Drugstore enema aisle

A couple of years ago you could get a bag in the Salt Lake Area at Rite Aid, Walmart, and Walgreens.

I do not see them at any of these stores anymore. A local health food store that sold fountain type bags now only sells the disposable type.

I had quite the experience once back in the early 1980's, back when you could still find an assortment of enema equipment in a few mom and pop type drug stores. I was maybe 21 or 22 years old, on a road trip during my college years when I stopped at a small drugstore in Vermont. Clearly, it had been there for a long time based on the old fashioned sign and the furnishings inside- lots of old dark wood cabinets with glass windows, wooden shelves stacked with all manner of drugs, sundries, shampoos, braces, and rubber goods. I walked over towards the back corner, where there was a sign indicating "sickroom supplies," and saw that it was kind of in disarray. There were boxes stacked on the floor, items mixed up on the shelves, and the lighting was poor. After poking around a bit, I reached for a dusty box that said "combination syringe," when I was startled by the pharmacist. "Can I help you, young man?" he said in a friendly manner. He was a short, stout older fellow, maybe in his 60's with a graying, short black hair, glasses, and wearing an old fashioned pharmacist's white smock. "Um, I'm looking for the stuff for, ah, ah, taking an enema," I stuttered nervously. I put down the box. "They gave me a list at the clinic," I finished, handing over a typewritten list. The list was something like this:

Rubber enema bag with a capacity of 2-3 quarts.

Rubber colon tube, #28-34.

Ivory liquid soap.

Measuring spoons.

Bath thermometer.

KY Jelly.

Rubber gloves.

"Well," said he. "Everyone needs a little help now and then. I think we have everything you need." With that, he reached over to the box I'd put down and opened it. "We have several kinds of enema bags, this one's a combination bag. You can use it as an ice bag or hot water bottle as well, " he said,

holding up the bag, and attaching the tubing. "You just connect the tubing to the bag to give an enema." By now, I noticed several other shoppers in the store were watching, and I started to get embarrassed. "We also have enema cans and fountain syringes, for enemas and douching only, as well as folding bags for travel. Any idea of which you'd like?" As he spoke, he continued to open boxes, displaying each item for all to see. "Uh, I'm kind of on a budget. What's the least expensive?" I said softly, as I grew more embarrassed. I thought everybody in the store was watching now. Reaching towards the back of a bottom shelf, he pulled a small blue and white box out , saying "this one's been here for ages, but it's still in good shape. I'll give to you for the price on the box ($4.50). How's that? It's a travel syringe, but it holds over 2 quarts." "That's fine," I said glancing at the door. I really wanted to leave ASAP. He seemed to catch my mood as he said "I'll get the rest of your things, just meet me at the back counter."

When he returned to the counter with the thermometer, KY, gloves, spoons and soap, I placed my new enema bag in the shopping bag with the rest of the stuff, and reached for my wallet. Just then he exclaimed, "Oh. I almost forgot your colon tube. They're in the back." With that, he left me at the counter, and I could swear I heard the woman behind me in line snicker. The next thing I know, here's the pharmacist approaching the counter with a handful of red colon tubes actually swaying from his hand. "What size do you want, he says." I couldn't believe it! I croaked "the medium one," and he put in in the bag. Then he said "have you ever used one of these?" "No," I said. He continued "Just go slowly, use enough KY, and don't force it. Insert at least a foot, but a foot and a half is better. And if you've already got that in, try for two feet." At this point, I was so mortified with embarrassment, I just wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. I paid him in cash, then turned around to see that the women in line behind me had indeed heard everything, judging by the amused expressions on their faces. I beat my way out of there, and once in my car inspected my purchases: A Davol Travelfold latex fountain syringe, a Davol #32 colon tube, thermometer, KY Jelly, gloves and spoons.

I like to go down that aisle to see if anyone is looking for anything that has to do with an enema.

