seeking Health silicone bag have been difficult to hold. I leak as the enema progresses. When I obtained that bag I noticed that its design restricted the flow rate on the solution. Initially this wasn’t a problem (over 500 enema sessions), but recently the slow flow has resulted in the solution leaking out of me before the bag is empty.

I discovered on a recent trip that the travel enema bag, a combo rubber type, ran the solution in much faster yet didn’t cause any leaking issues. Upon returning home I began using a different enema bag (Klystra silicone bag) that flows just as quickly as the travel bag, and haven’t had any problems with it.

For reference, the two quarts flow in four minutes from the Seeking Health bag and in three minutes from the other bags. Identical hanging heights, solution, and Foley tube.

Have others experienced anything similar?

Yes, the flow rate does count, and the slower the rate, the easier to manage the retention.

My preference is to hang the bag high (and so I have the pressure available whenever it is necessary) but strictly control the flow rate at/around the minimum. I got a flow indicator and a roller clamp installed in addition to the the shut-off clip. In this way I can be in full control.

E-lover, how high do you hang your bag? And how long does it take for how much volume?

Wait, @UncleO are you saying that you retain better with a faster flow rate? (I think this sometimes is true for me, if possibly counterintuitive.)

@Scotty55: It is a bit less than 2 metres, say 6.5 feet. These days I use the door rail of a large wardrobe cabinet. (I need a replacement part for my IV stand.) However, as I use a massage table and I take all enemas in knee-chest, the relative height of the bag to the anus is approximately 2.5 feet.

Still, this works almost all cases, I mean with some stops and body movements I usually can manage to take the volume I put into the bag.

Re time to take the enemas: this hugely depends of the state of my body. On Wednesday, I had three Es (1, 2 and 3 litres), all went in without any difficulties. Today I planned to have 3 again -- or maybe 4 -- (with the difference that the 3rd one was set to a 10% glycerin mix). I could not complete the task for different reasons, but the main reason was that I struggled to take even the first one...

I am sorry but don't check the time needed to take enemas, my motto is that "Enema is not a race". Plus, sometimes I like to play with the flow rate, when my mood is set that way.

@Sweetest_Relief

Yes it seems to be easier with a faster flow. I think it is because once the rectum is full cramps calm down.

@UncleO, yes, I think I understand your situation. In my case when an enema is for GI shenanigans (I can have spasms) the sooner I fill my ascending colon/right side, the smoother the sailing.

Before I had a Higginson, I used to put my 2-liter enema can at about a 6’ height on a high bathroom closet shelf to get the right flow rate. Now I pump smoothly to get much of the water in fairly quickly and find that often feels the best, lets me retain longer, and yields a productive session that usually stops the spasms and results in an IBS reset that can last weeks or longer. And I don’t need a double length of hose to clean, either.

I think I figured this out by accidentally taking water faster than intended, but it seems to be a theme.

I've rarely hung an enema bag more than 36 inches above my "patient's" bottom (husband, daughters or my own). And, the way I encourage retention is giving just half a 2-quart bag at a time with a rectal tube inserted into the sigmoid to reduce pressure in the rectum to expel. However, you also don't want too much enema solution to remain for too long before it's released, because it can cause "water toxicity" in the bowel. I don 't know a lot about this, but I'll take a nurse's word that she taught me many years ago.

There seems to be a lot of variables when it comes to taking/giving enemas. Certainly, personal preferences should be respected. I find that subsequent enemas, after a preliminary cleanse, can be injected at a higher rate of flow. If my desire is to push the solution up around the bend, a higher flow rate can aid in this, especially if I've already cleansed the lower portion of my bowel (rectal vault). If retention is a primary concern, the slower rate makes sense. Positioning is also a factor to consider.

I had the privilege of a (3 Enema Session) at a provider a few years ago. I was surprised at how fast one of the enemas was delivered and queried why. I was advised that this was to assure a deeper and complete emptying of my bowel. Retention was of minimal concern with this particular enema. Subsequent "implants" for retention should be given at a slower rate.

My experience is that the higher the bag/bucket, the more pressure will be delivered. This can be controlled by lowering the height and/or using the clamp or if an inline flow valve is part of the tubing, it can be used.

As for retention; again my experience is the use of an inflatable nozzle is most definitely a factor in retention. Most non inflatable straight nozzles are ( in my case) not effective in retention.

If you are getting an enema from a s/o

or caregiver, communication is the key to a safely delivered enema. If you are doing it yourself, be mindful

of the height and have the ability to reduce the rapidity of the flow.

The flow rate from a closed bag can also be much increased by a sadistic nurse giving a really good two handed squeeze while smiling sweetly & telling you "it's for your own good" as you howl & beg for mercy 😈

I commented on this thread but forgot to mention that the height of the bag or bucket also depends on the length of the tubing you are using ( attached to the bag/bucket.

We are all different, so many factors apply....I do enemas for pleasure and usually avoid all extremes, so everything "too" I don't usually do. Not a fan of long retention either. When receiving I prefer a good flow that can reach as high as possible with a regular nozzle and with a colon tube I add a little hand pump for the extra push, but do that rarely. I prefer multiple fillings, usually each reaching further than the previous, with enough quantity to fill full but still keeping some control, as I enjoy the fullness sensation. I have also noticed that if I do retain longer, the more "returns" i may have, after the main expulsion... so I keep it simple, comfortable and pleasurable...

Just to add for safety’s sake that back when I was using a 6’ can height rather than a Higginson, I would attenuate the flow for the first 2/3 of the enema using my ratchet clamp. Only once I could tell the water was hitting resistance due to a spasm somewhere near my hepatic flexure did I open the clamp fully, and as soon as the spasm released I would slow the flow again.

