Death due to taking enemas

Does anyone know of anyone, ever, that has died, due to taking normal enemas?

I say normal, becasue we all know of the idiots taking alcohol and alike enemas and what that can do...

If so, can you please describe how it happened? Was there any unforeseen complication that the enema had contributed to?

People have been critically injured by forcefully using colon tubes, and a very few deaths as far as I know.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3641812/

https://new.hindawi.com/journals/criem/2014/191237/

The most famous death was the guy who was an alcoholic who used strong alcohol (sherry) enemas because his esophagus was ulcerated and burned out from his alcohol abuse.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-texas-sherry-enema/charges-dismissed-in-sherry-enema-death-idUSN0328038520071004

So, no deaths from "normal" enema use.

Simple use of care and not being forceful virtually eliminate any risk.

My father in law got a severe septic infection from a perforated colon from a fleet enema. Didn’t kill him but very serious. Wouldn’t be surprised if someone died from this, or a perforated colon from a regular fun enema.

Deaths from enemas:

Too hot (over 120F)

"Stupid stuff in the water," most commonly strong detergents or antibacterials (Hibiclens was in one). Can't remember if the guy who took a hydrogen peroxide enema died or was just in the hospital for a long time.

Perforated colon from careless insertion of nozzles.

Fleets are a common problem because the phosphates can cause kidney failure in people with renal compromise, and the hypertonic solution can cause necrosis if there is a damaged area.

There was also a case of someone almost dying from hypernatremia because they took a Mayo enema (bicarbonate and sugar) and retained it several hours. It was an elderly person who had some other issues and obviously neither him nor others were paying attention to the retention.

Post was about normal enemies. Not stupid stuff.

Would dying to have one count ?

Would dying to have one count ?

I am all with you! Thanks. 😄

Post was about normal enemies. Not stupid stuff.

Put it in because my "stupid stuff" is not always everyone's "stupid stuff" H2O2 definitely, but some detergent, high-free-alkali or antibacterial soaps might be inadvertently grabbed without thinking.

And what's about the problem of a hyperhydratation?

There are several ways it's possible.

One is for the blood stream to absorb so much water that it sends the heart into erratic rhythm, and eventually death.

Another way it can happen is such extreme electrolyte depletion or dilution that your body can't function electrically.

Another is taking too long to get to an emergency room when there is an intestinal rupture.

Bottom line:

When you get to the point of a headache, nausea, vertigo, or just extremely "Wrung out" feeling BACK OFF! you are over-doing it!

If you get to the point of passing out, extreme abdominal pain or rectal bleeding, or vomiting blood, it's time to get to the ER with all appropriate speed!

Hyponatremia or cerebral swelling are technical possibilities, but if you are healthy and not really stupid then it is not likely. In most people the kidneys will be able to excrete water at a very similar rate to which the colon can absorb it.

Looking at case studies the most common are physical damage, thermal damage or chemical colitis.

Use SALT! About a tablespoon per quart. The colon will not absorb water that is saltier than normal blood chemistry. A full enema with plain water held for a long period will start to be absorbed. all your organs will enlarge including your brain. Your skull won't expand, though and brain swelling will kill you, but that whole scenario seems like a rare thing. Most people won't hold a full colon of water for long enough to cause death by edema like that but it could happen.

I couldn't find a specific instance - but an article from the MayoClinic indicates it has happened.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/colon-cleansing/faq-20058435

"And colon cleansing can sometimes be harmful. In fact, coffee enemas sometimes used in colon cleansing have been linked to several deaths. Colon cleansing can also cause less serious side effects, such as cramping, bloating, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Other potential concerns with colon cleansing include: Dehydration; A tear in the rectum (perforation); Infection; A change in your electrolyte balance, which can be dangerous if you have kidney or heart disease or other health problems"

Another article: "The sodium phosphate enema is especially dangerous for elderly people. It can lead to hyperphosphatemia—an electrolyte disorder that involves high phosphate levels and low calcium levels in the blood. This can lead to pain, rash, muscle cramps, intermittent spasms, kidney and liver damage, and (rarely) death."

