Urination after enemas

Is it common to urinate more after having an enema? If so how come?

Yes, It is common. Your colon absorbs part of the enema water (unless you add some salt to it). That water ends up in your bladder. You might want to go to Library, Enemas FAQ. There you will find an explanation.

Susie would be the definitive source on this one, but Es will cause water absorption into the blood, and from there into the kidneys and urine. I once had a hospital saline IV drip line in me go wide open (the roll clamp slipped without anyone noticing) and it wasn't until I buzzed that I had to urinate that it was noticed.

Boob,

I'll again defer to Susie, our resident medical professional, but a short series (1-2, maybe 3) of tap water enemas followed by normal urination (and water retention in the blood because of water absorption), is acceptable. The problems arise when too many enemas are done in series and too much water is absorbed, so much water that it taxes the function of the kidneys. If you're a newbie to Es, you probably won't 'explore' beyond 1 or 2 enemas at a time.

Also - a lot depends on your normal daily intake of water.

If you are already a fairly well hydrated person, the water from an enema (especially if you add a little sea salt) will not cause a problem.

If you are a person who does not normally take in much liquid during a normal day, then the water in a plain tap water enema may indeed cause you some problems and you would likely notice increased urinary output as one side-effect from this.

I am a big water drinker - normally drinking 4 to 6 twelve oz. glasses per day plus whatever I get in my morning coffee, etc. So for me, a salt water enema or two (usually not totalling more than 2 quarts) doesn't seem to give any ill effects nor have I noticed increased urinary output from this.

Always be mindful of your own body - if you feel 'funny' (lightheaded or headachy) STOP... Don't change your routine suddenly - this includes your water intake. Doctors used to be so quick to insist on 8 glasses of water a day (it's actually just 64 oz. of water a day as this recommendation was for an 8 oz. glass), but they no longer do this as that was debunked.

But if a doctor recommends that you take in more liquids for one reason or another, and you suddenly increase your intake by a large amount, then you can have problems. And that would include intake by enema.

So use common sense...and ask if you aren't sure (and providing details regarding amounts is always good - helps us figure things out, too).

I agree with seweccentric, especially with her note about adding salt to a water enema. The salt will work to equalize the salinity between the enema water and your body's natural water retention, thereby avoiding osmosis and excessive water retention. For newbie play, be sensitive to what your body tells/feels, and when in doubt, come back here and ask! Play safe and play informed.

When you have a plain water enema AND HOLD IT FOR AN EXTENDED TIME your body will absorb water from the colon and you will urinate more afterward. If you take the enema and expel it, what your colon absorbs is is very slight and not more than drinking a glass of water at most.

For newbies and many so called experts, the amounts of salt they add is either all wrong or not measured properly.

The correct amount of salt to use for a physiological saline solution is 9 grams per liter or quart. If you have a MEASURING TEASPOON, not table ware, you should use one level teaspoon per liter or quart and that will be about 10 grams, which is close enough. A physiological solution will keep your fluids in balance.

It's busy at home, more later.

Could Switchablesusie provide a source for her statement that the correct amount of salt to use for a physiological saline solution is 9 grams per liter or quart.

I am under the understanding that blood is approximately the salinity of seawater which is approx 35 parts per thousand or 35 grams/liter. From http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/gram_calc.htm I find that table salt is approx 292 grams/cup which, at 16 tablespoons/cup, means that an isotonic solution would be about 2 tablespoons/liter or 2 tablespoons/quart which is a bit different from 1 teaspoon/quart. Maybe someone can check my reasoning and calculations.

Thanks

Could Switchablesusie provide a source for her statement that the correct amount of salt to use for a physiological saline solution is 9 grams per liter or quart.

I am under the understanding that blood is approximately the salinity of seawater which is approx 35 parts per thousand or 35 grams/liter. From http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/gram_calc.htm I find that table salt is approx 292 grams/cup which, at 16 tablespoons/cup, means that an isotonic solution would be about 2 tablespoons/liter or 2 tablespoons/quart which is a bit different from 1 teaspoon/quart. Maybe someone can check my reasoning and calculations.

Totally wrong. Physiologic saline is not like sea water. I can't believe you went to a gourmet food site for medical information!

Look in any medical technology or physiology text. Physiologic saline is 0.9% w/v. That is 9 grams per liter.

Lest there be any doubt about Susie's reply, the following affirmation is from Wikipedia:

In medicine, saline is a general term referring to a sterile solution of sodium chloride (table salt) in water, frequently used for intravenous infusion, rinsing contact lenses, and nasal irrigation. Saline solutions are available in various formulations for different purposes. Salines are also used in cell biology, molecular biology and biochemistry experiments. Normal saline is a solution of 0.9% w/v of NaCl (this nomenclature is confusing – "normal sodium chloride" to a chemist means a concentration of 5.85% w/v, also expressed as 1M NaCl(aq) ). It contains 154 mEq/L of Na+ and Cl−. It has a slightly higher degree of osmolality (i.e. more solute per liter) compared to blood (hence, though it is referred to as being isotonic with blood in clinical contexts, this is a technical inaccuracy), about 300 mOsm/L. Normal saline (NS) is therefore used frequently in intravenous drips (IVs) for patients who cannot take fluids orally and have developed severe dehydration. Normal saline is typically the first fluid used when dehydration is severe enough to threaten the adequacy of blood circulation and is the safest fluid to give quickly in large volumes. Physiological saline is 9g NaCl dissolved in 1 liter water. The molecular weight of sodium chloride is approximately 58 g/mole, so 58g NaCl is 1 mole. Since saline contains 9 grams NaCl, the concentration is 9g/L divided by 58g/mole = 0.154 mole/L. Since NaCl dissociates into two ions – sodium and chloride – 1 molar NaCl is 2 osmolar.

