Worn Out Bags -- Like losing a friend

Bad news. My favorite enema bag is VERY close to going on the disabled list! Maybe like the old saying goes, I've got the "good" out of it.

Here's the problem and maybe some of you folks have an ingenious solution. (OK, pun somewhat intended 😄)

The hole in the top of my red rubber open top bag (where you place the plastic "S" hook) has developed a split in the rubber, heading towards the top of the rubber flange piece (top of the bag when hung up). It's literaly been hanging on by a thread the last couple of E-experiences. To minimize the risk of having a couple of quarts of water all over the bathroom floor. might anyone have a suggestion how to fix this?

If you can give me a suggestion of how to get it securely back in action, you're my new best friend!

Thanks, mcclane

It is extremely hard to fix a bag with that kind of tear.

The bags are all made of different kinds of rubber and finding the right cement to repair and patch it is difficult to impossible.

I suggest you splurge and get a new bag. There are a lot of nice ones for sale on the internet and I'm sure you will find a new one to love.

I recommend the Klystra 4 qt silicone bag. It will last a lifetime with frequent use as long as it isn't abused and you can see the solution level inside the bag as it flows into your body.

McClane,

If it hasn't torn all the way through yet, you might try putting

a grommet through the hole. Those small plastic hangers are not

good to use either, as they do not give the proper support to the

bag. I use "S" hooks in the largest size that will fit through

the hole. This tends to equalize the support a bit, and has worked

on my original 4+qt. Sherema bags that I bought in '83 & '84.

Another option would be to put the bag in a net sack (onion sack)

and let use it as the hanging part.

Like Sussie says, unless it is a "favorite" bag, buy a new one.

There are plenty of mail order places such as www.Klystra.com

to order a good quality bag that will last years with care.

Or..if you have an imaginative mind, you might make your own

Enema bucket with a few simple parts from the plumbing section

of your local hardware.

Good luck.

Dan

I suggest you go to a hardware store (Home Depot or Ace just a suggestion)Anyway they have various epoxies and glues I am sure you can locate a epoxy that will do the trick. Good luck!

Mick

I tied mine with a stout string through the hole and around both sides several times and pulled it all together. I left enough string remaining free to put the hook through. Works, kind of. Was looking for a new enema bag just this evening at a CVS but didn't see any. Guess I'll have to go back to Wally World.

I had this problem with so many bags and finally gave up using them at all.As far as repairs,they will prolong the use of the bag for a little while ,but eventually you'll need a new one.That is why I made my own enema containers from juice pitchers and various sizes of plastic containers.They last a lifetime if made right and cost less than ten bucks apiece.I know some people take pride with having the latest pieces of enema equipment ,not me,I like making my own stuff that can achieve the same pleasure as the store bought stuff.

Bags sold today in stores _ if you can find them _ are of much poorer quality than the real rubber ones of 40 and more years ago. For durability you cannot beat the old-fashioned enema can (irrigator) that was a favorite in hospitals and with some moms, including my own. Vintage white enameled ones can be found on e-Bay from time to time and new plastic or stainless steel ones on the Net too.

I think ilffer's grommet idea is the best. Grommets come in two pieces. And you need a pair of grommet fastening pliers. You can buy this as one set at a fabric store for under $20. However, if the rubber just outside the lip of the hole is really thin on your particular bag, I'd find a small metal washer(flat round ring) that has a large enough hole to wedge or fit between the pieces of your grommet. I'd find or make this metal washer prior to applying the grommet to the hook "hanging" hole of your bag.

My first ever syringe was an amber folding type that I bought in college. It was wonderful and lasted over 20 years, then the hanging hole pulled all the way through and I had to throw it away. Since I really don't have the need to travel with a bag the way I used to I replaced it with a regular red open top type that works OK, but still is not that same bag. Oh well.

Credit to watersub for a sim idea. Take two large flat washers, and make a sandwich with the bag in the middle. Drill 3-4 holes in the washers, and use pop rivits to fasten the two rivits with the bag between. May get a cleaner appearance than using screws.

Be sure to test the assembly when completed!

You didn't mention what brand of enema bag you are dealing with. You might just find an original replacement amongst this crowd or on EBAY. The grommet idea is a good one for a quick fix.

Walgreens still sells a reasonably good combo syringe, but the Walmart combo is Chinese Junk.

Best bet is from on-line sellers. Google "enema bags".

Repairs just prolong the eventual.

McClane,

Everyone else on here has probably also eventually had to 'retire'

a favorite bag. If you can fix it, keep it for special times; but

it's time to buy, or make, a new favorite.

Dan

If your bag has sentimental value, here is a possible solution:

Find or custom make a bag of plastic or cloth of a size similar to your enema bag. Leave a small hole on the bottom of the bag for the hose and place the enema bag inside the "support" bag. Then hang the contraption by the (sturdy)handles of the outer bag.

Hope this solves your problem.

Stick

A bag that is that tired, like many of us, should be retired and

given an honorable place in your archives. Perhaps you cold frame

it and hang it on your bathroom wall as a memorial to its faithful

service.

I have had several new or slightly used two quart folding syringes

come crashing down to the floor. The metal eyelet had parted

company with the hole that it was supposed to protect and the bag's

hang hole ripped. My other complaint with these bags is that

they have a very limited capacity.