There was an incident in an Birth-Clinic here in Vienna in the 1970ties.

A young woman, after childbirth, sufered from constipation, so an enema was ordered.

As usual at this time, chamomille tea was the fluid of choice, unfortunately the women had an allergic shock and died instantly. Was in the press at that time.

I did hear about one several years ago, but not confirmed, and always cant trust everything you hear or read, but the person took an enema, passed out and when falling hit his head on an object near the floor and died.

Ahhh yes, death from enemas, let me count the ways....

Of course you can do stupid stuff and kill yourself giving yourself an enema or enemas. Uninformed or people taking enema use to extremes can do great harm and even death.

So folks be reasonable and use common sense and do just a little research if you are just getting into enemas. There is a multitude of information on this site posted by people who have been doing enemas for nearly their entire life (me included). Or just do a simple Google search on "how to give yourself an enema" and you will likely find some reasonable and informative information.

So on that note, everybody go give themselves a soothing and relaxing enema and enjoy the experience like you know how to do.

It is only by luck I did not do exactly that from doing wine enemas all the time. fell backwards split the back of my head open on an end table. fraction of an inch further down my neck would have killed me. not the only thing that happened but probably the closest I came to being found dead from getting too drunk and falling. I stay completely away from alcohol now.

Fivequart said :

Use SALT! About a tablespoon per quart.

No, that should be a TEAspoon! Actually, a slightly heaping teaspoon is just about right, a tablespoon is too much.

Jon

An enema apparently did Marilyn Monroe in according to one theory. Her care giver gave her enemas regularly and did so the night she died. But, the death-by-enema theory was based on something not nice being in the enema. If so, hardly a typical home enema.

I can also tell you my mother wouldn't have believed it. More than once she said to me, "Oh, stop complaining. An enema isn't going to kill you!"

No, that should be a TEAspoon! Actually, a slightly heaping teaspoon is just about right, a tablespoon is too much.

I would be very very wary of adding salt. I know that i cannot stand any additional salt in anything at all, even many prepared foods already have too high a salt content.

So adding salt to an enema which can readily be absorbed into the body seems a very bad idea to me.

This one is really gross: during the Korean War the North Koreans (who excelled in torture methods) administered molten lead enemas to prisoners. arrrgghhh! arki

Really???

That's hot!!!!

I would be very very wary of adding salt. I know that i cannot stand any additional salt in anything at all, even many prepared foods already have too high a salt content.

So adding salt to an enema which can readily be absorbed into the body seems a very bad idea to me.

Agracier,

Glad to see you back recently posting your interesting and informative ideas. As I see it, the member posting about a teaspoon of salt per quart of water was responding to another's prior recommendation of 3 times that much, or a tablespoon. I have used a tsp per quart for my own enemas as it's a reasonable approximation of homemade normal isotonic saline. However I believe Susie and others have stated that up to 1.5 tsp is closer to commercial isotonic NS. I'm a retired doctor, so I'm just curious about your salt comments, but feel free to decline or PM me. Do you have some type or cardiovascular or kidney disease that makes you sensitive to excessive salt intake? Thanks,

Eric

I used to add salt and soda to most of my enemas. The saline enemas became a bit of concern as I grew kidney stones far too often. The blood in my urine as well as some hypertension convinced me to ratchet back to mostly simple tap water. I do enjoy coffee enemas now and then and will occasionally take an sse if I'm really in need of a deep cleanse.

Most here seem to understand that certain solutions can be extra risky, even causing death if other co-morbidities exist. I've always suggested safe, sane, and reasonableness can permit long term indulgence in these simple pleasures.

Do you have some type or cardiovascular or kidney disease that makes you sensitive to excessive salt intake? Thanks,

I have an enlarged thyroid, hypothyroidism. At first I only noticed it because of the swelling and slight difficulty swallowing. Then, with medication I became acutely aware of salt intake. Eating things like potato chips, putting soy sauce on dishes, certain kinds of prepared foods with high salt content (even some kinds of cheap ice cream for crying out loud) ... etc caused a high pulse and feelings of constriction of the heart. Very unpleasant.