AlecJ -- when I first started to read this it sounded as if you were on a road trip but then you had the list from a clinic visit and that didn't sound like a road trip.

Had you actually been to a clinic and had stopped to get what you needed, or were you just enjoying a browse when the pharmacist came up and you had a list … which you always carried perhaps? … for just such and emergency?

Thomas

… I was maybe 21 or 22 years old, on a road trip during my college years when I stopped at a small drugstore in Vermont.

"..... Um, I'm looking for the stuff for, ah, ah, taking an enema," I stuttered nervously. I put down the box. "They gave me a list at the clinic," I finished, handing over a typewritten list. The list was something like this:

Rubber enema bag with a capacity of 2-3 quarts.

Rubber colon tube, #28-34.

Ivory liquid soap.

Measuring spoons.

Bath thermometer.

KY Jelly.

Rubber gloves.

Thomas893-

… which you always carried perhaps? … for just such and emergency?

You are correct, sir. I had previously composed this list, it was based on a number of recommendations. Primarily, a visit with a Naturopathic Physician my freshman year of school. I also used a Nursing Text I'd found at the local library as a teen. The text described giving an enema in great detail, as well as solutions to use. The Naturopath recommended the colon tube.

AlecJ -- you were a smart young man. After such an experience buying, was it long before you worked up the courage to buy another syringe?

I've bought several over the years I really didn't need but both the ones on sale, how busy the store was, and who was on the cash register, would motivate me. I liked it when there was an older woman, or, when I was older someone at least my age, on cash. I'd take up the syringe box, put it on the counter (I'd only be buying if the store was not busy) and say something like, 'this is embarrassing but my doctor has suggested I take an enema before I go in for some sort of test tomorrow. Is this what I'll need? Anything else?' If she was friendly, at all open, I'd say, "Do you know if there's an instruction booklet in the box? Or, do you sell any sort of guide book on this?"

I felt then, and now, a terrible fraud, but I did get some great advice and feedback.

This happened a long time ago, when I wasn’t as confident as I am now. Things might have turned out differently. I was in a drug store, perusing the laxative aisle. There was a lady looking the same things. I was there for a good 5 minutes and didn’t want to creep this lady out, so I picked up Fleet Enema and walked a little further down the aisle, slowly make my exit to return and put the enema back where I got it. This lady moves along with me, interesting yet but she has my attention. Now I am totally down the aisle, I move and she moves with me stopping about the same distance each time I move. Now I think this is no accident.. I move to the next aisle, she is still with me. My mind is racing, should I start up a conversation.. I chickened out and moved into the checkout line. She left the store, I put the Fleet back and left. I know I should have chatted with her. This was Connecticut. May she is on here..

@muffasa I see you wrote about this some 9 years ago - so it's a memory that stuck with you! I can relate. Call it "the one that got away". Many years ago I wrote about something similar that happened to me in the early 1970's. There was a large K-Mart super store in northern NJ. This store carried everything and to my surprise I found it had an amazing Faultless products display - a carousal rack about 5ft high that you could turn around to view every kind of fountain syringe they made. It was the most amazing display I've ever seen!

The first time I saw this display, I chickened on buying since the supermarket style checkout lines were intimidating. But, I had to get up my nerve and go back, which I did. So, while I was again at the amazing rack of enema bags, to my surprise while looking at the syringes a gal about my age comes up to it and starts looking on the opposite side. I can't remember now if I or she turned the rack, but soon she's next to me, not saying anything, not doing anything, just looking at whatever syringe I was looking at! Wow! But, like a dummy, did I try to say something? - Nope, instead I simply walked away! I never forgot that display rack or her.

@reddevil now I know where the saying “see something, say something” comes from. ?

