Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) & The Enema

Does anyone who has IBS take enemas and does it help with the symptoms?.

Recipes that might help ?

Absolutely.....I have IBS-C (constipation) without enemas I'd have serious problems.

Sandor

I have IBS and quite enjoy enemas. They give me relief

Yes the enemas help a lot and I know of a friend who has enemas for IBS and it gives her confidence to leave the house and not worry about an embarrassing accident.

Several years ago I had IBS and the doctor prescribed pre mixed enemas to be taken nightly. -- DD

Recently a friend told me that a small enema of breast milk will help eleviate the worst symptoms of IBS ... Does anyone know if there is any truth in this or is it just another old wives tale.

I don't know Cocoa,

Apparently everyone is out looking for breastmilk to give this one a try! ???

IBS is a term ‘literally’ thrown around by a lot of doctors that don’t know the real cause of a condition that people have.

I had gone through that for years, always hearing the term ‘IBS’!

It wasn’t until I had seen a specialist, a Gastroenterologist that performed a colonoscopy on me and took biopsies that determined what my real issue was. A rare condition called Collagenous colitis.

Something so rare that there were no specific medications developed for this. I was given expensive medications for other forms of colitis, (which is ‘completely’ different), however those medications was a ‘hit or miss’ kind of thing. Sometimes they worked, sometimes they didn’t. So everything was still ‘unpredictable’.

It wasn’t until I had my gall bladder removed that my surgeon prescribed a medication called Questran Powder for me to take. It’s actually a cholesterol lowering medication, but, (if I remember), has an effect of binding of the bile in your system? Either way, it worked wonders for me!

One scoop of powder mixed with 6 ounces of Hawaiian Punch, (or plain water), each morning, and I’m ‘good’ for the entire day! And I can eat ‘anything’ I want, even White Castles, and never have to worry about a thing.

It really changed my entire life! No more not eating during the day, never going anywhere, where I didn’t know where the bathroom was, carrying a port-a-toilet in the back of my van!

I would suggest that you see a specialist and have a proper diagnosis done to see if you have any one of a number of conditions that most doctors will disregard as just ‘IBS’. Some of those conditions can be extremely serious, even life threatening, if left untreated!

If you had seen a specialist, had a colonoscopy with biopsies and nothing was found, ask your doctor for a prescription for ‘Questran Powder’ to try for a month. There is a generic and it isn’t that expensive. There’s nothing to loose, and the only side effect you ‘might get’ from it, is constipation.

Can anyone give me any info on IBS. Do you use enemas to help with this. My girlfriend has IBS and her doctor has told her not to use enemas because of becoming dependant on them. I thought that sounded like a a bunch of bull! Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[quote author=Bullet link=topic=24903.msg238553#msg238553 date=1251238949]

Can anyone give me any info on IBS. Do you use enemas to help with this. My girlfriend has IBS and her doctor has told her not to use enemas because of becoming dependant on them. I thought that sounded like a a bunch of bull! Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

[/quote]

USE MIRALAX. IT IS WONDRRFUL FOR PEOPLE WITH IBS. FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE LABEL. USE IT FOR AT LEAST TWO WEEKS. AFTER THE FIRST WEEK, YOU CAN ADJUST THE DOSE UP OR DOWN AS NEEDED.

DO NOT USE ENEMAS TO REGULATE YOUR COLON WITH IBS. IT WILL CLEAN YOU OUT, BUT THAT'S ALL.

I don't know, but my doctor told me to take an enema evert morning.

Thanks for the info!! Susie would the occasional use of the enemas be of any help? Like for qick relief. She has alot of problem just not being able to go. I will ask her if she has ever tried the miralax.

Bullet, you and your girlfriend might want to check http://www.ibsgroup.org/. There is a lot of information on IBS there.

[quote author=Bullet link=topic=24903.msg238577#msg238577 date=1251252134]

Thanks for the info!! Susie would the occasional use of the enemas be of any help? Like for qick relief. She has alot of problem just not being able to go. I will ask her if she has ever tried the miralax.

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I would use very few enemas with IBS. You could use them on occasion, but I would NOT do it regularly--less than one every two weeks. The Miralax will prevent her from getting constipated, so enemas should not be needed. DO NOT use enemas during the first few weeks of starting Miralax. Be patient. It will help and get her regular.

Don't play with your colon if you have IBS. Not everyone should be playing with enemas. For example, my brother can eat anything he wants and not gain an ounce. I can't do that. I have to watch what I eat or I will gain weight, and since I don't want that to happen, I can't eat junk. Along the same lines, your girlfriend may LIKE enemas, but she shouldn't play with them because it disrupts her body.

This is good stuff to know and I have learned a little with this IBS.

My wife has this and she will never use enemas even though the doc told her to once in a while when she cant go

I am also interested in what kind of enemas people give themselves with IBS-D . I was just going to start with plain warm water. 😄 Anyone try with a pro biotic???

I am so anxious for my first enema!!

IBS is one of the most MIS-diagnosed illnesses we have and still not well understood my most docs, and patients. Before you begin any treatment, I strongly suggest a 2nd opinion. Do ask DIRECTLY if enemas can be helpful to YOU as an individual patient. Walt

First diagnosis is important. I've been successfully treating people with IBS for more than 30 years, but--- improper enemas, with soap in particular or other additives can cause IBS. Soap sticks are documented as causing IBS. So enemas can help, but also hurt, and the right diagnosis is very important as there are three main types of IBS and some other rare ones as mentioned above. One type contraindicates enemas.

