Enemas for constipation during sickness.

Used to get terpin hydrate when in the navy. Nasty taste and smell but the stuff really worked.

I think a lot of us had similar mothers, a lot of these discussions I read seem like they came from our house!!!!! No we are not alone just tend to hide. But will never have any thing happen unless you advertise.

In the latter ‘50’s--early 60's Doctors were very pro-enema and prescribed a (usually) warm soapy water enema for a wide range of boyhood ailments-- ranging from measles,chicken pox,stomach flu,backed up constipation, bad headaches, sick and confined to bed for more than 2 days, and any fever over 102F. Just about every boy in the neighborhood got atleast 2 enemas a year for some ailment. If you were age 5-up you were old enough for the enema bag generally but some boys still got across the lap bulb enemas to age 7. A lot of my neighborhood buddies got cool/cold water enemas to reduce a high fever. I got one of those at 9-½ when I had a 102.8F fever. 1 quart of tap water chilled in the refrigerator for 15 minutes--poured into the enema bag and hung at 20" above my butt.It was a very unpleasant enema and I verbally fussed/complained big time getting it…but it broke a stubborn fever quickly and I felt much better afterward..Every home had atleast 1 enema bag and/or a 6-8 oz.bulb enema syringe..

Growing up in the 50's and 60's I got very few enemas - and I was never aware of our doctor prescribing them (of course he may have just mentioned it to my mother). After around age 12, I don't remember ever going to the doctor with a parent, alway went alone and walked the 5 or 6 blocks to get there.

Generally--in my boyhood neighborhood (latter 50's--early 60's) it seemed like any boy that got a 72 hour “keep him in bed” directive from the family Doctor-- for whatever illness had him there. You knew/expected/"feared" the enema bag with warm soapy water would be coming on the third or fourth day. After 72+ hours of minimal physical activity--perhaps less food intake, etc, you were automatically diagnosed as constipated…and needed to get the “dreaded” warm soapy water enema--per Doctor. Then you were fully recovered/cured and could return to school/usual activities.

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Still does.

Janet S

Well, put it this way, whenever I was sick or off-colour I was confined to bed and very soon the enema gear; Higginson syringe, Vaseline, the small red rubber sheet and (placing it on the floor), the China Bedpan. Then looking at me, my aunt would say “…Going to need these very soon. Have to make sure we don't have trouble with your bowels.”

And if at any time I felt constipated, she would go into overdrive.

Silly question maybe, but what is the illness several have spoken of….fever ?

As per my childhood memories this is ‘how the magic started" for me. In our home, if I was determined to be ‘sick’ by my mom…her giving me an enema was always part of her ‘wellness protocol’ to get me well again. I just accepted the enema activity as much as a visit to the doctor if my illness necessitated such a visit.

My few hospital confinements as a kid were of the we’re going to give you an enema to help you move your bowels. What began as a ’home remedy for constipation‘ over time became an activity I readily sought and was fortunate to have a mom, and grandmothers, who understood what may have been for many a ’ strange desire ‘ nevertheless. They did cater to their ’enema boy' and seemed to enjoy doing so. .

I always joke that there was a time that if you went to the hospital you got an enema about as quick as they, now days, ask for your insurance card! 😃

Yeah, I was born disabled and they were a regular part of my bowel program from about age 5 along with daily suppositories. During one hospital stay I was on 3 enemas a day.

@faultless50 I always joke that there was a time that if you went to the hospital you got an enema about as quick as they, now days, ask for your insurance card! 😃

I was hoping for the hospital enema(s) when I went in - but no such luck.

I grew up with enemas given to me twice a week…Wed and Sat almost without fail. My mother and grandmother thought them to be the prevent all/cure all and it seemed to be the case as I was almost never feeling sick. They were also good to cure a bad attitude coupled with a spanking if a serious bad attitude or misbehavior or lack of respect. Just after Thanksgiving and having 10 additional people in the house for over a week, I had the symptoms of a cold (runny nose, coughing, sneezing, and sore throat). I took a couple extra enemas beyond my regular enema schedule and all symptoms cleared up within a day and a half. I know medical science thinks this is nonsense to think enemas are the reason, but if it works for me and husband, I am going to stick with it!! Besides, the side benefits of enemas is so pleasurable!! Denise

When sick, I always hated being forced over her lap for the enema and fought it as well as I could. The bellyfull of warm water did get out a lot of the constipation. As much as I hated them, They were effective.

Apparently a lot of people get constipated when they get sick with a cold, flu, virus etc. I don't ever recall needing an enema for constipation relief when I was sick as a kid. Guess I was just lucky.

Age 11K after being in the hospital an unable to use a bed pan for two days, my mother told me that the nurse was going to give me an enema. Very nervous but some what anxious she came into the room with a cart that included a bed pan a rubber sheet an enema bag and a tube of KY jelly. I was nervous but enjoyed getting the enema. Two days after that mother told me that she asked the nurse to give me another enema. That was the start of my fascination.

I remember reading a 1940s home nursing guide that my mother had. I think this wording is pretty close: “Constipation often occurs when the patient is ill and immobile in bed. Keep the patient hydrated, especially when fever is present. Steps should be taken to keep the bowels functioning, including an oral laxative or purgative suppository. If no movement occurs after 48 hours, give an enema of one to two quarts of water, comfortably warmed, and containing a mild soap sufficient to turn the solution from clear to slightly clouded." Many decades later, I think this advice is still worth following.

