Enemas and fevers

When I was a kid sick at home, the minute my temperature reached 100.5 I was getting an enema. No way out of it. Doctor said a good enema or two would bring down my fever so into the bathroom I was marched to receive a big soapy enema. I never knew if it worked or not because eventually every fever breaks or you die. So, when the fever goes away, even if it’s 3 days later, Mom gave the enemas all the credit. Is there actually any medical data proving 2 qts of hot soapy water up your butt brings down a fever?

I think a cold bath would be more effective.

An enema may or may not bring down a fever, but it sure feels stimulating. Especially if given by a sweet young lady who enjoys giving then. DocHoliday (I haven't been here in a long time, glad to be back. Always happy to chat with the pretty ladies).

My sisters and I received herbal enemas when we were sick, usually catnip and they were given cool, not very cold but definitely cool when we had a fever. They did work.

The BBC TV series Doc Martin in far out rocky coast of Fort Wayne, has his ready pharmacist. Ms Tischell is always wanting to take him in hand, in various subtle ways. In one episode, she has a wall plastered with gallon pastel Kantleak bags. (i realize they have no idea what a gallon is, so you may call them 3 Liter, but gallon makes my point better )

Pastels of blue, green, yellow, and red all neatly overwhelming a wall with at least 18 of them. Then i began to watch for them, to see how sales were going. If you will put this hint into the things and arrangements of the show that make no sense, suddenly it all makes sense! Write your own story, if you will and all complaints are satisfied completely.

(i realize they have no idea what a gallon is, so you may call them 3 Liter, but gallon makes my point better )

This is England, they know what a gallon is (though there it would be likely the imperial gallon). I was there at one point and saw some shops selling things in increments of 454 grams.

When my siblings an I were kids, if we were sick with a high fever, we got aspirin an a couple of cool salt and baking soda enemas. The enema aspirin combination worked for us. The enemas were for short term relief and the aspirin for long term relief. I’m speaking only for myself and my siblings experiences growing up in the fifties. When your sick with a high fever and feel like crap, a cool salt and baking soda enema really feels good. First we’d be giving a couple of aspirins, taken to the bathroom and placed on a bed of towels on the floor. Given the first of two cool enemas an once in, held for ten or fifteen minutes and expelled. Then, it was back down on the towels for the second cool enema, an once in, it too was held for ten or fifteen minutes an expelled. By the time the second enema had been expelled, the aspirin was starting to take effect, an our fever was coming down. Helping us feeling much better.

I never had a cool enema, but when growing up almost any ailment meant a couple of aspirin and a warm soapy enema. Anything else was just extra.

To the question: No. There is no medical or scientific data to support the notion that an enema will reduce a fever. If anyone has verifiable evidence of peer reviewed studies that prove me wrong I'd love to read them. There is, however, lots of anecdotal evidence to support the supposition.

I have read some online articles in relatively trustworthy sites that a cold water enema or bath, can increase the fever by causing shivering in the patient.

Many old medical texts and nursing manuals suggested enemas to help reduce a fever. The Wayback Machine will display many of those with a search. My grandma was hospitalized with a terrible infection and fever. She was given cold enemas due to the extreme fever. After she passed away, my mom had the enema bag at home and she told me, and my sister, of the many cold enemas grandma received.

I only got enemas as a child when I was sick and my memories relate that to brining down a fever. I’m sure the reason I got them was to lower that fever and I hated them because they hurt! Cramping was part of the enema and my mom told me to relax and it wouldn’t hurt. To this day the word relax reminds me of enemas. The enjoyment, cravings and eroticism all came later.

85 degrees Fahrenheit is a cool therapeutic enema. Mom was smart enough not to give hot enemas and we were always ready for whatever she thought was best.

While you are well, take your temperature before and after. Many are practicing this regularly along with weighing up as well, before and bigged as part of the intrigue. Lovers do this to emphasize their euphoric treatment. After working out in the cold all day, take a hot bath with the 85F enema going in shortly after getting into the bath. See for yourself, what happens. Rest and observe, giving careful attention to every sensation as things progress. Then afterward, with pencil and paper see what you can recall. Then next time, tune in again and see if you don't discover something more, and update your list. Maybe from year to year about the same time, stop and make a record for discovery. We have done this ceremonially causing harmony as well. Comparing and discussing notes will cause more awareness, creating a secret bond, even with patient and care giver too. Many have said how their enema calms ragged nerves. (I believe temperatures between 75F and 105 are safe, but 85F to 95 are the best, though I seldom go below 85F anymore) Listen to daddy and take in your waters carefully, defining every variance of discovery and set dates for devoted discoveries. My wife's parents wrote love letters and we discovered later, their Our Enema Diary. In there they recorded special times, situations, places of their hearts, and great adventures on the cheap, marked with enema mindedness and love of nature.

Lzrd

Thank you for your thoughts and advice regarding enemas and fevers. I intened to try what you describe and thinking it will further add to the closeness between my husband and myself. Zity is a wonderful place to shar experiences, ideas, and other helpful "advice" that can enhance one's relationship. It make me wish I had a fever to try and see how it all works out. Trouble is, I cannot remember having a fever in many years... oh well...lol Denise

When i was a child i had the flu and vomiting. After two days my mom took me to the ER AND I WAS ADMITTED WITH A 104.3 FEVER. I don't remember a whole lot but i do remember them putting me in a big tub of ice water and making me drink ice and water but i could not hold it down. My mom talks about that story a lot

“Doc Grams” was our family doctor when I got married and for about 30 years when our two girls were growing up. She was “old school” in some ways, which included an enema for fever, but it was more, in her words, “to help rest the digestive system and make us more comfortable while our body was fighting off the infection.”

However, if one of us was sick with no bowel movement for 48 hours, a “tepid water enema was appropriate.”

She said running a temperature was actually a good thing, unless it was over 102 orally (103 rectally) which was rare, and continued for more than 48 to 72 hours. In that case, she prescribed acetaminophen, orally or suppositories, to bring down a fever.

When I was growing up my Mom gave me a daily hot soapsuds enema whenever I was too sick to go to school regardless of whether I had a fever or not. This was on the doctor's advice.

@gboy said,

When I was growing up my Mom gave me a daily hot soapsuds enema whenever I was too sick to go to school regardless of whether I had a fever or not.

That was the normal routine when my siblings and I were growing up. If we didn’t go to school, because we weren’t feeling good, mom gave us a soapy followed by a rinse enema. When we were out of school, because we were sick in bed, we received a soapy then a rinse enema the first day. Then going forward, we received daily rinse enemas until the illness passed. Our siblings that weren’t sick, and still going to school, received daily rinse enemas until the illness passed as well. Daily enemas for the sick one, were on doctor orders, and he recommended the others receive daily rinse enemas as a prophylactic. However, to mom or grandma that wasn’t a suggestion or recommend, it was the same as doctor orders.

I hated school & can recall often pretending some illness or another in the hope of not having to go for a few days. I didn't get any enemas but suspect if I had this would just have had me pretending sickness all the more!