Age and enema volume

Like many others when quite young my enemas came from a small bulb. As I got a little older I was given more than one bulb full until maybe I was 8 years old when mom began using the family enema bag. At the time it seemed like I was given a huge volume, but now when I look back on it my guess is that it was just barely a single quart, if that. But they did work and even now I am of the opinion that a quart of warm soapy water, given slowly, and held for maybe 10 minutes makes for a perfectly acceptable enema that is both comfortable and effective. I"ve learned that a comfortable enema is one that isn't too warm, isn't too much, and isn't too quickly given is just about perfect.

I love Emom's description of a just-about-perfect enema: "I am of the opinion that a quart of warm soapy water, given slowly, and held for maybe 10 minutes makes for a perfectly acceptable enema that is both comfortable and effective. I've learned that a comfortable enema is one that isn't too warm, isn't too much, and isn't too quickly given is just about perfect."

Years ago in my 20s a very skilled home health nurse assured me that she didn't need to get good results from an enema by filling my colon to the size that I looked pregnant. She gave only half to 2/3rds a two-quart (1500ml) bag at a time, and I've remembered that ever since. "Don't traumatize the patient, make them comfortable," she said. Enemas can be embarrassing ... don't frighten your patient with foaming soapsuds overflowing the bag, she joked. I remember she used two words to define a good enema: "high and hold." She recommended a soft rectal tube instead of a nozzle, inject the solution high enough into the descending and transverse colon, and try to retain for 10 minutes.

Funny thing, I remember nurse Angie vividly from 30 years ago and what she taught me during those two weeks, but I can't find my car keys!

I was 14 when I got my first two-quart, full bag enema. When I was 12 and 13, I recall that the bag was about 2/3 full. My parents used a translucent folding douchebag so it was easy to see the water level. After I turned 13, I was allowed to self-administer out of respect for my modesty, but one of my parents always filled the bag and inspected the results.

I recall that first full-bag enema like it was yesterday. My mom had always administered enemas with me in the bathtub on my left side and the bag hanging on the shower curtain rod. When I started self-administering, I was taught to do it the same way. When I was 14, we moved out of state and the bathroom that I shared with my brother did not have a tub. One Saturday morning, I was having one of my more difficult bouts with constipation. Milk of Magnesia had failed and I actually agreed with my parents that I should have an enema.I remember hearing water running in my bathroom and knew that the enema was being prepared. I assumed that it would be about the same volume as usual. I was quite shocked when I walked into the bathroom and saw the completely full bag. It was extremely bloated in the way that only a folding douche syringe can be. Since there was no shower curtain rod to hang it from, my dad had suspended it from the towel rack. He was very insistent that I need to take the whole bag. He said that he was sick and tired of me getting constipated and that I needed to be cleaned out "all the way up." He also noted that I was "growing up" and should be able to take an adult-sized enema. Before he left the bathroom, he told me that if I couldn't take the whole bag, that I needed to repeat the enema until I could. I was panicked because it looked like a huge enema but was determined to at least give it a try.

I administered the enema as I lay on my left side on a towel he had spread on the floor. I was actually able to take the whole bag without a lot of trouble despite the fact that I had been backed up for almost a week. The pressure with the bag suspended 3 feet above me was so much less than when it was suspended 5 or 6 feet above me. I remember it actually feeling good. The pressure built more slowly and I savored the feeling as the water filled my adolescent belly. I do remember being shocked by how distended my lower abdomen looked in the mirror when I got up to sit on the toilet. The enema worked extremely well. I think it really did clean me out "all the way up" as my dad had ordered. He was impressed with the results I had achieved. I decided that I did not want to stop at one enema, so I lied and told him that I had not been able to take the whole bag. True to his word, he made me refill the bag as he watched and take another one. That game went on for the better part of three hours. All told, I had four enemas that morning - all full-baggers!

I have always received an enema from an enema bag; never a bulb.

Unlike some others my enemas were not given while I was in the bathtub.

I was always on my knees on the bathroom floor over the side of the tub with my hands at the bottom of the tub from ages 5 to 17 from my mom while she sat on the closed toilet seat. She would expect me to try to take the whole bag.

As you can imagine my backside was up in the air facing her while she held the black nozzle coated with vaseline in my rear so the the nozzle would not fall out until the enema was all inside me.

Around a pint, or perhaps a squeeze or two more was the norm. Then hold as long as possible. The enema was always given slowly, with steady half squeezes of the bulb of the Higginson syringe. I would think that the time that the solution is retained is one of the most important considerations. I would suggest that any enema that actually causes pain is not a good enema, or well given. The process causes enough embarrassment - pain is not necessary, beyond a mild discomfort, unless, of course, that is part of your pleasure.

