Why the Rectal Exam Before an Enema??

Some of you in the medical field that have experience giving routine enemas may be familiar with the protocol of doing a brief digital rectal exam before inserting the tip or nozzle into the patient. We’re required to do this where I work for two specific reasons, for safety and to make the insertion of the plastic rectal tube a little less uncomfortable. It’s understandable this comes at the expense of embarrassment for the patient and makes the process a lot more stressful. And it’s usually not much help explaining to the patient that I’ve done this procedure many many times and it’s just a little thing that takes but a few seconds and it’s over with. The main safety reason for the DRE before the tube insertion is to check for internal hemorrhoids or fecal impaction or blockage, or a swollen prostate in male patients. It’s done quickly but painlessly, only 2-3 inches in the rectum and it’s over with. This important step lubricates the anal canal and dilates the internal sphincter so the enema tip will glide into the rectum with less resistance. A gloved finger with lube is a lot less traumatic than something plastic during this initial step.

I actually have less drama doing this to men because I think they’re less intimidated getting an enema from a female. I myself as a woman feel more comfortable giving an enema to a male patient because I get less drama and they’re more cooperative.

I’m explaining this coming off a stressful week doing enemas on Karens and drama queens, with only two males, and they didn’t give me a syllable of flack.

Wonderful explanation! Sounds like a perfect scenario and an amazing experience. Thanks for sharing!

I have given enemas in the hospital when i was an orderly, (1964) and the protocol was to do a dre before inserting the nozzle. Reasoning was that if the tip of the tube was buried in poo you’d have a hard time getting the enema into the bowl. in fact it would usually just start running out the rectum onto the bed. Also, if impacted you’d switch to a balloon nozzle and add more soap and raise the bag higher

My first colon therapist did it as part of the process, for the same reasons.

If you came into my room with all the essential equipment Nikki, you'd only get a big smile and a thumbs up!!!!!

I was lying in bed at home on my side when the visiting nurse named Angie said she was going to insert a gloved finger in my behind before giving me an enema. It wouldn’t hurt. She told me to take a deep breath, and it would relax “the opening.”

I was at home recovering from surgery. I was constipated from the pain medication, and Angie contacted my doctor to get approval to give an enema.

She had a tube of lubricant. She said the exam was necessary before she could insert a tube into me. I felt her finger inside me for a few seconds, and then she was done. She said everything felt normal. She changed her glove and then gave me the enema. That was my first experience getting a DRE.

Yeah I usually get a quick check before an enema or a suppository just to check they aren't going to push the thing directly into a solid lump of poo

I had a colonic at a clinic in San Diego once, and the technician said "I have to do a rectal first, it is a state requirement." Also, I went to get a colonic one time and the tech could not get the speculum inserted, I was too tight. She tried to dilate me by inserting two fingers. It did not work and I asked her to just give me an enema instead. She didn't have a bag, so I just toughed it out with the insertion, which was very painful.

My grandmother was a retired RN, and a firm believer in enemas for both kids and adults. And she always preformed a DRE before giving an enema for a couple of reasons. First, to lubricate and loosen the anus before nozzle insertion. Second, to feel how constipated or if there’s any blockage in the rectum. And I can remember when she taught our aunts how to care for children, because she used my brother and I as her teaching subjects. Then when we were preteens and she taught us personal hygiene. We got the same explanation she gave the girls, years earlier, about why it’s important to do a DRE before giving someone an enema.

My siblings and I got enemas from mom, grandma, and our two teenage aunts. Each one giving enemas a little differently. However, the one thing they all had in common was a DRE before putting the enema nozzle in. Mom and grandma were fairly quick, moving their finger around for fifteen or twenty seconds before sliding the enema nozzle in place. Our teenage aunts on the other hand were slower, taking their time, keeping their finger in longer than mom or grandma before sliding the nozzle in. Then as preteens, once grandma taught us personal hygiene and enemas were our responsibility. We started swapping enemas with each other. Primarily because we didn’t like doing solo enemas, we preferred someone giving us enemas. Allowing us to continued giving each other a DRE before replacing our finger with an enema nozzle.

Only one that did the finger before the enema was nurse Jill but that was in a session I've had lots of colonic sessions with about 8 different ladies and Never had a lubed finger before the tube

One even insisted that my hand will be on the tube when inserted for liability issues

My lover always quickly and firmly checks my anus by inserting this longer at finger into my asshole.. only then a thick enema nozzle.. mostly dry so I struggle to accept it into my anus.

He probably likes feeling your sphincter muscles squeezing his finger plus fingering your asshole is very erotic.

It is good thing to hurt and feel pain, as a finger goes in, and then the nozzle. @HotGirl24

I always do a dre before giving an enema. Gentle pressure on the anus lets it relax and dilate so that when I get ready to insert the enema tube, it’s ready to accept the tip and tube

Always, especially if the enema is for pleasure. Making sure there are no obstacles to insert the nozzle, lubricate and stimulate at the same time. If it is because necessity, making sure the road is open is a must

For colonics, I’ve always had a quick DRE before the speculum insertion on a closed system, never on an open system.

Right before enema except for anal finger probing my lover loves to insert huge round black beads into my dark anus. He lives the first three but the other bigger ones are all dry. No lube. He enjoyed my struggle to accept dry beads… The discomfort is real and my lover loved seeing me struggle… He tells me to be a good girl and open up that asshole wide… not be shy and to fully fully open and to be a good girl for him. He then finally pushes the last two huge dry beads himself and I cry out in pain.

@HotGirl24 I think a little more lube would much more enjoyable.

I’ve had my fair share of enemas but I can’t recall any DREs prior to the enema. What I often got was a RT before the enema.

As a nurse I allways give a quick feel with the finger before giving a fleet. I work with people with eating disorder so not everyone get an enema, but at times when someone is constipated we give them.

I alway do a DRE before before inserting the nozzle to make sure the nozzle doesn’t in-bed itself in poo and get plugged up.

And of course the lube additive for easy insertion.

Best explanation would be looking for contra-indications ....

A DRE and feel of my tummy, to see how gassy I am, seems standard practice before a colonic. For my first colonic, described in my blog, the prognosis was "you are really constipated, I'll have to give you an enema first". Since then it's a thump of my tummy, a quick feel of my back passage, in with the CSRE-2.75 and away we go!!

And also to get a sense of the best angle for insertion.

My fabulous colonic hydrotherapist told me that she is required to do this to check that a new client can actually take the speculum. She had one client who's bowel was such that she had to inform them that she would not be able to carry out the treatment.

I don't do a check before insertion. I just slide the nozzle in and sub let's me know if I meet resistance inside. Then I know he needs the enemas more than ever.

Right before enema except for anal finger probing my lover loves to insert huge round black beads into my dark anus. He lives the first three but the other bigger ones are all dry. No lube. He enjoyed my struggle to accept dry beads… The discomfort is real and my lover loved seeing me struggle… He tells me to be a good girl and open up that asshole wide… not be shy and to fully fully open and to be a good girl for him. He then finally pushes the last two huge dry beads himself and I cry out in pain.

That's abusive and potentially damaging. Find another lover.

Right before enema except for anal finger probing my lover loves to insert huge round black beads into my dark anus. He lives the first three but the other bigger ones are all dry. No lube

Pay attention.... it can be dangerous. I like many many kinky things, but always paying a lot of attention. Injuries in the area are bad!