For the most common type, large warm colon filing warm water enemas with no cholorine help. I have out a free 50 something page article on this on the internet. I don't recommend the enemas without reading at least my article first. As I say there are types of IBS that you shouldn't be treating casually without proper diagnosis.

And yes the breast milk will help if you have a friendly bacteria imbalance. Human breast milk=human form lactobacilis. I used to sell it. The name wss Eugoland forte l bifidus, from Germany, it was acidophilus cultured from human breast milk. I don't know if it is still available, I haven't looked for it in years, was available in health food stores. If you join a breast feeding group you can probably get it live, but you may also get arrested for the try.

Can anyone tell me if Colonics and enemas are contra indicated for Iritatable Bowel Syndrome?

What did they tell you in your colonics certification course?

As to IBS, I am thankful that I do not have the disease but have been introduced to a young lady that does. This inquiry was made on her behalf.

I have not yet gone to the classes yet, they will start A.M. Oct. 3rd.As to the class, than I have been told to expect three colonics in the three days of classes. For me, that will be easy to take. There will be extensive training in the anatomy and physiology instruction of the digestive system along with use of their Hydro San machine. This should quite intense, especially since I have not been in a class room in approximately ten years. I have been subjected to many irrigations administered by a professional practitioner and have auto administered many more. However the classes might be a hoot.

An enema a day Does keep the doctor away.

73

Bill/K2MMW

As an IBS sufferer for more than 15 years, I can tell you that enemas are an instant relief for either IBSC or the explosive bowel movements which come form the other side of IBS. I was an enema devottee before being diagnosed, and I have never understood why none of my GI docs ever recommend enemas.

My girlfriend has irritable bowel syndrome. Is there a particular recipe that I can use to introduce her to the soothing joys of enemas?

She probably should NOT be playing with enemas.

It prevents the colon from reaching an equilibrium.

She should be using Miralax. It has been a llife saver for MANY people with IBS with regard to normalizing the colon.

Dunno... Not to question your experience as a RN, Susie, but IBS is such an encompassing term for such a large collection of varying symptoms, that what goes for one sufferer, may not necessarily be so for another.

I have had IBS since my adolescence. All the usual crap (no pun intended) with all the usual advice. Hell, in my heyday the term IBS was still only mentioned in whisper by the fringes of medical science, mostly considered to be quacks by the mainstream! Anyhow, regular enemas gave me a means to relieve the constant bloatedness, the discomfort after defecation, and a host of other nasty symptoms. 30 Years later, and I don't regard IBS (which still lurks around in the background) as any significant factor in my life. Whereas it previously dominated almost every aspect of it. Enemas truly sorted my IBS out. As long as I keep taking them. They are not a cure - rather a management technique and tool. (Hmm, and it gets you to enjoy your tools too.....)

I would reckon A Nalsechs' girlfriend should have herself checked out professionally to see if she has any "enema-prohibitive" conditions like potential gut perforation, ulcerative colitis or the like, and if not, give enemas a go. Sensibly, of course. There is a shitload (again, no pun intended! 😃 ) of useful information relating to every conceivable aspect of enemas on this site, all from real people's experience. Use it.

BTW, if you want to read some scary stuff about Miralax and concerns over it being the next Vioxx - check this out: http://www.gutsense.org/gutsense/the-role-of-miralax-laxative-in-autism-dementia-alzheimer.html

I reckon enemas are far less risky.

She actually tried Miralax, and there was no positive or negative effect. BTW- she has diverticulosis, not diverticulitis. It rarely causes a problem.

Laxatives also didn't do much for me either way. Diverticulosis is as common as hemorrhoids - almost every asshole has it! 😃 I too, had diverticulosis. Diverticulitis happens when the diverticels become inflamed. In my own case I believe that enemas actually prevented the "culosis" from progressing to "culitis" - over a period of 3 decades. But, hey! - that's only one person's opinion. Dig around some more on this site, see if you can find other comments/discussions and plan your course of action from there.

Just remember that when you surf the net and get to the "regular" and "mainstream" medical sites, enemas are mostly anathema. Dangerous and life-threatening, according to some. Yeah. They would much rather you buy pharmaceutical products and support a chain of beneficiaries in healthcare for the remainder of your tenure on earth.

My wife has had IBS all her life and just suffered with it before she met me. She's had flex. sigs., 2 BaE's and 2 colonoscopies, with no disease shown. She is NOT a klysmo. but asks me to give her tap water enemas a couple times a week (1-2 qts.). I also give her 12 oz. bulb enemas about 3-4 times a week. We've tried soap, saline, sodium bicarb. but tap water works best. Soap is too irritating and NaHCO3 won't come back out. She's taken all the Rx pills available for so-called relief and has tried fiber products, stool softeners and mild laxatives. Anaspaz gives her some relief, but dries her out so bad, she can hardly talk. Tap water enemas always work, even though she isn't crazy about the process. She sees nothing even remotely erotic about this and sex is the last thing on her mind during her enemas. They are a necessary evil to her, but they work.

I rest my case