Delia: We have tended to use larger volumes, but to expel immediately or almost so (maybe 1 minute wait). What, according to you, is the benefit of retaining the solution for a longer period? Did your mother use soapsuds or plain water?

Like redbag in ny, I was raised with an enema can, which could hold two quarts of warm soapy water. Since my earliest experience with it was at age 4, I am sure that Mom was happy if I could take half the can. She always assured me that there was "just a little more to take", and wasn't that typical!

Pecan Nut, since you ask, it seems to me that the purpose of the warm liquid is to soften the rectal content, and the soap, which was always used, to act as a mild irritant. Ergo, the longer the retention, the more effective the result. This is not to say that the volume did not cause a sense of fullness, it did, but it was not a desperate feeling that one was going to burst.

I began self-administration of my enemas by about 15-16, and I'm 64 now. I was doing full 2-2.5 quart bags almost as soon as as I started as a teen because I've always loved the fullness. I was once in my twenties or early thirties having a colonic from a professional hydro therapist and told her I loved the full feelings as she was remarking how much water I was receiving without complaint. The last year or two I've actually increased my average as well as maximum volumes, usually now about 2.5-3.5 quarts average, with a maximum 4 quarts with a one-time experiment up to 5 q, all of which were/are extremely enjoyable. I've had a couple of times when I was enjoying a large saline retention so much I fell asleep holding 3.5-4 quarts and wound up holding them for close to an hour before something woke me up and I decided to relieve myself.

Three 10 ounce bulbs are almost a quart of warm soapy water. That's what we give at home, either over-the-knee in the bathroom, or knee/chest on a towel covered bed.

Just sent an order to a supply sitte to get new. A bulb, and a BIG bag. Let's have fun!

I recently found a 10 oz. bulb for rectal use at CVS pharmacy. The blue bulb and white pipe is great for a quick filling. No fuss. All my home mom enemas were with a red open top bag that mom carefully prepared with soapsuds. That was fun for me. That started at age 7.

I started with a small infant bulb at the age of 11, which was tedious. After a few years I moved up to a 10 oz blue douche bulb with a large, thick nozzle. The most I ever gave myself with it was 12 full squeezes of the bulb while patiently standing at the bathroom sink - I was really distended and felt like I was going to burst. That one was hard to hold in while giving myself bulb after bulb of warm water.

Being a bulb lover my aim has never been for large volumes, although I have given repeated bulbs once which added up to quite a volume (close to 2 liters)

I never found out how much was in the bag for my first enema. I was bid to get on my knees and elbows, head down and be still. I heard the warm water being filled into the bag and after a small amount of lube placed on the nozzle, what I thought was a fence post was inserted into me. Turns out it was an adult sized enema nozzle. The nozzle was what got my attention, not the water, however, it didn't take long for the water to make its presence known. I thought my mother emptied a lake into me, but it wasn't much more than pint or so. I was age 6 at the time, and fell in lust with that nozzle. It wasn't till I was around 12 or so that I was able to take a full bag. Now 3 quarts is comfortable for me, and 4 pushes my limits.

My early enemas were all with a bulb. Even now I use the bulb from time to time when I am in a hurry or just need a quick flush of the bottom end. I know from experience it takes an average of 16 single-handed squeezes of an 8 ounce bulb to inject 2 quarts, therefore averaging only 4 ounces delivered per bulb squeeze. Yes, I know if you squeeze with both hands you can get more, but that is not how I learned from my mom.

When I was a little kid, most times I only got a bulb or two, so not much. Mom never forced more on me when I said I was full but it was understood if it did not bring a good poop it would be repeated with more. Only a few times was it repeated.

By time I was ten or so, I started giving myself enemas and sometimes tried to see how much I could hold but usually quit after 6-8 squirts which was only about a quart delivered.

The only bag enemas I got as a kid were a couple from grandma when I was ten. I remember feeling very full with only about a half of a bag, or about a quart.

I was an adult and married before I bought my own bag and started a deliberate plan to learn to take a full 2 quart bag. It took several tries before I was successful, learning that sometimes when the cramps come you just have to clamp off and tough it out rather than heading for the toilet. After a few minutes the cramps subside and the remainder of the bag goes in easily.

That being said, after all these years I still do not enjoy enemas of more than about 2-1/2 quarts. 3 quarts is about my limit. I want to enjoy my enemas, therefore I stop when I feel uncomfortable and it is no longer fun.

