They should be using enemas

Just this morning I saw this article in the Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/laxative-shortage-diet-weight-loss-5a15bf02

Its behind a paywall but the jist is that people of all ages are relying on chemical laxatives for weight loss, constipation relief, such that there is a shortage. No mention of enemas, but maybe people should be thinking about getting back to the basics like s good soapy enema if they are backed up vs. chemicals

First thing-we are overwhelmed with drugs on the TV. Old people's as well believes on that on very bad way eg. You ate us pills and you will be young, happy and healthy. Not working as that.. Second one-society forgot about just good diet, sport and young never experienced that by stress from primary schools and good notes and then working hard and you have nothing. Third thing-yes, lot of chemicals are visible on endoscopy exams. And I am not so fast with that soapy enemas as well looking on soap indegrends

Although being a millennial I was born in the "wrong" generation for enemas I happened to luckily be introduced to the concept by a certain Wizard I'm sure we are all very familiar with, when I was on-line as a horny teenager after parents had gone to bed. Although my initial enjoyment was watching young women being filled with water I became curious to try it myself. I got on my bicycle and rode down to Rite-Aid where i purchased my first 2qt combination syringe. I remember having trouble locating the item, but knowing for a fact they sold it, and not wanting to leave empty-handed, I asked an older woman working, in the process providing a fictitious story regarding how I intended to use the item as a prop for a film project. Looking back, I'm sure she knew something else had to be up.

Initially, my attraction to the concept was less disciplinary and more related to the sensation of filling with water and thrill of doing something so intimate to myself that was brand new foreign concept for a 16 year old. I grew up with Dove soap, so even using a good amount never really produced much cramps when I tried to do soapy enemas, I'm guessing because of the cream in the soap. Therefore, I tended to usually stick to warm water.

As I got older I discovered the disciplinary aspect of enemas by using Ivory soap and castile soap and my use of them became more oriented to this, as I knew corporal punishment was a healthy outlet for the way I am built emotionally but was not being spanked by my parents, and unfortunately did not receive my first spanking as an adult until I was around 23 years old.

This is all to say I am very grateful for my introduction to enemas and believe they have much more value than we give them as a society, because water is free, soap is cheap, and regardless of what the skeptics may say an enema has helped me feel better than before for a myriad of ailments. I believe the narrative around enemas changed prior to my birth in the 1980s in order to ensure people would not use them for their various benefits when instead they could be spending big $$$ to fix their health problems.

I'm not sure what effects using lots of soap may have on one's health, but I would think there are worse things that one's system could be introduced to. At the end of the day, regardless of what is popular in medicine, soapsuds enemas are still a procedure that is employed as evidenced by the different publications one can find when searching information relating to enemas and soap.

The silliest thing about using laxatives for weight loss is that laxatives don't cause weight loss beyond the momentary loss of the weight of the feces and water flushed from the intestines. Same for enemas.

The evacuation process is quite satisfying, though. 😮

Because of different health issues I have had, I've joined several health forum websites. A few of the groups I have looked at for postings are Pain concern and IBS. Of course for Pain, people are taking opioids and are getting bound up inside and a lot of the IBS people complain about constipation at times also. What's common about them is that they all talk about what laxatives and other chemicals they put in their bodies to try and go. Me, being the kind person that I am, I offer up a solution for them so to speak, and it's crickets. I never get a response saying "hey, great idea", or "thanks for the suggestion I'll try that". I tell them how 2 quarts of nice warm water up the bum really helps a lot and is better than taking laxatives orally.

I peruse a variety of sites where enemas are discussed. Some are natural/raw health blogs whereas, some are more related to the erotic aspect.

I appreciate that many who post relate experiences that deal in those "old fashioned treatments" from decades long past. Many are grandmas who swear by the simple administration of an enema to address a variety of conditions.

An old medical text, a copy of which I still posess, made reference to the "magical virtues" of enemas that many older people espouse. I am now one of those older people who loves the simple procedure and pleasure of a nice warm enema, sometimes with soap or coffee as my mood and needs dictate!

They should indeed. The number of laxative, drug, and “pro-biotic” ads on television is maddening when there’s a very simple solution to constipation and bloating that works right away and is guaranteed to work every time.

When my siblings and I were growing up in the fifties, our grandmother was a retired RN and a firm believer in enemas for both kids and adults alike. Enemas in the fifties were a cure-all for a lot of different maladies. When mom called the doctor's office, when we were home sick, the first question they asked was, “Have you given them an enema?” If she answered “no”, then an enema was ordered. When the doctor made a house call, we always got a couple of enemas afterwards, and they continued on a daily basis until the illness passed. This wasn’t just for kids it was for adults too. I can remember grandma giving mom enemas when she was sick, and boy, did she ever fuss about it. One thing was for sure, the enemas grandma gave mom changed her attitude. They claimed her down, especially when she was being really fussy. Grandma had three daughters and one son, mom being the oldest. And she was the only one that hated getting enemas. But she sure gave us enemas at the drop of a hat. Mom’s sisters on the other hand, were an entirely different story, they enjoyed enemas like me and my siblings. Once grandma taught them how to take care of children as preteens, they got the job of doing our evening bath, including enemas when needed. And those two enjoyed giving us as well as themselves enemas. Something my siblings and I continued amongst ourselves, after grandma taught us personal hygiene as preteens. In my opinion, enemas are far better for you than any laxative ever made. Just my two cents...