I was also never running in a dangerous volume of water and stopped at 2 liters or less.

When I am not having spasms, such as during a maintenance enema, I run the water in rather slowly and find that helps me retain more easily in that situation.

The lovely members who gently and obliquely pointed out this could be less than safe were right, so I thought I’d give the details. However, if there’s someone in unbudgeable IBS agony, I did want to share that extra pressure at the right moment can be what you need to end it.

I enjoy a nice slow enema flow rate savoring the feeling of slowly filling up with warm water and watching the enema bag slowly deflate. I have tried faster rates and while sometimes needed to slow the flow rate down due to impending cramps, it is just not as enjoyable experience as a nice slow enema that a slower rtaealso helps for a easy retention even for an extended time period beyond 5-10 minutes. I liken it to sex......"Slam bam thank you maam" make work for guys but for me. I like the slower ramp up and anticipation of reaching the top of the mountain. In other words, enjoy the ride as well as arriving at the destination. But that is just me...others might enjoy the experience differently. Denise

I'm with @Denise on this one.

I like a slow flow with warm tap water at 95 to 104 degrees F (35 to 40 degrees C). It makes for fewer cramps and just a nice and easy fill up. The flow rate can be adjusted by raising or lowering the four-quart silicone enema bag that hangs from the shower head on a plastic chain. Sometimes I will add a little Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo to the water to help scrub my innards clean and on rare occasions, I will add a little Dr. Bronner's peppermint soap to put a little zing in the enema.

Just prior to a little anal play or pegging, I can do a very quick clean out in the master bathroom with my handy-dandy enema nozzle that is attached to a flexible metal tube that is attached to a small water heater that is attached to the water line next to the toilet. It is very quick and extremely convenient to fill up with water and immediately eliminate the water, all while perched atop the toilet. No mad dash from the bedroom or from the bathroom floor because I'm already on the toilet for both the filling and the emptying of the rectum.

And since @Denise mentioned the correlation with sex, I'll add my two cents to that, too.

With sexual intercourse, my wife and I have learned to slow down and enjoy the journey. We used to think that the primary goal was to arrive at the destination, that is, the orgasm, with a bang, pun intended. In our 20s, on our honeymoon, we could reach that goal of orgasm three or four times a day or night. Okay, so on our honeymoon, in one 24-hour period, we did it four times, barely, and never again. Now in our 60s, we're down to twice a day. Wait, make that twice a week. No, scratch that, too. Make it just once a week.

Just one orgasm a week? Yep, that's fine for us in our 60s. Mind you, we DO have sex every day of the week, or at least that's the goal, but not with the goal of reaching orgasm every day. With typical scheduling conflicts and things that just crop up, we usually end up having sex five or six days a week.

And, again, the goal is NOT to have an orgasm every time we have sex because that’s not practical, probably, or possible. The orgasm comes, pun intended, once a week... without much effort so it feels extra fabulous. If we push for an orgasm more often than that, it requires so much exertion that it's not really worth it.

So, on this daily sexual adventure, since we are NOT humping frantically like bunny rabbits to reach an orgasm every day, we can instead slow down and just feel every little sensation… inside and out and all around. We typically enjoy about 10 to 20 minutes of gentle in and out, as long as my winkie can hold up. Usually we are face to face in the missionary position, and sometimes we rotate through a couple of variations, depending on the mood... and our energy level… and if our backs are holding up. By going slow and not even thinking about the orgasm, we really enjoy the moment and we really connect emotionally… as we enjoy the journey.

Of course, when it has been a week since the last orgasm, then the pent-up horniness screams, “Cum on, kids, I’m ready. Let’s step it up a notch.” And we do, and then things get quite a bit more intense because the goal now is to arrive at the orgasmic destination. After five to seven days of slow and steady travel… enjoying the scenery and the sensations… then we have an accelerated day of travel to reach the destination… complete with fireworks and a large orchestra playing an appropriate sensual something in the background.

Also included with our daily sex routine, and prior to the sex itself, we take time to talk. Why sit and chat on the couch when you can carry on the same conversation while you are naked and cuddling in bed? Exactly. We talk about any and everything from the kids and grandkids to schedules for the next week. This naked talk time while cuddling also provides an emotional connection. Talking and spending quality time together is a love language, especially for my wife, and doing it naked while cuddling makes it that much better and far more intimate. Sometimes we talk for five minutes bumping bellies and sometimes we talk for 90 minutes before I start lubing her chassis. It all depends on the mood and the moment and it all makes for a wonderful journey of intimacy.

Slow and steady wins the race... especially when you get older.

When my Mom gave me hot soapsuds enemas as a kid she followed the directions on the package that said to hang the bag 18 inches to 2 feet above the rectum. One even suggested hanging it 3 feet above the rectum. She always opened the clamp fully and squeezed my buttocks tightly together as the solution flowed in, telling me to take slow deep breaths through my mouth whenever I felt cramps. She didn't stop until the bag was empty, no matter how much I pleaded with her to stop because I couldn't hold any more. Then she forced me to hold it in for 5 minutes, timed with a windup kitchen timer, continuing to squeeze my buttocks tightly together so nothing would leak out. Occasionally when she wasn't satisfied with the results, she'd let me rest for a few minutes and then give me a second enema, making me hold it in for 10 minutes.

Slow and steady wins the race... especially when you get older.

Amen to that, @Vasbyt. Senior sex is the best!

As kids, growing up in the nineteen fifties, the slower we received an enema the better it was for us. If mom gave us enemas to fast, we’d get more cramps than usual. When that happened, we’d ask her to stop. Then, once stopped, if she didn’t think we’d taken enough, the enema was repeated. Today, the same thing still holds true, the slower I take an enema, the better it is. Allowing me to take more volume and reduce cramps.