Drug Store Enemas

The last drug store in our town no longer carries enema bags.

I despise the four ounce quick and dirty variety that has

replaced them. They do nothing for me and the chemicals that

they contain strike terror into my heart. I find that the

availability of all types of bags, be they open top, combo

or bulb has been dropped from nearly all of the stores that

I visit.

Can anyone offer a suggestion why this decline is happening?

More important, what could be done about it?

I think it is declining because of the increased use of laxatives and stool softeners by people, I would either try to find a fountain syringe at the drug store, or order one on the itnernet.

I've found that even fountain syringe enema bags are not available at many local drugstores. Not sure why, but it is annoying. Don't really like having to wait for delivery. I think that many stores don't carry them for the reasons stated by Tommylee24. I also think they are on the decline because of the perception that the general population believes enemas to be dirty or gross. Man, the amount of pleasure being missed by so many!

K2,

The start of your post "the last drug store in town" provides a partial clue to the dynamics..... The independent drug store and corner grocery store are a thing of the past and everything is moving to the chain and 'big box' stores. In the big stores, the game is one of getting shelf space....the store managers are incentivized to sell as many $/sq foot as they can. Demand for rubber goods such as Ebags have declined over the years as folks have opted for 'quickies' be it the BigMac or Fleets, which both, BTW, heavily advertise and provide incentives for customers to buy. When was the last time we saw Davol or Cara advertise? Once the old Rexall chain closed down, it was all downhill from there.

Klystersforme,

it is said to see the old forms of sales to go away. However with ever-increasing cost of labour and transport we would be forced to go down the current direction. Maybe it is because I am a fairly young person and I actually prefer to order online (okay, it is true I rather buy snacks from a vending machine than from a grocery store), just order in your spare time and it shall show up by your doorstep in no time. There are also great artisans selling very ingenuous products on the net, and it is a day to day joy to discover them with a few clicks of the mouse. I am looking forward to see enema equipments sold this way.

Two cheers for the internet Laforet. My only lament -- and I often purchase goods via Web -- is the lack of personal service. And if there is a problem with the order, then the heart burn begins. In my experience, customer service with many Web sellers is poor at best. That's not to say that there are Web sellers with great customer service. I've experienced both ends of the spectrum.

Good equipment can be had very easily by ordering online. It is worth the wait for a quality product. Most drug store equipment is not all that well made anymore.

One thing that does surprise me a little is that all drug stores and even some convenience stores carry either a Fleet or maybe a generic version. They no longer carry the good quality bags that they used to they used to.

Since a lot of people don't like the "4oz squirt", why don't the drugstores at least stock the "Fleet Bagenema"? It is an alternative to the regular small Fleet.

Does Fleet still sell the Bagenema by itself? Haven't seen one in years, even in large drug stores where they carry a couple of types of bags and several types of prepackaged enemas, tons of laxatives, suppositories, etc. A couple of years ago the Bagenema was still part of the bowel Prep-kit but you had to buy the whole thing even if you only wanted the enema.

I've seen similar products on line, often available in bulk and some sex shops in SF sell them for $10 or so each. You can get a nice red rubber enemabag at the local Longs Drugs for a dollar more!

I really dont think you can get good equipment at a drug store.

Berken,

The Fleet Bagenema setup is still around, but very few drugstores stock it. You can do a Web search and find vendors that sell it for about $5-7 each. If you search for 'disposable enema bags", you'll find other lesser manufacturers offered for $2.50 and up. No need to pay $10 in SanFran. If you really want the Bagenema, suggest you go to Walgreen's or Long's and ask if they can order it for you.

Most drug stores and other stores sell items for a profit and if the demand is not there they quit stocking these items. Seems like the demand for enema bags in the past several years has decreased. Almost all drug stores in my area still handle a least one brand of enema bag. We users should start buying more enema equipment and they might start selling them again. If not we can still purchase bags on the internet.

My local supermarket recently began selling Cara combo bags, at the pharmacist's counter. It looks like it has sold only one - maybe for only hot water bottle use since they don't have just bottles.

It's a far cry from the generous display of enema equipment and other "sickroom needs" you once could not avoid seeing in drug store windows.

I have a good friend who is the manager and pharmacist at a "CHAIN" drug store. Linda tell me that its almost impossible to keep fleet enemas on the shelves when they go on sale..And that the main reason her chain and some of the other no longer sell the "quality" oldtime real rubber enema bags is the libility they might indure if the person who purshased them has a "latex allergy".....By the way Linda is a "klismo" also.... 😁

Michael2

I often visit a local (ie, not national chain) pharmacy nearby -- a medium-sized town in New England. They always have two fountain syringes and two combination syringes on the bottom shelf under the fleets, suppositories, etc (n a square box). Every now and then an infant bulb too. I think they have an anonymous brand -- not Davol or Sunmark. (next time I'll check). Every now and then the inventory is down to 2 or 3, but then restocked right away. I have fantasies of the teen-age bride picking up the big red toy --- the way it used to be in the 50's (average age of a bride was 19, and every home had its mandatory enema bag). -- some social analyst once remarked that all of America's vast problems originate with Mamie Eisenhower having put paper fans in the White House fireplaces. -- coincident with the disappearance of the family enema bag too. (for a trip down memory lane search "vintage enema" on Ebay -- they were the good old days...