Noting the unintended info in this post, I'm recalling conversations I had with several Docs this year as I went for my various appointments. They all went something like this: "What meds are you regularly taking?" Me: "None." Them: no meds? None? Not anything?" Me: "Nope. Nothing." Total disbelief ensues, as if I've been transported from an alternate universe, where they don't have these wonderful life saving drugs...

I've been getting that same reaction since I was 60. I'm 78.

OTOH, I AM an enema advocate, but I don't bother mentioning it to any Doc. What's the point? They will just tell me that enemas are dangerous, disregarding the fact that drugs are also dangerous. What they are saying is that enemas are no longer "approved" by the "gods of the formulary..." unless of course they are Fleet enemas, in which case they must be good, because they contain special chemicals. Joking, of course, but I won't take it unless it's really necessary. OTOH, I'm not dumping on anyone who must take things, such insulin, to save their lives.

Enemas are good. They are simple, fairly quick, and come with few negatives attached.

Meds CAN be good or bad, but they are often overprescribed.

OTOH, I AM an enema advocate, but I don't bother mentioning it to any Doc. What's the point? They will just tell me that enemas are dangerous, disregarding the fact that drugs are also dangerous. What they are saying is that enemas are no longer "approved" by the "gods of the formulary..." unless of course they are Fleet enemas, in which case they must be good, because they contain special chemicals. Joking, of course, but I won't take it unless it's really necessary. OTOH, I'm not dumping on anyone who must take things, such insulin, to save their lives.

As readers may be able to tell by my previous post, I definitely have a jaded attitude toward the medical industry and therefore always found myself in same boat as you Doctorh3e-not really desiring to mention or share my enema use with medical professionals.

However, I did have one great Nurse Practitioner in my 20s that I was willing to share my enema use with because she proved me to beyond any doubt that her true intent was to help people, even if it meant going against the mainstream; she referred me to somebody who was making CBD cream for skin issues when this was still illegal, with the caveat of course I not tell anybody as she would have lost her license to practice. When I told her at times I took an enema of up to three quarts or even a little more I remember her smiling at me and saying "Be careful, that's a lot of water."

Not exactly on topic but...

My partner Barb has a male friend that weighed 320 he is 5'10

He asked Barb [since he knew she used enemas] if it was ok to take enemas for weight loss. Barb suggested he try a simple saline 2qt enema every morning for a month and see if it helps. He lost over 20 lbs the 1st month. He is now down to 280 and using enemas a few times a week. You could never convince him that enemas don't help with weight loss.

BJ

Not exactly on topic but...

My partner Barb has a male friend that weighed 320 he is 5'10

He asked Barb [since he knew she used enemas] if it was ok to take enemas for weight loss. Barb suggested he try a simple saline 2qt enema every morning for a month and see if it helps. He lost over 20 lbs the 1st month. He is now down to 280 and using enemas a few times a week. You could never convince him that enemas don't help with weight loss.

BJ

@BigJane That doesn’t surprise me at all. The daily enemas were a lifestyle change that promoted a feeling of well being, which may have helped motivate more appetite control and even exercise. Many factors played into the weight loss and the daily enemas were probably the key motivator.

Most agree you don’t permanently lose weight by enemas, that’s not to say they can’t be part of an overall weight loss regimen - even as the main ingredient!

I know enemas have gotten negative publicity as a medical tool in recent years, but if you watch TV you are bombarded with an endless stream of ads for various medications, and most of them have a list of side effects as long as your arm. Makes you think, maybe the old-fashioned enema is not that bad.

Several articles hit the news recently about the shortage of miralax and other laxative products. But I don’t see any articles promoting enemas as a better alternative

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12496185/America-suffering-laxatives-shortage-fiber-diets-WORKING-HOME.html

Several articles hit the news recently about the shortage of miralax and other laxative products. But I don’t see any articles promoting enemas as a better alternative.

1 tablespoon (15 ml) castor oil taken early in the morning on an empty stomach will make a good job too.

I am old enough to remember when Television started invading and infringing on family time about 1953 and 4 onward.

Is it any coincidence that their family enema culture went out when their TV came in?

Also we might note that beer consumption increased as well.

