Can enemas cleanse the colon completely for colonoscopy?

The joy and benefit of enemas is in the process. The ability to

remove the last speck from the colon is not important and the fable

that the colon may contain refuse from the distant past is false.

As long as you continue to eat, your colon will continue to pass

the residue to your anus. No treatment is necessary to correct this

process.

Enemas can clean you out completely. Repeated enemas, using plain water or saline can completely clean the large intestine/colon.

HOWEVER, that cleanliness will exist for a matter of minutes before chyme travels down from the small intestine which is why enemas alone will NOT clean you out sufficiently for colonoscopy. Yes, I know a couple of people have done it, but they are the rare exception.

Now, if being "totally clean" is your desire for anal and deep intestinal play with long colon tubes and very long double ended dildos, you will be clean for many hours as long as you don't eat foods high in roughage.

A colonic will not get you any cleaner that repeated enemas. The number of which will vary widely from person to person.

Have fun!

I completely agree with Switchablesusie.

What if one were to fast in order to clear out the small intestine and then do enemas required until clear results are obtained; would that be good enough for a colonoscopy? If so how long would one have to fast to clear out the small intestine?[quote author=Switchablesusie link=topic=37178.msg320508#msg320508 date=1288882428]

Enemas can clean you out completely. Repeated enemas, using plain water or saline can completely clean the large intestine/colon.

HOWEVER, that cleanliness will exist for a matter of minutes before chyme travels down from the small intestine which is why enemas alone will NOT clean you out sufficiently for colonoscopy. Yes, I know a couple of people have done it, but they are the rare exception.

Now, if being "totally clean" is your desire for anal and deep intestinal play with long colon tubes and very long double ended dildos, you will be clean for many hours as long as you don't eat foods high in roughage.

A colonic will not get you any cleaner that repeated enemas. The number of which will vary widely from person to person.

Have fun!

[/quote]

[quote author=cleanout link=topic=37178.msg320522#msg320522 date=1288889913]

What if one were to fast in order to clear out the small intestine and then do enemas required until clear results are obtained; would that be good enough for a colonoscopy? If so how long would one have to fast to clear out the small intestine?

[/quote]

Maybe.

Why fast for 24 hours and risk having a dirty colon for colonoscopy which would be cause for rescheduling.

Just be a man and drink the damn stuff so you'll be clean for the exam.

I have drank that stuff and it is awful. It was all I could do to keep from throwing it up. It does totally clean you out though. I have wondered if enemas would clean me out good enough for a colonscopy or not. I have also wondered about a colonic irrigation. But I defer to those of you who really know. I have to have another one in 1 1/2 years and I will drink that awful stuff again.

My last colo-spy was not bad at all. The new stuff was only a quart with several flavorings that could be added. I chose the iron man "no flavor" and found it OK.

Man that stuff did run through without any slow down.

Next morning at 6:15 the IV was put in, then the great drugs. Next thing I knew the DR saying the ol bung and plumbing looked excellent, no polyps no sign of trouble & whatever I was doing keep it up. No need for a follow up colo for 5 years. I should have said it was those enemas every week!

I'll bet he did not have a problem with the hole being too tight... 😁

Cheers

Skybear in North Florida

No! SS is right. You have to be cleaned from the top down. I get scoped every 3 yrs. after colon cancer in 1998. I tried enemas 'til clear & the gastro. told me I wasn't very clean. Last time I followed directions perfectly & again was told I wasn't too clean. One time the Nulytely got stuck about mid-transverse; Must have been about 2-3 qts, and I was in distress. I took about 1 qt. of tap water and everything came out non stop; express train expulsion.

The standard in Europe was hospitalize the patient, put an NG tube up the nose and fill them slowly with PEG solution, til they were clean and you could be sure they didn't eat anything before the scoping. It also avoided them vomiting the PEG solution, because they never drank it. I'm sure our insurance cos. wouldn't pay for this in-hospital procedure, hence we get prepped at home. When scoping was first available in the U.S., patients were hospitalized, given strong laxatives and enemas to prep. them. Insurances put up a fuss and the home prep. began. Before my bowel resection to remove the villous adenoma, I was prepped at home with PEG solution and antibiotics orally and checked into the hosp. at 5 A.M. for surgery.

