Colon tube

Hello everyone😊 what kind of nozzle you prefer? Why? Do you prefer longer one to pass the sigmoid bend?

I like to get past the sigmoid bend because water injected above that point causes little stress and makes taking a high enema much more comfortable. Keeping pressure out of the rectum makes for longer hold times and very little if any cramping. Just makes for a better enema expirance in my opinion. I also love the feeling a colon tube presents as its moved in and out. I love the feeling of the colon tube slowly moving out as the pressure in the colon increases from the enema filling from a higher point.

@Stump I agree with you! The enema is way more better with a colon tube high in the colon. How deep can you insert your colon tube? What kind of colon tube you use?

@Snake17 most of the time I can easily insert a colon tube to the bend at the top of my desending colon. I had a 30 year old colon tube that I had gone through the bend a few times. That colon tube split and I threw it away. I bought two tubes from Amazon, a 20 FR and a 34 FR. They are both very stiff especially the first 3 or 4 inches. Being older they scare me a bit.

I did find a tube on Amazon that was supposed to be used with the shower wand. It's about aa 34 or 36 FR and just the correct flexibility. It is an open end with no side hole and comes in several lengths. It is very comfortable feels great. I'm sure with some carefull manipulation it would make the turn, although I haven't pushed it.

For those looking to safely use a colon tube, I want to add one tip I rarely see discussed anywhere: I suggest using a flow meter as the adapter between the enema tubing and colon tube to help as an extra safety measure. As I’m slowly inserting the colon tube, I watch the meter flow in real time, and if the spinning wheel slows or stops, smart money says the tube is seated against the intestinal wall, keeping the water from continuing to empty into the bowels.

To force or push the colon tube at that moment could cause the intestinal puncture we all dread, so I pull back slowly until the flow resumes, wait for that region of the colon to fill more, then slowly twist and advance the tube while making sure the flow stays steady as I make another attempt at inserting the tubing deeper.

As soon as the flow stops, I stop and repeat the process until the bag is empty, the tube is fully inserted, or both. If the colon tube only goes so far before this slowing occurs, so be it. Better an enema with 8 inches of colon tube than a perforated colon. Keep an eye on that flow so you know when the tube is bottoming out or failing to turn a corner.

Hope this helps and saves someone from injury.

I totally agree with naughtydoc's reply.

I thought I would try my tube which resembles the one I had when being given an enema in hospital, although that one from memory seemed really long.

I had a Fleet first to clean out my lower bowel, then removed the shower attachment and bits from the shower hose, held the end of the tube over the hose (which doesn't fit snugly over it) put lube on the tube's end and inserted it. Once I felt that the tube was not moving up into me, I stopped and let the tube's water flow, thereby allowing the tube to slide further up and into me. Any resistance, I back of, allow more water to enter me, then try again, often wiggling the tube around. I am not sure why I try to get the tube up into me, as I thought going round the bend would be a turn on, but unfortunately it isn't for me.

As a matter of interest, I find I can get the maximum insertion by sitting on the loo and bending forward when inserting the tube.

@Naughtydoc thanks for the advice I will try this flow meter because I want everything to be safe😊

Although i like the idea of a colon tube and have tried some of the extended nozzles from silicone nozzles i still prefer the smaller plug type nozzles from there as they are easier to use with less prep required .

I have an itch to feel the tip of the tube going over, or at least up to my belly button. Warm water 102 Fahrenheit in the morning and a cleansing enema series the evening before, has been productive a few times. My colon is good at spitting it out, unless i start flooding it promptly. But i like to touch there and let my little finger feel the tip under the skin and know, it has arrived. Any lumpy waste in the descending or transverse colon, has always stopped it from advancing into the transverse. And bed time hours allows the colon to refresh its mucus lining is most necessary too, for the tube to continue rounding all the curves, skipping over all the diverticula ridges. Notice how the tip of your little finger is more sensitive at sensing the location of the tip's presents or movement.

Anyone have a 60" they have gotten all the way into the ascending without doubling up on itself?

Try a urinary catheter! They make them as big as a colon tube. Not as stiff as the commercial colon tubes, typically latex. With diverticuli present there is always a danger of perforation, so a softer tube is better. I just cut off the end where the inflation needle is inserted.

Since it is so flexible, it will often miss the colon and bend back on itself into the rectal vault. It takes practice, and a skilled partner to slowly introduce the catheter wile letting a little water flow.

It is not something I can do myself, but with a partner, taking a full bag is very easy and comfortable.

I have never had much luck with extra long colon tubes longer than 18 inches.

They seem to fold over on themselves and bunched up in the rectum instead of going all the way up into the transverse colon.