I vaguely remember that my mother filled the red bag to about two quarts, but honestly, I cannot remember the volume, but do remember the pleasure I learned to experience when taking her enema. Later on, I faked some type of intestinal discomfort to receive another enema.

In my opinion it's crucial the mixture of the enema for it's effectiveness: an enema bulb of 250/300 ml filled with a very warm solution rich of soap and glycerine can be extremely effective on a child or teen, if retained some minutes. A warmed fleet enema can be a good and fast alternative to resolve any case of constipation quickly.

Growing up my mother had a red combination bag that at that age looked huge. Only later in life did I realize that she never filled it all the way meaning that my enemas were probably all of a quart. But to an 11 or 12 year old, a quart of warm, soapy water was going to do a very decent job of cleaning me out. Which it did. While I never liked having to get an enema at that age, I also have to admit that they were more embarrassing than they were uncomfortable.

From age 9 to 11 the Pediatrcian said 1 quart. From age 11 on this was increased to 40 ounces.Strictly soapy water mixture,either liquid Castille soap out of a brown glasd bottle,or a bar of Castille soap rubbed in the water until milky and slightly slippery.My Dad prefered to use the Castille bar soap. Temp when given: 103-104F.Enema bag was at 16" above my buttocks at age 9-10, at age 11 on: 18".

My first enema at age 10 was from what I'm pretty sure was 2 qt bag. It wasn't full but more than half full. It took it all in in one go, much to the delight of my mother. From that point on, all my enemas were from a full bag. At first, I couldn't take a full bag in one go. Mom would have me take as much as possible and then finish the bag after expelling. By age 11, I was routinely taking a full bag in one try.

Knowing what I know now about what a standard 'combo bag' looks like with various quantities leads me to say that my childhood enemas were probably 1200 to 1500cc. I was never forced to take "just a little bit more", butt would stop when I asked. It was always a 'pleasant' experience.....noted primarily with the together time with my Mother.

the boxcar

I only had a few enemas when I was younger 5-6 years old, that I got from my mom and the next door neighbor , she was a nurse.

all I can remember is it felt so good going in. Over the next 6 years or so I liked to but things in myself . it always felt good. When I turned 12, I found 2 enema bags that were my parents ,they were 2quart pumpkin bags. About this time in my life I hit puberty and became a really good masturbator. It felt so good. So when my parents would leave. I would get a bag out fill it up and sneak a enema or two. It felt so good going in. I got a immediate hard and I would stroke it and cum. wow it felt so good. always liked to race the bag to see if I could cum just as it emptied.Those enemas were all 2 quart. As I got older I took as often as I could ,when I was in my 30's is when I started taking 3 quarts or as much as I could hold. I can now take 4 quarts fairly easy. I still love the feel of a good enema!!!

I use the following volumes in my house

youngest (9) - still on fleets will move to bag probably with her next enema

middle (12) - 1/2 bag slightly less than cap full of soap, warm water. Usually given a warm water rinse after

Oldest (13) about 2/3 bag 1 cap full of soap. warm water rinse after

Me: Always a full qt bag followed by at least one rinse

I think I got about a third to a half bag at age 5...warm soapy ivory from an open top Davol Comfy bag. Over time mom worked me up to the full 2 qts..probably over about a 4 or 5 year period. I can easily take 2 qts now and taken slowly I can hold 4 qts.

I do not remember. I started about 16 years and typically took 2 qts

I really think you are better off basing the volume on size rather than age. At LEAST 30 pounds of body weight per US quart if not closer to 50!!

I have no idea of the veracity of the enema volume to body weight ratio suggested, but I would be inclined to go with the 50 lbs of body weight per qt of enema volume. I'm slightly over 200 lbs, and for me personally, I am not inclined to exceed the 4 qt volume, even though I could possibly take more. Better safe than sorry.

I started in my teens with two quarts ( that's what my Mom's bag held ). It wasn't until I bought my first fountain syringe in my mid-twenties and learned to fill it by hanging another bag above ( thanks to Darlene Holloman ) with up to four quarts. That was before my four quart Klystra rubber bag that I will be using later this morning.The smooth red rubber fountain bags had the added bonus of reminding me of my mother's douche bulb she used when I was in kindergarten ???

Best advice is to pay attention to your body and be willing to call it off when you're full. I recall hearing somewhere that when you feel full close the clamp and take a couple deep breaths, then in 30 seconds to a minute start the enema again. You're full when you close the clamp for a break a couple times with less than 30 seconds of filling. I imagine this would be after you have 1.5-2 quarts/liters in you, because someone just getting started might call it off really early - although that might not matter much, really.