My wife was prepped at home and was in great distress, so she agreed to enemas to get everything clean and all went well,

Jim

Quite interesting answers, although it did go the wrong way (I am not due for a colonoscopy).

I am not into deep anal games either, it was just my thought, that after a series of enemas the exiting water should be clear at some point, as it is often mentioned for CHT treatments, when the therapist knows you are done, when the water passing the glas tube is not polluted any more. In my opinion his should have been true, if you first do a couple of large enemas, and then smaller ones (if you first clear the transversal and ascending colon, and then only the lower part), but well.

[quote author=mikeoiluk link=topic=37178.msg320503#msg320503 date=1288879946]Try warm olive oil and a colonic tube[/quote]

Why would I want to insert warm oil into my colon? I'm only using saline (tap) water with 9 grams salt each quart to keep it to prevent osmosis. I am using colonic tubes (I have a short one and a 30 centimeter long).

OT: I had a total of of two colonoscopies by now, for the first one I got a strong laxative called Xprep and an enema before the examination (and the colon was perfectly clean afterwards), for the second one I had to drink several liters of a strong macrogol mixture (which was awful and nearly made me vomit several times) and got no enema (and my colon was still polluted at the examination). So skybear,[quote author=skybear -N. Florida link=topic=37178.msg320557#msg320557 date=1288902539]The new stuff was only a quart with several flavorings that could be added.[/quote]

What's that new stuff with only a quart and several flavorings?

OK, I have had some kidney issues and they didn't want me taking the saline flush products - previously my doc had be taken the Fleet Phoso Soda.

They had me do the regular prep, eliminate solids, then clear fluids only the day before, then an oral stimulant laxative pill the night before.

Morning before the colonoscopy, "tap water enemas till clear" was written on the orders they gave me. I have a HydroSan closed colonic machine at home, so my wife gave me a 45 min vigorous colonic. Had I not had the machine, I would have just used a 2 quart enema bag and repeated.

This worked out well, and the remarks on the report were, "excellent prep".

You can't completely clean the colon unless you do aggressive purgatives from above, combined with enemas from below, and not eat ANYTHING for several days prior to your planned mission. Even then, I would doubt that you could be completely clean for more that a few hours.

Although I'm not going to disagree that you should follow Doctor's orders in regards to the colonoscopy prep (I know u said that's not why you were asking anyway, lol), I will say that I have reached total clear before after using enemas. Your problem may lie in how long you waited between enemas. I only do enemas 3-4 times per year (so probably am "dirtier" than most folks on here when I start) and usually only do a series of three 2-quarts, but on a rare occasion I take five, and at the end of the fifth, I am releasing clear water, or maybe a little yellowish water. However, on some occasions, I am already mostly clear by the end of the third. Also, I normally use only tap water, which works fine...only occasionally I'll put salt in it, and also normally use a different position for each one...left side for the first, knee-chest for the second, and lying on back for the third).

I personally feel that "colonic irrigation" and "colon hydrotherapy" are nothing but a medical racquet (I mean, really, $70-$100 for an overglorified enema? Sorry if there are any therapists reading this). They are EXACTLY the same as a high enema...if you read most therapist's sites, they will say that "enemas only clean the 'lower part' of the colon while the colonic cleans the entire bowel", but they are really talking about the common Fleet enemas, and assume that most people these days don't realize that you can take a larger enema at home (and, sadly, most people don't realize that!). But for those of us who are smart enough to know better, save yourself the embarrassment and money and do it yourself at home. Outside of having it flow constantly into you, and have it sucked out of you in a tube and being able to see the "results" as they flow out, there really isn't any further benefit to it for us enema users.

I mean, I might pay $25 for it just to experience the steady flow and to see what its like to have it all sucked out through a tube, but not more than that, lol. 😎

They CAN and mine DO, clear the colon(lower bowel)completely. The entire digestive tract, however is a different story.

To clear the stomach, the best method is fasting. Then the lower intestine is cleared with enemas, and the small intestine with oral laxatives.

One other thing to note: The stomach partly empties into the small intestine about every 20 minutes or so. Likewise the small intestine into the large intestine.

Soooo, you CAN empty your large intestine on enemas alone, but to get it to stay that way for more than a few minutes, you have to use BOTH!

ONLY ENEMAS: Just had another AOK colonoscopy using only enemas as prep. Two days of low fiber only food, followed by one day liquid, then 4 quart enemeas until clear evening before and again in morning before. VERY CLEAR results.