When they are too flexible, they fold over. When they are two stiff, I can insert 18 inches, but then they are not flexible enough to turn the corner into the transverse colon.

Maybe I'm doing something wrong,

I have a 20” 34FR tube with a closed end - the outlet is about 1/2” down on the side. I can easily work it 16-18” into me before it’s hitting what I can only guess is the splenic flexure. Given I only have 2-4” left when this occurs, it seems I will need a longer tube to try to work my way past it.

Oddly I get a deeper insertion with a full bowel.

Bought one, but must have been too thin or small because it kicked even after several attempts. Might try again with a bigger size.

I have a 15 inch red latex colon tube that I use occasionally attached to an enema can via regular syringe tubing. The colon tube has 2 openings, one at the tip and a side one just below the tip. I lubricate the first 4 inches of it with KY jelly, push it partway into my rectum, and then start the flow of hot soapy water as I continue to push it all the way in. I can feel the water flowing all the way to my ascending colon as I massage my belly from left to right across my transverse colon. I try to hold it for 5 minutes and it usually gives me a complete clean out.

@pitt. I have two 60” colon tubes I am able to get all the way up my colon after an initial enema/clean out. One is a clear silicone 27Fr tube with a cap 34Fr and two side ports. The other is a black 33Fr tube with a chrome 42 Fr cap with 4 small ports. Also have red 36 Fr silicone rubber tubing with a 57 Fr cap with side ports. That one, if I get it into the sigmoid colon normally goes in about 2 ft. If your having difficulty it may be because you still have fecal material in the colon or the solution you are using doesn’t provide much lubrication. I do agree with others, having a flow meter in line does help you know when the hose kinks.

@BDRElover wow thats amazing that you are eable to take all the way up your ass that 60 inches. Would you like to be my teacher? The maximum I can take is around 38 inches

@Snake17, I'll pass on being your teacher, but would be willing to give advice. Email me if you want to discuss things further.

I can’t picture myself taking an enema with a tube that snakes the full length of my colon. Frankly, I think that would be dangerous.

However, at the guidance of a nurse who cared for me at home many years ago after I was critically injured in an accident, I have been comfortable using a “rectal tube,” gently inserted 12 to 15 inches, enough to reach into the sigmoid.

I bought my first rectal tube at a medical supply store in the 1980s. I was 22 at the time and feeling so embarrassed when the clerk pulled out a drawer and showed me various lengths of rubber tubes that wound attach with a connector to the fountain syringe that I was buying.

The clerk was a retired nurse and so kind and patient when she explained how the tubes will be used for different types of enemas. I never thought that I would be calmly talking with a woman about rubber tubes that would be going up my behind.

Long story short, the standard enema and douche nozzles are fine to use, but a rectal tube sized in the 20Fr. - 24Fr. range and gently inserted about 15 inches results in the water going higher with a minimal cramping produces a more comfortable and “productive” return when I’m bound up.

As well as the SN SPD-2.5 retention nozzles I have a SN OF-13-FLY colon nozzle. With a length of eleven inches from "neck" to tip it reaches into my sigmoid. Having read some awful messages about damage from colon tubes on this site I showed it to a friend who is an RN. She felt it, smiled and said "it's large and soft, you will be fine.....enjoy!"..

It can be a bit difficult to get a flow started, perhaps because of the transition into the sigmoid but a few pumps on the Higginson and, if necessary, a slight withdrawal and reinsertion gets things going. As @Vicki_V says it gets the water higher into my bowel reduces cramping and achieves a better result.

My RN friend also explained that while the rectum is full of nerves the colon is not hence the need to be really careful when inserting anything higher into the bowel. She said she had given colonics using a funnel and a long tube but didn't advocate that practice.

@ Thursdays child:

Thank you for your post and additional info. Good to know from your RN friend.

Our family also knows an experienced nurse who lives in the neighborhood. She is in her 80s and is still seeing patients for the local VNA. She’s a lovely person, a youngish grandmother, and she has been a godsend to our family.

We’ve talked about everything over coffee and wine. Long story short, she says nurses experienced in giving enemas with soft tubes “in past years” would limit insertions to a max of 10 to 12 inches if they felt it were safe. Typically in hospital, using the large volume bags, nurses wouldn’t go higher than 4 to 6 inches. Safety is always her utmost concern.

@Vicki_V . Thank you so much for your response to my post. I have also been very privileged to be able to go to a very experienced colon hydrotherapist, also a midwife and community health nurse. Over the years we have become great friends. She is broad minded and prepared to discuss everything and anything. Her mantra has always been "safety and hygiene". She has also been an advocate of not being competitive be that nozzle or toy size, depth of insertion and volume of fill.