This never happened before and I hope it doesn't happen again.

I've been very busy at work for the last several weeks and yesterday I shipped out a job I've been behind on, just in time to get it out for the year end. It's been a while since I've had a couple hours to totally relax so yesterday afternoon I poured myself a drink and inserted a couple glycerin suppositories. Within a half hour or so they did their job and I decided to do a slow, relaxing 2 qt. plain warm water enema. I used my colon tube inserted about 6" or so in a standing position. About 45/60 minutes later evacuation was complete.

Sounds perfectly normal, right? Almost. As the evacuation got near the end I started feeling all flushed, my face turned red and my skin got hot (no nausea). I felt like a wet dish rag and had no strength or energy. I had only consumed about 4-6 ozs. of alcohol, not much at all for me. I took a shower afterwards, it was a real effort. This bizarre reaction passed in about an hour and a half. I don't do enemas nearly as often as most of you but usually find them relaxing and a nice prelude to anal sex. I've never experienced this type of reaction before and haven't a clue as to why I did and hope I don't experience it again.

Wow, Curious. Let's review what we have here: the sudden release of much tension at work, glycerin, and four to six drinks, followed by an enema that left you feeling like a wet dish rag.

I'm more inclined to think your unhappy reaction was more a function of the combination of circumstances than of just the enema itself. Job stress is a terrible thing, and research with lab animals has demonstrated that stress all by itself can literally kill. Stress can alter the way your body reacts to other things, like alcohol. The sudden release of stress when you've been used to it for a while can be a stressor in its own right.

Both alcohol and glycerin metabolize to sugars, as I understand it. Even a person who is not diabetic can have their blood-sugar balance disturbed by the sudden intake of large amounts of sugars. I know such a disturbance will produce in me those symptoms that you described.

My vote goes to the combination of stress and alcohol. Four to six ounces orally may be "not much at all" for you, but that's still a lot of alcohol to put into this equation. That amount of alcohol taken rectally could be fatal.

Sorry you had a "bum trip!"

Hugs,

Diane

Also.... 'Nuther thought here:

If you took the gly suppos first and they churned in there a while, when you evacuated you might not have gotten all that out of you. Then you added pleasant clear water, which put out that glycerin fire in most of your colon. But after voiding the water you got down to (up to?) the glycerin/poop combination again, and your lower colon in doing its job absorbed a bit of the liquid from that suddenly. I suspect this could cause a "rush" of distress.

Huga again,

Diane

This does not seem to be too big of a problem to me. I am always looking for ways to get Dulcolax and/or glycerin higher into my colon without danger of perforation.

Any safe suggestions would be appreciated.

Stephen, don't bother with that. the only place that suppositories work is IN the rectum. there aren't any nerves higher in the colon so the glycerin will only activate near the anus. putting anything other than water higher in the bowel is a waste as it won't have any better effect....actually it may work less well.

I would agree with Diane. It all sounds suspiciously like a blood sugar level and most likely a combination of not eating and that alcohol. What you most likely experienced was a spike or dip in your blood glucose concentration (alcohol can work one way or another as either a poison or calories). In either case the symptoms are worth a caution next time. Nothing worse than fatigue, stress and alcohol. Just as a foot note, if those symptoms return it would be beneficial to discuss them with your doctor.

Interesting and thoughtful responses. I thank you all for your interest in my weird experience. I did have an average lunch that day and this all took place around 5PM so I wasn't drinking on a totally empty stomach. The glycerin suppository/water enema together theory causing that reaction is possible simply because I've never done it before. I'm not a diabetic but I suppose temporarily wacky blood sugar levels are also possible, given the circumstances. My lovely bride of 45 years is a diabetic and I occasionally use her meter to check myself. It always runs mid/high 80s, right where it should be. If I ever experience a similar reaction again, for whatever reason, I'll be sure to check my blood sugar level at the time. One thing for sure, I won't mix glycerin suppositories and water enemas again. Live and learn!

When I read your original post I thought those symptoms sounded suspiciously familiar. I am a diabetic and have had this reaction to an enema more than once. I don't know why it occurs but for me, it's a classic hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) response. The fact that it took you a few hours to start feeling normal again is very similar to my experience, as is the "wet dishrag" syndrome.

I don't take enemas very often and so my system is not as accustomed to them as some other folks might be. It would appear that the sudden and complete emptying of the bowels causes some type of hormonal chain reaction that lowers the blood sugar precipitously. But that's just a guess; not something I'm likely to ask my physician about!

Play On!

LadyDoc

I have had a similar reaction on one occasion. There was absolutely no alcohol in the equation. I had taken a 4 quart warm water enema. Upon expelling, I felt flushed, slightly dizzy and some what nauseated. The feeling subsided as quickly as it came. I thought it might have been the volume and have tried to limit myself to half a bag. That being said, a e-nurse once told me she gets a light headed rush from a good enema and experienced the same feeling when I gave her one.

For her, it is a high, as for me, I hope it doen't happen again.