I had two colonoscopyies so far, and I think I will have another one within the next few weeks.

The first time, I got a laxative called "Xprep" the day before, and an enema at the hospital directly before the procedure. It cleaned out pretty well.

The second time, I got to drink a macrogol based solution the day before (don't remember the name, but it was several liters to drink, and after the first one it got really awful, and I nearly had to through up several times), and no enema at the hospital. Although I absolutely sticked to the instructions for the preparation, the doctor said, that my colon was still pretty polluted.

That second colonoscopy was two years ago, and I am wondering, how I'll get prepped this time, and if anything changed again. Whatever the procedure is now, I definitely will add a series of high enemas to assist the examination.

In the meantime I came to the decision to go for another colonoscopy within the next few weeks (it's been two years since the last, and my health insurance will cover the costs). I'll follow the prescribed prep (whatever this is here nowadays, since I already had two colonoscopies before with different preps, as mentioned in a former post), but will add a series of enemas for my own benefit 😃

It is quite apparent that people here are not reading what has been written. I just had my third, every five years, colonoscopy. Unless one fasts for several days; i.e. only clear liquids and Popsicles, or Jello, the small intestine will contain food in the digestion process. The drink, whatever lytely is proscribed, comes in two forms. I was told that there was a product that was only half the amount of the lytely but that the insurance company and Medicare would not pay for it, and that it cost over 60 bucks. That being said, I did the lytely route. I was told to drink it every 15 minutes rather than the 10 minute intervals, and that it was easier to do that way. Was also told that I could add any flavor of Crystal Lite powder to the lytely. That was not too bad to drink.

All three of my colonoscopies have been done without meds. Number one, I want to be able to see and understand everything, and to be able to ask the doctor questions. Number two, I don't like being drugged for any reason. I did have a big fight with the nurse taking care of me. She said that I did need to have a canular inserted before the procedure. I told her in no uncertain terms that it the doctor insisted on that, I would leave without receiving the procedure. She checked after a few firm words and the doctor said that i did not have to have one. Procedure went very well. Only finding was two very small divaticular. They were applying pressure, and the doctor was surprised that I wasn't complaining. I told him and his assistants that I take regular 4 qt enemas, and that the pressure was no problem. He said that he was surprised. When he left he told me to keep doing what I was doing.

Pay attention to the orders given you. enemas will not do it alone.

It is quite easy to clean out your colon with just enemas its also possable to fill the small intestine but it takes a lot longer to get the water out and yes the colon is perfectly clean many know how to clean all the way to the cecum its not hard at all. its also easy with todays technology(mini HD cameras) and a little tinkering to build your own scope and see for yourself in much higher quality than the doctors use and absolutly no pain in fact its pleasurable! pretty neat to see too! it is your body and there is no one that can do a better job. no rush either and no dirty equiptment

I had a colonoscopy in July and the prep was a bottle of Miralax in Gatorade. It was so gross I will never drink Gatorade again. I should have just put it in water, because the flavor of Gatorade is unbearable. I did not drink all the stuff because it made me feel queasy, and I was still struggling to drink it at 3:00 a.m and having to stop to get to bed.

I was afraid of not following the doctor's orders and having him find fecal matter, because I understood that if he did the test would be canceled, and my time would have been wasted. I went in, was knocked out, woke up and left. Fortunately (or unfortunately) I did not feel a thing.

I tried that before one of my many scopings (post colon Ca)and learned that the stuff in the small bowel comes down quickly and shows up during the scoping-you have to clean from the top down. I do that AND use irrigations to hurry the process along.

I had my second colonoscopy last month and i will never ever drink that stuff again i only could get a third of it down b4 i wanted to puke. i told my gi dr. that i wouldnt drink that stuff anymore. i will start a 2 day fast and lots of enemas from now on!

For my last colonoscopy, I did a series of SS enemas (probably three) that were at least 2.5 qts or more. It cleaned out the whole colon and nothing was said by the doctor about any issues. I will never again drink that stuff that we're supposed to drink; but I will do the fast so nothing much enters the colon.

Don't be so confident. Either you got VERY lucky or more likely, your doc just didn't tell you that you were dirty inside. Chyme keeps coming down from the small intestine continually and he probably didn't say anything because he didn't want to reschedule you (it means lost income for him) and you got a sub-standard colonoscopy.