I stand corrected. My error was in my understanding that blood salinity approximates seawater salinity. http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/solution states that physiological salt solution is 0.9 percent or 9 grams/liter as opposed to seawater with 35 grams/liter.

I used http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/gram_calc.htm to obtain an estimate of 292 grams/cup for table salt. This number was not available on the medical web sites that I found.

Using 9 grams/liter as a starting point rather than 35 grams/liter, I find that the proper solution would be 1.5 teaspoons/liter, in approx agreement with Switchablesusie.

BTW I used Switchablesusie’s suggestion of 1 teaspoon/liter in my enema this morning and found that it made a big difference in my need to urinate after retaining the enema for 10 minutes – the need vanished.

Thanks to Switchablesusie and klystersforme for engaging me in this conversation.

I will now have to research my understanding of the equivalency of blood salinity and seawater salinity. I’m sure I read that somewhere.

"It seems likely that vertebrate life evolved when the oceans were approximately one quarter as salty as they are today. As the oceans became saltier and vertebrates evolved further, several groups of vertebrates (birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians) left the oceans to inhabit the land masses, carrying the seawater with them as their blood. They maintained their blood salt concentrations by drinking freshwater and absorbing salts from food."

I think I heard or read this long ago and forgot the part about time and evolution.

Though your information from Wikipedia is most likely correct, be careful using it... Wikipedia is a public site, meaning that anyone that has different information can change it at anytime.

On the thread... As for urinating, sometimes if you are actually doing an enema for constipation you will urinate more after because there is less internal pressure on the urethra.

In defence of Wikipedia, any additions and\or changes are marked and referred to the appropriate expert for confirmation. They go to great length to keep their baby up-to-date and accurate.

As to absorbing water, there are certain health conditions that might also affect your reactions to absorbing water during an enema. Fo example, I have incipient congestive heart failure. If I absorb too much water it tends to build up in my lungs, putting undue pressure on my breathing and my heart's ability to beat freely.

I agree that a couple of quick rinse outs pose no problem. But for anything more than that, I always add salt to my solution. I prefer using a mixture of 2/3 sea salt to 1/3 Kosher salt. I use Kosher salt because it is pure salt. Table salt has anti-caking agents and iodine and who knows what else! Sea salt also tends to be very pure except that it has a lot of other minerals

Anyway, I play with very little trouble with this solution.

I find that my patients like to not urinate prior to their enemas if they are experienced. The feeling then is of ever more fullness and when they release their enemas, they release their urine too so they are spraying from everywhere...

You WILL pass more urine after a full cleanout.

Some of it is the result of additional absorption, some comes from an electrolyte imbalance that leaves your body unable to hold on to it!

some comes from an electrolyte imbalance that leaves your body unable to hold on to it!

Thanks LisaK, this make sense as I've read enemas cause the colon the secrete sodium & potassium so the kidneys would want to re-balance by letting water go.

From my personal experience, if one retains a plain water enema for more than a certain amount of time (varies depending on the individual; for me, 20 minutes), the amount of water that is absorbed by the colon is enough that one can need to urinate more than normal. If one uses a bit of salt in the water ( 1 to 2 teaspoons per quart ), this effect disappears. In either case, no harm is done; but if you use the salt, more if not all of the solution is Not absorbed by the colon, and therefore should contribute more to the desired results...

Cos.

It's almost a certainty!

First, because your body absorbs some of the enema, and it's up to your kidneys to get it out of you.

Second, A strong enema can deplete your electrolytes, which reduces your body's ability to retain water.

Third, I don't know about you, but to avoid dehydration, I ALWAYS drink water between rounds.

Yes. It is quite commom to urinate after an enema. Lisa is correct in advising the drinking of water between rounds.

Lisa is right , and preparing your water with this proportion your need to urinate will be not so impressive

Here are the right proportions for baking soda or salt .

You have to know that salt is bad for your arteries ,

so let the salt at his place and use baking soda .

Baking soda 1.91 Oz./Gal

54.25 gr./Gal.

14.00 gr./L.

For salt 1.23 Oz./Gal.

34.88 gr./Gal.

9.00 gr./L.

The scariest hours of my life, occurred at about age 6, when Mommy gave me an enema, and I could NOT urinate during my release. i screamed in pain. It hurt terribly, and a 30 mile trip to the dr. was done quickly.

I recall him asking me if I liked "ginger ale" soda pop. "yes sir, I do." His nurse gave me a full bottle of it, and he said I had to drink "all of it." I Did that, and in about 20 minutes, I was able to pass water. Dr. told Mom a small calcium deposit blocked my urinal passage, and ginger ale was great at dissolving them. Today at age 64, if I feel the slightest such pain, I GRAB FOR SOME GINGER ALE. LOL walt