My answer was to cut a semi circular fill hole in the bottom of a

gallon jug. The flap that is created can be heated so that it is

pliable and bent up 90 degrees. This flap can be holed and gives

a place to insert an S hook for hanging. The plastic bottle cap

is holed to admit a plastic ball point pen barrel. The pen

gets sealed into place using hot glue. After screwing the cap

back on the bottle neck, you have a four quart enema syringe

at a cost that is too small to calculate. I have made several

of these. My time invested ranges from ten to twenty minutes.

For a photo of this syringe, see my avitar.

73

Bill/K2MMW

" use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without " 😄

Gotta say, I'm a big fan of this saying.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. Thinking back on it, I guess there is a certain sentimental value in play here - as in LOTS of good times. So I'm going to take a try at fixing it via the metal washers idea. Thanks also to ilffer for the metal "S" hook idea - much sturdier and less stress on the bag. Think I'll use some stainless steel washers and machine screws with nuts so that rust won't be an issue. As always, doesn't hurt to stay cleanliness conscious.

I knew you guys would come through!

- mcclane

McClane,

Be sure to let us know how the repair work goes. You might want

to use a dab of silicone sealant with the washers to help them stick

and have less place for dirt or germs to hide.

Like you, I have my original black 4+ qt. Sherema bag that I've had

since '83. I used grommets to replace the hanging tab, and just don't want to part with it, so use it for special times.

Good luck.

Dan

Sentimental value? ditch it and buy a new one

😃some times super glue will work if its a minor tear.

Years ago I repaired my favorite Faultless bag which lasted me another half dozen years.

First cut a piece of black sheet rubber from a pool or pond repair kit which you can purchase on line or from any store carying garden pond supplies. Trim two pieces to match the flat, hanging portion of your bag. Place one of the two pieces on either side of the hanging flap and glue with contact cement and clamp overnight. When cured, purchase a brass gromet kit from Home Depot or Lowes and follow the directions for punching the hole and securing the grommet. Note: If your bag is heavy, or likely to get a lot of severe use, you can punch two small holes on either side of the grommet and install small brass screws or pop rivets to reiforce the reapair.

Electra.

Another possibility is to use a repair kit for

bicycle tubes. I don't whetheryou'll get it in US, in Europe they are standard. All you need is in the package

Some years ago, before 4 quart bags were readily available, my first big black 4 quart bag from Sherema finally split the top hole. MOST DISTRESSING >😢

However, using a leather hole-punch from my workshop, I was able to punch about an 1/8th inch hole near the top back of the bag, and that has continued to work fine for many more years.

However, I agree with Switchablesusies recommendation on a Klystra 4 quart silicone bag, which is my preference for EVERYDAY use . 😁

The other evening I was doing my thing at my home away from home and my yellow folding syringe failed. It has been a faithful servant for 25 plus years. Luck was on my side as the eyelet didn't totally tear out of the bag all at once and drop to the floor and create a soapy mess. I managed to complete my enema along with a clear rinse enema by holding on to what was left of the bag. But the bag was history as it had ripped most of the eyelet area off. I have another heavy amber latex folding syringe but it too is many years old and is becoming somewhat stiff and it sticks to its sides. I guess I'll be shopping around to find a replacement for these. Taking my bigger bulb syringes with me when I travel makes packing the luggage a bit more difficult.

😢

Keep the nipple that the hose fits to and I can help you make a wonderful 3 quart pumpkin bag, just PM me.

I'm sorry for your loss ImFull. Good luck in your search to find a replacement.

I think we want to keep an eye on genuine rubber bags, bulbs, Etc. as those seem to rot both fron air pollution and from what we might be cleaing them with. Bleach is a great disinfectant but it eats up rubber. Pine Sol leaves oil behind and I think it rots rubber, too. Might be best to replace bags when we see signs of cracking or tearing before theere is water all over the floor, bed, Etc.

Failures! Yes, I think we've either had them OR haven't had them yet! My most common problem is the catheter coming loose from the hose. Now that creates two problems....water coming out of the hose and water coming out of the open catheter. (which one do you grab first!) --lovely mess.

the boxcar

I have repeatedly tried to repair some ventage enema bags that have a lot of sentimental value to me with no success. However, a new idea came to me and I tried it. It worked. This is what I did. I went to Lowe's and got a small hinge about 1 and 1/2 inches long and about 1 inch deep. I put the hinge section at the top of the bag's hanging tab and let both sides of the hinge hang down towards the hole. Next I punched a small hole in the rubber where the screw holes are...1 on each side of the bag's hole. Now I take a small hex screw and push it through the hole and put the bolt onto the screw. I then do the same on the other side. When both screws and bolts are in, I tighten both sides and believe me it holds. I use brass hinges and expect many more years of excellent service from my vintage bags.

Hi mcclane,

'Had that happen to a combo bag some time ago.. Took a hole punch pliers I had and punched two 1/8" holes on either side of the existing hole. 'Had a couple of shower curtain snap loops that the pin part fit the new holes, put one on each new hole and another thru those two. The bag (Combo water bottle type) lasted forever till moisture developed mold on the inside of the bag. That's another problem and more prone to combo bags than open tops. Hope that helps.

Let the good times flow!

highwater