Vicki is spot on with her recollections of those “vintage” nursing manuals. Many of those are still accessible via Google Books and the Wayback Machine. While enemas were a sure fire way to deal with constipation, any digestive distress, tummy ache, or just feeling malaise, was also going to result in a date with mom's or grandma's enema bag.

Other medical texts also made references to an enema or keeping the bowels open by any available means. While there were differing perspectives amongst medical providers, most indicated that an enema was the quickest way to dispatch constipation.

As a child of the 1940's - I don't remember being constipated when I was sick; but I remember my big fear was getting an enema as a result - and oh no, if the doctor had to be called to the house, then and enema was sure to follow😢

For any childhood illness I encountered , an ‘ enema ’ was always mom's ‘ got to ’ treatment to ‘ get me well again ’ . Also , the home enema was administered at her discretion as part of my ‘ good health ’ regimen as I matured . Yes …… the ‘ enema for childhood illness ’ was a fact and our family doctor was a proponent of the practice as when in the illness office visit consultation before leaving , I can hear him in my thoughts again say to my mother : ….. and let's give him an enema or two while he is confined ' .

Back in the 1950s, and probably for decades before and after, doctors have not been able to ‘cure’ many childhood, or other, illnesses. However, that doesn't stop parents from wanting their kids to ‘get better’.

Enter the placebo… “a harmless pill, medicine, or procedure prescribed more for the psychological benefit to the patient than for any physiological effect.”

“Take two Aspirins and call me in the morning”

From a doctor's POV a sick kid likely hasn't pood in the prior few hours, so a big bag of warm water is almost certain to produce visible results, quickly and with very little risk of adverse effects, and the mom is satisfied because the doctor's order has been seen to have an effect.

In truth, the kid will probably get better with or without the doctor (or the enema)

MO

When ill as a child and even now as an adult , ‘ antibiotics prescriptions ‘ have always had a very pronounced constipation effect . Granted , they were required but my mother quickly saw the relation to these doctor prescribed meds. and my chronic constipation . My constipation was always addressed in our home by her gentle administration of a warm , thorough , large volume cleansing enema . Such became a well utilized component of her ’ wellness regimen ‘ when any childhood illness occurred as in ………. if I became ill , an ’ enema ‘ would be forthcoming at some point in time while recuperating . I can still see as in a memory reflection the home scene where on no later than day two of an illness , she would enter my sick room with her signature smile indicating to me that ……. ’ I'm going to give you an enema ' and it was so .

‘ antibiotics prescriptions ‘ have always had a very pronounced constipation effect

Before penicillin was available, I was given sulfa drugs in the 1940's to fight tonsillitis. The drugs were very constipating, scaring my mom. From then on, I was regularly both finger checked and given very strong enemas.

Cough medicine with codeine. A sure combination for constipation. The time in our 30s when my husband guzzled too much of the stuff without me knowing, which led to me giving an overnight laxative and a big-time enema in the morning. I was furious but still managed to smile when I told him how dumb he was. He was so anxious and even a little scared, but I assured him at the enema would work, and it totally did.

Some of the worst constipation I recall both past and present was after or during some illness and the medication and inactivity that accompanied it. When little I dreaded the prospect of moms enemas because of the difficulty in taking one of her soapy injections. I was placed in the tub because it was not uncommon for me to have trouble retaining the fluid. It took a while, but eventually I learned to listen to the coaching and was able to communicate some, but it was still an ordeal

As I recently saw with an old friend since Middle School, Cancer Chemo will cause the WORST constipation imaginable.

I remember an older female patient that was brought in the hospital complaining of lower abdomen pains. She insisted to the doctor that she had a burst appendix and she needed immediate surgery. The doctor examined her and didn't think she needed surgery and was going to give her an enema the next day. She was complaining a lot so at around midnight the doctor came and performed a rectal exam on ger and saw that she was very constipated. He then told me to perform a manual disimpaction on her and then give a couple of enemas. 3 hours later we were finished with the old lady complaining of the pain during these procedures. I remember I was almost glad to give her the enemas as she was complaining a lot.

When my siblings an I got sick growing up, mom or grandma didn’t give us a chance to get constipated. The sick one got an enema twice daily, once in the morning an once in the evening. The other two got enemas once daily in the evening, continuing until the illness passed.

Yes as to the thread when a kid at home and beyond . Mom always adminstered an enema as one of the basic tenents of her ‘ get well ’ protocols . If I was ‘ ill ’ at some point during said childhood illness a ‘ good home enema ’ , and usually more than one over a few days , would be forthcoming . Our doctor concured as in our office visit ‘ post exam ’ exit interview . Our family doctor would advise mom ………… ' and let's give him an enema sometime tomorrow ‘ as our office appointments were seemingly always scheduled for late afternoon . At our doctor’s ‘ sage ’ give-him-an-enema advice , mom would just nod her pretty brunette head but she was ' way ahead of the good doctor ' as to her plans for me the next day .

There are some things you just can't forget. When I was young, and because my aunt had her own way of giving me enemas that I did not like; her philosophy was “..the enema always hurts. That's how I know it's doing its work on your bowels. On the occasions when I was constipated you can guess what happened.

But when I was confined to my bed for a few days with some childhood ailment she’d give me at least one enema a day, mor often it would be repeated a few hours later. She’d say “..if you want to get better we’ve got to keep you bowels open.

But even worse, and it was so embarrassing, the enema, a Higginson syringe and the empty potty were left on the small bedside table near my bed. Not only a constant reminder to me, but clearly visible to anyone visiting who she would always show in to come and see me, and there were times when it would have been obvious that they had just been used.