Thomas893-

Thanks for the compliment. I recall that it took a few months for me to screw up the courage to buy another syringe. Also, I actually was on a student's budget, so I needed to wait a while to have the funds for another purchase. The next drugstore visit not to a drugstore, per se, but to a long established surgical supply store in Connecticut. They didn't carry rubber enema bags, only disposable plastic ones, but they did sell enema cans for institutional use. I purchased a stainless steel can, as well as a larger colon tube.

Been there, done that, several times, while in a drugstore

Whenever I'm in a drugstore I look down the laxative aisle and if I see an employee stocking shelves then I spend a few minutes looking at the laxatives and ask for help because I can't find an enema bag. Often the employee asks someone, e.g., the pharmacist, whether they stock them. Often nowadays, younger employees don't know what an enema bag is and are puzzled when, showing me the Fleet enemas, that that's not what I'm asking for. I'll always try to converse with them, and whenever I succeed, I wax poetic about the virtues of SSEs, noting that I've only taken oral laxatives a few times in my life and can't stand having to stay near a toilet, and therefore would never use one again, but an SSE is quick and thorough, and then claim that my 20-year-old enema bag has started to leak and that I wish to replace it ASAP because some day I'll be constipated again and want an enema bag ready to use, and so on.

I pray i dont see anyone that knows me in the enema aisles

I have no shame I just walk down the aisles. Never get asked by anyone if I need help because i usually in my EMT uniform or have my department tee shirt on. It's medical we all get constipated at times.

AND, @FiestySue, pray tell, what do or would you do if you encountered someone of interest in the enema products aisle?

Me too @efun42. So far I haven't encountered anyone specifically looking at enema stuff.

The other day I was looking at something for heartburn and it was in the display next to remedies for diarrhea and I encountered a young woman who picked up a bottle of a remedy. She left and then came back and accidentally dropped it on the floor. I reached down to pick it up for her but she got it first and placed it on the shelf. Diarrhea to me doesn't seem to be the the usual enema conversation starter.

Years ago, drug stores sold a wide range of enema equipment from small syringes to my favorite "pumpkin" style bag. Sadly, most only have "Fleet" style single use enema bottles these days, but I found an place that still has the red bag in the enema section.

Years ago, drug stores sold a wide range of enema equipment from small syringes to my favorite "pumpkin" style bag. Sadly, most only have "Fleet" style single use enema bottles these days, but I found an place that still has the red bag in the enema section.

Despite my always checking the feminine hygiene isle in any store that had them, I never noticed a pumpkin style bag. Perhaps I wasn't looking in the right place or they were discreetly packaged. I have to a search here to find out more about this style of enema bag.

I blush just walking past either end of the enema aisle remembering the time I went in to purchase my first bag and claiming it was something my mother in law had requested.The good thing is that the store was nearly empty and I did not know the cashier in my sometimes too small city! (This purchase was not all that long ago since I came to taking enemas late in life at about 60 yrs old with some help!)

I too love to take a stroll down THAT aisle to see who is there and what they are shopping for. Love to notice if a damsel is making a purchase of suppositories etc.

MarcNY, I've seen far more suppositories purchased than enemas. One of the most memorable times was seeing two young women looking at the suppositories and getting into a discussion about them as one of them held a jar of 100. They were talking as if it was a face cream, totally open and at ease.

My old bag wore out, it was open end style and the loop for the hook broke. Imagine my disappointmenton going to the drug store and all they sell now is meds and the bulb style throw-aways. I was a more than a little pissed!!

I have done that to, butt was looking to see if they had any bags on the shelve. And also if they had more kinds of bags or bulbs. Most always it’s just the standard closed top bags and that’s all.

If you need to purchase or anything in that aisle, what I do before I leave the house is insert a buttplug in your bottom. It helps take the edge off. You never know who might have a plug in their bottom

When this virus is over We should come out of the closet. We are older now and talk to pharmacists at and tell them they need a better selection of enema gear. Tell them while you were in lockdown the need for enemas was in demand in your household for bowel care of elderly family members.