On my first colonoscopy (circa 1979), prep was a Fleet #2 kit. Two doses of tablets, one drink of Lemon stuff and a high volume disposable bag. Did two of those before I looked clear so did a third.

Doc noted, "good prep" on my chart. Never have done that well since.

Last colonoscopy was "virtual" in a CT scanner. Minimal prep. Stuff tasted OK. Radiologist had two questionable areas and ordered a conventional colonoscopy. Swallowed the stuff, then did a couple of 2qt bags. Surgeon's comment "-- those new preps and just inflating the colon with gas aren't really defiinitive. We have to redo about one in five." My thought $$$$$$

As a nurse I'm probably not supposed to say this, but a colonic irrigation session an hour or two before a colonoscopy really works wonders. The majority of the doctors out there shun the use of colon hydrotherapy, and advocate the use of oral laxative drinks(Go Lytely). But from what I've heard from patients who get colonics, they say it's very effective, and so much easier to take than drinking the disgusting tasting bowel prep laxative. Conventional bowel prep takes all of a day, but a colonic is over with in just 45 minutes and you're not left nauseous.

I have done a series of enemas, 7-8 to clear out the colon. But, it seems like it just kept coming and the colon never got completely clensed. The oral prep, although it has no erotic interest, seemed to work better for the colonoscopy, although it took two dosages (one the night before, the second the morning of the procedure). Given that the procedure requires preparation and no eating the day before, I wouldn't want to chance the colonic irrigation not working properly and then have to do the entire thing all over again.

The oral prep doesn't taste great, but you wash it down quickly with your favorite beverage and it's not too bad. But, you have to pretty much stay house-bound till it's time for the procedure.

I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy on June 29. I plan to do the polyglycol laxative oral prep as prescribed by the gastroenterologist. Frankly, I hate this doctor and he's only going to get one shot at me. I don't plan to screw it up by doing anything that might cause me to have to reschedule.

Not totally they usually do not get enough volume to get up high enough that is why you need to do a series of enemas and take some oral laxatives.

I recently had another colonoscopy and I didn't want to do the DulcoLax MiraLax/Gatorade prep. I was offered the alternative of 2 days of liquid diet with a bottle of Magnesium Citrate on the evening of day one and another on the afternoon of the day before to be followed by a DulcoLax suppository around 7 pm.

Three days prior I realized I hadn't gone in about 3 days. So, that evening I started with a mineral oil enema held for 2 hours, followed by a 1 quart strong soap suds enema, followed by two - 2 1/2 quart tap water enemas. That was followed by 2 Dulcolax pills at bedtime. The Dulcolax didn't hit until noon the following day and repeated three of four times with very loose stool. I drank lots of G2 both days and followed directions up until the time for the suppository. The returns still weren't clear and there was no way a bisacodyl suppository was violating an already sore anus; so, I opted for enemas until clear. I took two 2 1/2 quart tap water enemas with salt and baking soda added with 1 1/2 hours in between and had clear returns. In the morning, I took Fleet Extra to be sure and returns were still clear.

First the nurse asked about my prep and then the doctor. I told both of them about the liquids, Magnesium Citrate and evening tap water enemas. I left out the parts about the enemas 3 days before or the enema that morning. She said I did the right thing because if I had called and told her the returns weren't clear she would have instructed me to take tap water enemas until clear. She said she had told me to use the suppository because most people balk at taking enemas. She said enemas until clear is better than the Dulcolax suppository any day. If she only knew.

Once again, I was awake for the entire thing. This time I was able to observe the chyme generating in the colon. I made a comment about the all chyme and the doctor said it was mostly clean and "this is acceptable because it is liquid and I can wash that away". I laid there and watched as she washed it away. There were times she used the water to slightly inflate the colon and then she would vacuum it out. This time took longer; but, she really was careful not to hurt me. This nurse and doctor made this the least painful of any I have had. This nurse would notice be tensing and tell me to take several deep breaths meanwhile she applied pressure.

I was told I am clear for another 5 years. I will most likely request the same prep or do something else and still finish with enemas until clear. Only difference being we will discuss the enemas before prep day.

Win: I was wondering how many 4 quart enemas it takes until clear for you for colonoscopy? Also is the water completely clear or slightly brown?

I can't PM you since I have a new account.

Thanks.