It’s about money 💰! American Greed

People today have been conditioned to be pill poppers. Everyone uses various medications to try to fix all their aches and pains and it's a never ending road to chemical dependency. Pharmaceutical companies promote laxatives because with laxatives they make lots of money just like they do with medications. Enemas are much better than laxatives, enemas are a natural way to heal and repair a body and have been used for centuries in many different cultures. I also like the erotic side of them also, its a big turn on for me.

When my husband and I were married nearly 40 years ago, our first family doctor was a woman who prescribed drugs only if absolutely needed. We learned more about natural ways to handle colds and flu, stomach aches, common aches and pains.

I still have hand written notes on the scratch paper when my husband had been in bed sick and I called “Dr. Grams” and asked her to recommend a laxative. He had a rumbly tummy and cramps and was pretty miserable.

Let’s not “mess up his entire system with a laxative, not yet,” she said. I even wrote down that sentence. She told me to lay a heating pad or a warm moist towel on his abdomen for about 20 minutes. That should help relax the cramps. Then give him an enema with warm water and a few switches of baby soap. We’d been married about two years, and he wasn't that thrilled about the doctor's "prescription." It was the first enema that I ever gave him, and it actually kind of fun!

My GI doctor is aware that I do enemas (and that I actually need them to have regular BMs, although lately things have been a bit better, provided that I am not having a flare up of my IBS-C, which I am unfortunately having right now) and, having been my doctor for over 10 years and having performed countless colonoscopies, BEs, flex sigmoidoscopies etc, I feel comfortable talking to him about what I do and asking him for advice about it, too. It’s all very clinical and there is nothing arousing or kinky about our conversations but I am glad that he respects the fact that I would much rather take a series of enemas and prefer them to oral medication every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I will only do oral laxatives as preps for tests, which still means that I have to take them every few months. Miralax on its own doesn’t seem to do much for me but, from my understanding, it’s probably one of the safest options when it comes to laxatives and the least habit forming.

I have been given the OK to use enemas before doing preps and during, as long as they are only hot water and salt (soap is fine, just in moderation the day before the actual procedure, and always followed by a thorough rinse series and of course not as a replacement for the oral meds). Because I have gastroparesis, my prep is much longer and enemas make it so much more bearable. It’s also a great feeling to get the BMs that are the product of miralax and dulcolax tablets out of my body, which is the typical combination I am prescribed.

I do not ever find these things erotic but I will admit that I have had fantasies about being given the oral prep and the enemas by a strict yet gentle nurse or doctor (or by my partner). My late fiancé was with me when I was first diagnosed with the disease that has required all the invasive tests I’ve had (as well as IBS, but the main reason why I need very frequent checkups is called Lynch syndrome) and he did give me lots of enemas and helped me deal with the side effects of the various preps I was prescribed back in the day and it’s fair to say that his presence and his ability to make something scary and painful into something loving and even erotic has probably saved my life and has resulted in me staying compliant with the entire process even years after he passed away.

I read that article too. Yes, nobody mentioned enemas. It is like to butt area is becoming more taboo. In the 1970’s, there were enema bags, folding bags, bulbs, Squibb suppositories, Norwich Suppositories, Fleets, Fleets oil, and etc. Now good luck just finding a bag. If my PCP would not have blown me off as my issue was a hemorrhoid, I probably would not be on chemo now. It is like the butt area is off limits until you are 50.

Years ago I had a serious conversation with our family practitioner. While I did not share that I enjoyed taking a couple of enemas every month I did say that my husband and I do not believe that we need to take a med for every little ailment and that we also recognized that too often this may wind up doing more harm than good. Although I didn't open the conversation I suspect that he might approve of an enema rather than a laxative.

The reaction was surprising and at the same time most welcomed. He said that he had a great number of patients who really believed that if they didn't walk out of an appointment with a prescription that they were being shortchanged. He also emphasized that it is important for everyone to listen to their bodies and that we should always opt for the least invasive remedies available. Expanding on that comment he also said that when it came to surgeries we should make cutting the last option and not the first. Note that some years ago my husband tore a rotator cuff at the gym and instead of surgery got a prescription for physical therapy. It worked like a charm and today he is fine although is more careful about weightlifting.

My sympathy and my most heartfelt best wishes goes to those who have a gastrointestinal disease or other that affects ones ability to have regular BM's and needs to use, laxatives, enemas, suppositories, RX's, OTC preps and even having a person help to remove built up feces from their rectums. It can be one of the most embarrassing things to talk to a doctor about. I do not wish what some members here on Zity who have been brave enough to open up and tell us about their disease and how it affects them and what they need to do and go through that we, so, so many, do not have to worry or think about, we just do it.

But on the other side there is nothing wrong to use enemas in a reasonable manner on a regular schedule every week or two to keep ones rectum/bowels empty and cleaned out. As with any pleasure or fun or kinky or whatever just be smart and be careful.

I guess once a father/parent/lover it will never go away.