That's hard to believe... I'm going to have to check my local drugstore the next time I actually go into the store, (been using the drive up window...).

In the past I had seen them, naturally they weren't called 'enema bags', but basically hot water bottles, still well made of a heavy rubber, but with 'accessories' included for female douching. Just a different plug to connect a hose to so you can hang it upside down, then a clamp, and two different nozzles.

If you're talking about the disposable, 'real' enema bags, I had never seen them in any drug stores I visited. I had seen them in medical supply stores... stores that specialized in canes, crutches, wheelchairs and the such.

In fact you would be surprised at what all they carried! Some items behind the counter, requiring a prescription to get. I used to go to one medical supply store some years ago that actually sold catheters over-the-counter. Something I thought a prescription would be needed to obtain. But they sold them, and for a lot less than Internet companies that deal with such items sell them for!

I would imagine obtaining certain medical items would vary from state to state.

I used to purchase 'cases' of disposable 3 liter enema bags, with balloon rentension nozzles on a wholesale basis and sell them on ebay. If I remember, I had probably sold one each and every week when I listed them. People used to get in bidding wars over them, not knowing that I would have another listed the following week.

In taking a look at ebay now, I see that there is still a lot of listings for enema suppies and equipment, from the drug store hot water bottle type, to gallon bags, the squeeze type bulbs, tubing, all kinds of accessories, even seen a '6 quart' bag on there. 'Really' don't like promoting ebay! But when you can't find something anywhere else, that's always a last resort.

Interesting reply as to not finding fountains enemas anymore in the drug stores. I found them on Ebay from a previous posts. The price has increased 150%.

You are correct, they are still around at SavemorX drug stores.

The only problem with the Fleet Bagenema, the "holding" hole tends to start tearing after a few uses if you hang it too high fro pressure enemas.

Perhaps someday there could be a database of drug and medical supply stores that can be searched by Zip code or Postal code.

Wall Mart stores also have them in the drug dept

Yes, at our walmart they're next to the band-aids. I havent' figure that one out yet.

Jimmy, it's not so unusual placement when you think that for many moms years ago, an enema bag was "first aid" for illnsss or just being cranky from constipation!

I've noticed the decline in enema equipment at the local drugstores as well. It appears that even the local wal-marts are pulling them off the shelf. As far as latex allergies, a warning could be posted on the box, or maybe the companies could start making the silicon bags more mainstream. I feel that it is just a lack of advertising. These companies don't want to deal with something that doesn't get much advertising because they don't think it will sell as well. It is a real shame to see the fountain bags dissappear at the rate that I've seen them dissappear from the drugstores. I guess that we'll have to get our equipment from the internet soon, because no one else seems to be interested in stocking the old style enema bags. It is truely a shame for something like this to happen.

Disposable enemas are available at every drug store and food supermarket I shop at. People must be taking a lot of enemas to warrent this availability.

I had not found the enema bags at my local Wal*Mart for a long time. I was looking for bandages the other day and there they were.

Walgreen drug stores have the enema bags in the ladies hygiene department. I have not found a bulb syringe.

CVS Drug Stores have bulb syringes next to the disposable enemas. I have found bags in both the enema and ladies hygiene areas at CVS.

I find it amazing that bags ans bulbs are sold at all. One enema bag will last a lifetime with reasonable care. Someone must be getting into the enema routine.

I haven't looked at CVS recently, but I did buy an open top bag there about 5 years ago. I recently bought an 8 oz. rectal bulb there. I think a lot of doctors promote Fleet-type enemas prior to various procedures and for constipation. Thus the abundance of these products on drug store shelves. I use them myself from time to time. Usually prior to anal sex. But, I find the chemicals harsh and often producing surprises long after the administration. Frankly though, I prefer shopping over the internet. You get a much better selection of all sorts of enema gear. It is also anonymous. Based on the number of sites and selection, there is still a market for us who are into enemas.

CVS and Walgreens will have both the screeze bulb and bag enema. usually the bag ones are in the Feminine hygiene Section. Here you will usually find about 3or 4 different types of feminine hygiene syringes, all quite capable and made to give very good enemas. You will also find the standard fountain syringe there.

We have a similar experience in the UK. The pharmacies are not longer carrying enema bags, so I order mine on-line from a place in the US. Their link is: http://www.rojo-enterprises.com/Rubber%20enima%20bags.htm They have high quality enema equipment at reasonable prices and the post usually arrives within 2-3 days if you are in US, about 10 days in the UK.

I bought a Walgreen's-brand bag once and the quality was very poor. I haven't checked WalMart lately and never thought to look in by the Band-Aid section. Last time, I couldn't find any bags in WalMart, only disposable enemas.

Drugstore.com carries Faultless bags. www.drugstore.com

A.

I work at a Wal-Mart and I've checked my store. We have water bottles, but no combination sets. Also havn't seen any bulbs, just Fleets & Equate Brand (Walmart private label)disposables.

Take a look at www.OptimalHealthNetwork.com.

I've purchased from them once; the service was prompt, the quality good, and the pricing was reasonable. Their website has much info, and downloaded info is provided with a purchase. I get a good feeling from this outfit.