Absorption Rate

Hey All,

I have a question that I can not find an answer for anywhere. I am wondering how quickly the large intestine asorbs liquid. I know everybody is different, and I am sure that even the type of liquid makes a difference. But surely there is an average range. I like taking enemas and retaining them, and I am wondering how long it would take to asorb a quart of water or such. (And before anyone starts getting preachy about the dangers of plain water enemas on electrolytes, I am aware of all of the dangers and have been taking enemas for over fifteen years. This is simply a curiousity question not a push my limits question).

It also depends on what you put in the enema, and on any other laxatives you may have taken.

Epsom Salt or a Fleet Enema(Sodium phosphate) actually blocks, or in high doses reverses the absorption into the walls of the bowel. As do other saline laxatives such as Milk Of Magnesia or Magnesium Citrate. That is why they can cause dehydration, and/or electrolyte depletion.

Stimulant laxatives, such as bisacodyl(generic Dulcolax) can actually cause enough stimulation to SPEED UP the absorption.

Generally it is not a good idea to try to retain an enema of much volume for more than 15 minutes.

Retaining an enema too long can cause too much water to be absorbed into the bowel wall, and ultimately other tissues. This can overwork both the heart and the kidneys to the point that cardiac overload can occur. Usually by the time anyone realizes you are in trouble there is not enough time for a 911 response.

LisaK I agree. Water intoxication can be fatal. That being said, normal saline or one tsp of salt or baking soda per quart or liter is a safe place to start. Adding soap increases the ion concentration in the enema, thereby drawing liquid into the bowel.

I have never heard of bisacodyl increasing absorption of water. Usually if a sufficient dose of bisacodiyl reaches the colon it causes rapid peristalsis. This moves the contents of the bowel along faster than normal, so you usually get a softer stool with more water remaining in stool than without the stimulant laxative. You may read in the forum about folks who have taken six bisacodyl 5mg tablets and got a very wet stool. That is what I would expect from bisacodyl.

I am not a doctor, nor a nurse, nor do I have physiology or health-care training of any kind. But I do have a fair amount of time-in-grade as an enema aficionado, including retaining medium and large-volume tapwater enemas for up to an hour at a time, and sometimes several sequentially.

I generally find volume of up to about two liters to be pretty much a non-issue as far as my absorption is concerned. I believe that is because my colon comfortably holds that much volume without much stretching of the colon walls.

Absorption problem arises when I increase the volume to the point that it causes significant stretching. While I absolutely love the sensation of that stretching, the stretching occurs because with added volume I have created a significant pressure increase on the walls of the intestine.

No way around the physics. Visualize a large toy balloon; if you blow it up to only the point where the balloon takes shape but the rubber isn't yet stretched, there is no significant pressure on the rubber. As you continue to inflate it, then the pressure stretches the rubber. If I fill the empty space inside my colon with water but don't yet stretch the colon walls, it's a similar situation. Once there is enough water pressure in my colon to significantly stretch the walls, that pressure forces water osmotically into the tissue, resulting in undesired fluid absorption. A little stretching causes a little absorption. A big stretching results in a big absorption. A big stretching over a long time results in dangerous absorption.

I find if I keep my retentions to smaller volumes, and immediately release larger volume enemas, I'm usually just fine. Everyone's colon is different, but I'm just an average size woman and mine will comfortably hold two liters, and I suspect most adults' colons will.

Sorry I don't have a specific answer to the original question, other than this comment that it depends on the pressure.

Hugs,

Diane

I think if repetitive enemas with retention were a problem, many of us, especially azdiane and myself would have been to the ER a number of times by now!

The rate of water absorption from the colon is very dependent on the state of your body's hydration. In most people, it take at least 20 minutes to absorb one pint of plain water, if not longer.

Suffice it to say that when you drink water, ALL of it gets absorbed. When you have an enema, you expel practically all of it unless you hold it overnight.

Unless you have kidneyt or other endocrine problems, there's no problem boys and girls.

I offer this challenge to anyone: take a one quart enema and retain it for an hour. Then expel it into a bucket. Measure what you expel. You will see you still expel most of it. Anyway you cut it, you still absorb much less than drinking the water.

If retaining an enema for more than 15 minutes caused problems, colon irrigationist's clients would be going to the ER in record numbers because they have fresh water flowing for an hour at a time.

Water intoxication is just not going to happen unless you have real problems--and you would already know that you have problems. For the rest of us, don't worry, play on. . . .

Susie,

You seem knowledgeable about the subject, so I will ask you if there is any point in taking a large coffee enema.

If I absorb a pint in 20-30 minutes, and plan to retain the coffee enema 30 minutes, is there any benefit to taking more than a pint or a little more? Other than the fun factor, of course!

As you said, If I take a quart or more, most of it is still there after 30 minutes. Are we just wasting good coffee?

With a coffee enema, it is not a matter of absorbing the enema itself. What you want to absorb with the coffee enema is the caffeine, and you want the LOWER COLON to absorb it so the caffeine enters the portal circulation, NOT the general circulation. A coffee enema does what it is supposed to do when absorbed by the portal circulation. A coffee enema is NOT supposed to be a high enema.

One or two pints is all you need. Retention for 20 minutes is plenty of time for a coffee enema to do its job.

You do know what a coffee enema is supposed to do, don't you????. . . . .

You are NOT supposed to get a caffeine buzz from a coffee enema. As far as absorption goes, you will see that you still expel most of your one pint coffee enema solution even after retaining it for 20 minutes.

If you want fun, just use water. Some people here are worriers and severely over dramatize problems with water absorption. No need to worry or to waste good coffee.

Will a three quart enema with salt added likely cause too much water absorption? At about three and a half quarts I have felt a slight unease and wonder if this is water absorption.

It depends on how much salt you put in the solution. It is possible that NO WATER got absorbed if you put a lot of salt in.

Three and a half quarts of water could cause you to feel ill at ease even without any water absorption.