Enema/Suppositories in Hospital ER for constipation?

Hi everyone,

This is my first time writing a topic/question on here since I joined 12 years ago. It has been great to be part of this wonderful community.

This might be more of one for nurses or doctors in the medical field or people who have experienced this before. I have always been curious if myself or someone was constipated (maybe like 4 or 5 days) and went to the ER at a hospital, what is the process that I would need to go through when I am there, what would they do to treat me? Would they use a sup or enema on me, is that still a thing? Do they let you expel in private or is it different?

Thanks all for your answers in advance.

Hope everyone is well and happy new year. 🙏

ekid22

US based, took my wife to the ER on Christmas for stomach pain. We assumed it was constipation but she was freaking it was an appendix. Constipation confirmed by CT. Sent home with directions to take Miralax, Ducolax and if that fails in 24 hours a fleet enema. Oh and don't forget the $8000.00 bill that followed to tell her she needs to shit 😂

Wow that is crazy how much it costs, just to get help to poo. Sounds like an intense Christmas. Thanks for sharing that experience and hope Christmas and the rest of the new year is going well.

A consultation on zity is free (when you have your computer and an internet account). Thank you Webby.

@ekid22 Lol yes Christmas went well after, thanks. Yes US Healthcare costs are ridiculous.

@clyso funny, I knew at 5am what the issue was. Would have made her take Miralax but you know wives, I was becoming the bad guy not listening to her, she knows her body 😂😂

I've never presented at the ER with constipation, but I was a GI surgical inpatient twice in the fairly recent past. I developed a non-obsturctive ileus which is essentially really bad constipation not caused by a bowel obstruction. The GI team (two nice lady doctors) came to my room for a consult. I did not tell them I was a klysmo, but I let them know I had a familiarity with enemas. They decided on a lactulose enema which they affectionately referred to as “the enema of death”. Obviously I had put them at ease enough as a patient for them to use this terminology!

I had three nurses looking after me in shifts. Two were excellent and I had an immediate rapport with them. The third, not so much. Of course, when it came time to administer the enema, it was the third one on duty. The pharmacy sent up the powdered lactulose and the cheapest single use disposable bag they could find. I don't think this nurse really administered enemas, she must have missed that day at nursing school. I didn't feel like coaching her either. Anyway, the whole thing was a let down. The lactulose didn't really do anything for me. I was expecting fireworks and got a fizzle.