How are politicians and diapers alike? They should be changed often and mostly for the same reason.
We don't all agree on who the right person for the job is, but America has made its decision and he's been hired. There's nothing those who don't approve of the president-elect can do for the next four years. So let's not argue about it until we put out the Help Wanted sign in front of the White House four years from now. The government may be a two party system, but we're still one country, so let's all be neighborly and play nice.
Now where the hell were we talking about before. Oh, pneumonia. Yeah, I'm over that. I'd never had it before and had no idea how sick I was. It was with me over a month and was hell, but I'm better now. I had thought of posting a message somewhere to tell everyone why I wasn't around, but I wasn't sure where to post it, so I didn't. Is there a personal update/news forum here that I haven't found yet?
To answer a few of Annelleli's questions
Is it possible to still receive enemas if you have IBS? I have a cousin who suffers from Crohn's disease and he finds enemas to be helpful in keeping his condition under control. He recommends using yogurt enemas to keep intestinal flora balanced. I don't have any information on those, but I'm sure someone here knows something and can help if you want more info.
Are there any special precautions need if you have hemorrhoids? I am prone to hemorrhoids thanks to a very incompetent nurse many years ago, so I try to be proactive about my anal health. If your bottom seems sensitive and you feel you're heading into a flare up, try using Preparation-H cream, gel or ointment as the lubricant for your nozzle instead of KY. It might prevent a flare or lessen the severity of one. You might want to use bath tissue that contains lotion or moistened towelettes and lightly pat yourself dry instead of wiping.
What is a Creme Enema? No clue, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying Tara's Story from Women on Top, if that is what you're referring to. 😃
Can Enemas and catheters be used at the same time? They can, but I wouldn't recommend it. With men, it wouldn't be as risky since there is a longer pathway between the anus, urethra and bladder, but with ladies, everything is so close together, it would take nearly surgical skill to prevent cross-contamination. If you're prone to UTIs, it would be best not to take enemas and engage in cath play at the same time.
How long does it usually take for elimination to occur? I am interpreting this to mean how long does the entire process take? It depends on the amount of water you take, how long you wish to hold it, what's inside your system and how your bowels are behaving. If you've been pretty regular, it shouldn't take long at all. If you're system is more delicate, it may take longer. Now, I'm a wuss and I don't like cramping or pain. So if I feel the urge to go, I usually go. I don't let the water stay in and slowly gurgle its way up inside me. I've learned the hard way that if I ignore cramps, the enema works itself and hide into areas I didn't realize I had and will alert me with a twenty second warning that it's there and coming out, ready or not. I rarely start with a bag. I have done it a few times, forcing myself to take two quarts and retaining it longer than I thought possible, but it always turned out terribly. I would end up with terrible cramping and it would sometimes take the water hours to fully expel. I don't recommend it. So I start with simple bulb enemas to clean out the lower portion of the colon, letting the water flow in naturally without forcing it beyond an unreasonable amount. And holding it until it feels ready to come out. I repeat that process, able to take in more and hold it longer and release when it is ready to come out. When the urge to release immediately is no longer there, I am ready for the bag. I am not a size queen, so I don't expect to take the full two quarts and hold it until I'm ready to explode. Again, I just take the amount that feels comfortable and release it when I feel the need. I repeat this procedure until the water is clear. The more relaxed I am, the easier it is to take and expel the enemas. If I force myself through the pain, my body rebels and it hurts worse and takes much longer to expel and leaves me in so much pain that my abdomen hurts for days after. And that's just not a good thing.
Enemas should be comfortable, natural and pleasurable. Don't put your body through anything that hurts it. Tensing up only makes it harder on you and with IBS, your bowels deal with enough stress. Just do what feels right to you and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.
Good luck!
Dianne