Backflow

I continue to have various technical difficulties with enemas. For instance, this weekend, I took the first litre, no problem. Then, I can't think why, no more would flow in. Instead, I started seeing backflow going up the tube. After expelling and ensuring the colon tube wasn't clogged, I tried to take the remaining fluid, but it still refused to flow in. I think if I get a a Higginson device, it will prevent backflow, and a hard squeeze of the bulb will probably force more in. But... any ideas what the root cause of the problem is? Why does fluid stop flowing out of a bag, hung nice and high, and start travelling the other way???

Why does fluid stop flowing out of a bag, hung nice and high, and start travelling the other way???

Backpressure! Your colon is trying to empty itself, and when the pressure from the colon exceeds the pressure from the bag, the flow from the bag will at least stop, and the water will flow backwards unless something stops it, like a one-way valve or a Higginson pump (which incorporates two one-way valves).

Everyone should have a check valve installed to prevent backflow

Everyone should have a check valve installed to prevent backflow

I agree, I have one. 👍

I have a flow indicator attached to my tubing so you can see if the flow stops or reverses. If it flows backwards clamp it shut immediately and wait for your cramping to subside. Then continue with the rest of the enema.

Backpressure! Your colon is trying to empty itself, and when the pressure from the colon exceeds the pressure from the bag, the flow from the bag will at least stop, and the water will flow backwards unless something stops it, like a one-way valve or a Higginson pump.

Everyone should have a check valve installed to prevent backflow

In a way this might work, but you can't rely on it to keep the equipment from being contaminated, and the check valve is a harder-to-clean device. I usually just hang the bag a little higher, and wash it out every so often.

If you prime the hose so the fluid is beyond the check valve before you insert the nozzle in your anus, there should be no need to clean the check valve. Just rinse it with clear water after you're done.

Yes I saw your thing with back flow problem in your enema . I found a wonderful thing on amazon to take care of that . Just look on their for ONE way valves . You can get them in a 3 or 6 pack . Look for the ones that are Black and white . They work great in keeping the enema going one way . You can add a in line

pump with one way valves . But you still need the ONE way valves. Ronald

I have the same problem also if I don't take enemas frequently enough. The root of the problem is constipation. When your colon becomes full it naturally tries to empty itself. I have tried various one way valves or back pressure valves and I they make things worse for me because when the pressure builds up and it is stopped by a back flow valve there is no way for the pressure to relieve itself and it leads to a huge uncontrollable leakage from my rear end. Using a higginson pump does help and it does prevent back flow and it also reduces the normal flow of water by a small amount. A the technique I use is when you feel your colon pushing the water out is to hold the higginson bulb, you can feel how firm the bulb becomes and keep a firm steady constant pressure on it, then slowly squeeze the bulb to where the cramping stops and hold it for a short time and then usually you can feel the bulb pressure decrease and at the same time feel the water moving around the blockage in your Colin. Then you can keep pumping it or let the water flow in normally. I would also suggest buying small plastic clamps for the tubing connections around the higginson pump otherwise you might have something like the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas coming out of your rear end. One place that sells them is OHN, they call them Enema Tubing Snap-Grip Clamp.

How high is the bag? I hang mine so that the outlet is 4 feet above my inlet to start. I have experimented with going lower but got backflow too. It's just a matter of your individual colon pressure, so go as high as you need to get the results you want. It's also a matter of how much water is in the bag. The fill pressure is equal to the total height of the water column, including what's in the bag. As the water level drops, so does the column height and the pressure with it. This can be overcome by hanging your bag using a stretchy bungy cord. The cord will stretch when its full but raise the bag up higher as it empties. That will compensate for the drop in pressure.

I have just thought of a way to hang my bag even higher and will cobble that together tomorrow. I usually like a long, slow fill but it might be fun to have the ability to gush once in a while.

I enjoyed using a double balloon retention nozzle and having the bag at just the right height where strong cramps caused a backflow that I could watch taking place by using clear tubing from the bag to the nozzle. The backflow and then subsequent re-flow into me once the cramp subsided would take place as a series of actions. The cramps gradually weakened and the re-flow would really rushing into me. I liked the feeling of that and of a sense that it was losing the battle - the enemas from going to get me!