If I am by myself I’ll go down every time and usually spend a few minutes looking haha. If I am with others I try to find a reason to go down that aisle there’s always a reason 😃

I am old enough to remember the days when you had a choice of enema equipment when you went to the drugstore. These days if they have any, it is likely only a single choice of bag or bulb. But I always look anyway to see what they have.

It is fun to get the reaction when you ask someone about enema things. A while back I went to a local Rite Aid. I saw a middle aged woman stocking shelves. I asked her, "Where would I find an enema bag?" She got a puzzled look but led me to the laxative aisle and pointed to the Fleet and store brand disposables. I told her I didn't like that type, but wanted an enema bag where you put in your own water or solution. She said we needed to ask the pharmacist.

I repeated my request to him and he led us to the feminine hygiene area and showed me a combination water bottle/douche/enema bag and asked if that was what I had in mind. I said it would work, thanked him, and headed to the checkout with this overpriced bag at nearly $20.

The takeaway from this is the woman has probably never had a proper enema since she did not know what an enema bag was, and that they sold them. Sad.

I always look to see if they're selling bags but they rarely are.

When this virus is over We should come out of the closet. We are older now and talk to pharmacists at and tell them they need a better selection of enema gear.

That would be good, but it would need to be a pretty concerted effort there probably to reach corporate ears. It's doubtful that a couple of complaints about lack of selection would go beyond a disinterested clerk.

I had hoped that eventually the coffee enema fad might prompt the chain drugstores to up their selection some. Amazon has quite a selection or bags, buckets and bulbs, seemed to be geared a little towards the coffee enema users. Chain drugstores seem to be behind the curve on this.

I stocked up on disposable enemas a couple of days ago at my local Walgreen. I had seen online that Walgreen had 6 pk. enemas for $4-something a pack, and buy one pack get the second pack half price. I had worried about availability of course, because my Walgreen does run short on enemas from time to time.

When I got to the store I was sort of surprised that the shelf was full-stocked. However, on the shelf they were listed as $8-something per pack, and no buy one get second half price tab. They rang up at the higher price too. Had to get the manager and show her on my phone the price difference, and she adjusted the price to the advertised one for me.

Had the price on the shelf indicated the online price and discount, they might have had a smaller supply maybe. The mineral oil enemas (which were frequently out of stock) were fully stocked too, with a sale price listed on the shelf as 2 for $3, a pretty good price for those enemas usually $2.69 each or so. Either everything was just stocked or the enema buyers in my town aren't hoarding them.

Tell them while you were in lockdown the need for enemas was in demand in your household for bowel care of elderly family members.

That might get some more attention. Of course enemas aren't only for the kinky they do also serve a legitimate purpose for many people. Come on Walgreen, what would it hurt to include a nice open top bag along with the sickroom supplies? And a bucket, they seem to be growing in popularity somewhat too.

I had hoped that eventually the coffee enema fad might prompt the chain drugstores to up their selection some. Amazon has quite a selection or bags, buckets and bulbs, seemed to be geared a little towards the coffee enema users. Chain drugstores seem to be behind the curve on this.

Of course enemas aren't only for the kinky they do also serve a legitimate purpose for many people. Come on Walgreen, what would it hurt to include a nice open top bag along with the sickroom supplies? And a bucket, they seem to be growing in popularity somewhat too.

Coffee enemas are nowhere near main stream enough to ever get a rise out of the corporate world. Unfortunately there is no demand for enema bags anymore in a reusable form. The medical community has moved far away from them. It would be like advocating for reusable hypodermic syringes. My mom had one she boiled and used over and over with a sharpening stone. Not going to happen.

Interestingly enough since I still walk the enema isle every chance I get I have seen fleet one time use bag enemas with saline solutions included. Looks to be about 1000mls I think. These might be able to be reused, don't know for certain since I have never seen one out of the package.

CVS does sell hot water bottles but they are just that, hot water bottles with no attachments of any kind.