Since figuring it out, I avoid salt if at all possible. Which is often difficult to do. Even simple cooking like making soup is a chore because I can't use bouillon cubes or extracts due to high salt content. No soups in restaurants, no soy on oriental dishes, many cold cuts and cheeses have too much salt in them (bleu d'auvergne for instance).

It can be a real bummer. There are times i would kill for a bag of sea salt and pepper chips ... ha ha

I have an enlarged thyroid, hypothyroidism. At first I only noticed it because of the swelling and slight difficulty swallowing. Then, with medication I became acutely aware of salt intake. Eating things like potato chips, putting soy sauce on dishes, certain kinds of prepared foods with high salt content (even some kinds of cheap ice cream for crying out loud) ... etc caused a high pulse and feelings of constriction of the heart. Very unpleasant.

Since figuring it out, I avoid salt if at all possible. Which is often difficult to do. Even simple cooking like making soup is a chore because I can't use bouillon cubes or extracts due to high salt content. No soups in restaurants, no soy on oriental dishes, many cold cuts and cheeses have too much salt in them (bleu d'auvergne for instance).

It can be a real bummer. There are times i would kill for a bag of sea salt and pepper chips ... ha ha

Sorry to hear of your symptoms, but glad you discovered the source was salt intake. Do you have hypertension or any heart disease? Does your doctor know of your symptoms being caused by salt? I hope you can continue to manage your symptoms with salt restriction, but after you discovered it, did your doc ask to do any more tests or workup to check for any other condition in addition to your hypothyroidism? Thanks,

Eric

Does your doctor know of your symptoms being caused by salt?

Oh yes, both family doctor and endocrinologist know. And both said something along the lines of: 'ah yes, a known side effect of this medication ...' and sort left it at after doing some more blood tests etc.

No other problems except for the salt, which is present in so many dishes. When I am in Spain for instance, I always say with every single dish I order 'por favor, no sal' because otherwise, they will put salt on calamares, hamburgers, fried scampi, potatoes, fries and so on as a matter of courtesy before serving it to you ... ha ha.

Oh yes, both family doctor and endocrinologist know. And both said something along the lines of: 'ah yes, a known side effect of this medication ...' and sort left it at after doing some more blood tests etc.

No other problems except for the salt, which is present in so many dishes. When I am in Spain for instance, I always say with every single dish I order 'por favor, no sal' because otherwise, they will put salt on calamares, hamburgers, fried scampi, potatoes, fries and so on as a matter of courtesy before serving it to you ... ha ha.

Interesting. Which medication did they mean - for hypothyroidism or some other one(s)? I don't have your medical salt sensitivity, but I used to really be a salt hound and used a good deal of it. As I've gotten older (almost 69 now) my taste has changed so I don't need as much if any added salt to produce good flavors.

Eric

I used to really be a salt hound and used a good deal of it.

My parents would sprinkle a virtual covering of salt on their tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, fries and so on. Made me light-headed just to watch them unconcernedly shake and shake and shake while eating bacon and eggs (with salt of course) at the same time. This even into their 80's ... ha ha.

My parents would sprinkle a virtual covering of salt on their tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, fries and so on. Made me light-headed just to watch them unconcernedly shake and shake and shake while eating bacon and eggs (with salt of course) at the same time. This even into their 80's ... ha ha.

Wow. They make my younger self look like a novice amateur salt user. I hope they had no longterm ill effects. Dont get me wrong - even at 68 I still do enjoy what salt does for a burger, steak, fries, eggs or other foods, but fortunately I don't need as much as I used in my youth. But oddly enough on a related matter, I now need quite a bit more sugar substitute (Equal years ago, now Splenda), especially in coffee, than I used earlier. Maybe that'll be my undoing before the salt does me in.

Eric