Sooner or later everyone gets an enema

I remember reading this somewhere - quite a long time ago. I am sure it was true, probably into the seventies, but what about today?

I know everyone longs after the Golden Age, but I have a sense that there are as many, if not more enemas used/given today, but of the disposable variety. It is the old style apparatus that has gone, not the treatment itself, and I think it is still probably true to say, sooner or later, everyone gets an enema.

What do you think?

Delia

I would say you are probably right young lady. Between the sale of Fleet's and the disposable enema bags, I think your thoughts are correct. Only those of us of the "Golden Age" still use the Rubber or Latex two quart bags with the black nozzle .

I guess I think the enema supplies market is still much smaller than in the golden age. The thought of an enema to most young folks is ewwwwww!a

Nowadays, I don't think "sooner or later everyone gets an enema". In the olden golden age of enemas many more homes had enema equipment on hand for whenever the need arose. Whether that was for medical reasons due to certain illnesses or just to relieve constipation. Today enemas may still be prescribed for some of the same reasons, but I would guess most people who need to use an enema for said reasons, purchase a "fleet" type disposable enema just before needing to use it.

Not as many people even have fleets on hand before the need arises. Also enemas for constipation have gone the way of the rotary phone, the VCR and the phonograph. The big drug companies have seen to that with the push to laxatives for constipation. Doctors follow suit and hospitals also because of time constraints on the nursing staff.

Certain tests and procedures where the rectum is required to be clean (ie. prostate biopsy) still call for a fleet enema prior to the procedure. But most of the time we have transformed to an oral method of dosing for a clean out rather than a rectal method. It's really too bad since the rectal method worked for so many years with more than sufficient results, and probably cheaper.

Even in the late 80's, the at home prep. for a barium enema was strong oral laxatives and a morning suppository before the procedure. And BaE's aren't used nearly as much anymore, due to CT's with contrast. In years past, a patient was admitted into the hospital a day before a BaE or colonoscopy for multiple large volume cleansing enemas. Insurance companies screamed bloody murder for an extra day in the hospital and all the nursing time labor and insisted that patients prep at home, which lead to the PEG solutions to drink. Patients either didn't know how to take large volume enemas, or weren't willing to take multiple enemas to get a clean colon.

Now days, the prep for a flex. sig., or prostate biopsy is one or two Fleets. Any exam going up higher calls for drinking a PEG solution at home. Big drug companies could care less about laxative uses, because they are very inexpensive. They give hospitals what they want; a good oral prep product.

Somehow,I made it to age 9 (1959) before my first ever boyhood enema bag enema. In the timeframe of the 1950's, I. Guess you could say I was a late bloomer.

I don't think that is true anymore. I know my kids never got an enema and I think anyone under 50 has pretty good odds of not ever getting one without some kind of bowel issues. Most preps nowadays are done by drinking a solution and it really works better than an enema because everything is coming down, not going up.

Unfortunately, I think the younger generation for the most part is going to miss out on this wonderful experience. I have been very grateful to my mom and grandmother whose old fashion thinking (enemas are the prevent/cure all) allowed me to enjoy the enema scene fully since a small child. Their thinking seems to have worked as I have enjoyed a life so far with hardly ever feeling sick. Denise

I am 55 and my first enema was self administered at age 14. My mom was an RN and when l was 4 ish years old l saw her giving enema to her mother in the other room ... that is how my fascination began but yet l would not have wanted my mother to have enemaed me due to shame / embarrassment but always fantasized about other women or girls that l found attractive giving me enemas.

When I go for my every 5 year colonoscopy, the paper work clearly states that “enemas may be given”. I have not been lucky enough to be a receiver but haven't asked anyone when or why they are given. They would probably turn out to be Fleets.

When I go for my every 5 year colonoscopy, the paper work clearly states that “enemas may be given”. I have not been lucky enough to be a receiver but haven't asked anyone when or why they are given. They would probably turn out to be Fleets.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22630138/“ Patients referred for afternoon colonoscopy were prospectively enrolled in the study during a 1-year period. Patients took bowel preparation (polyethylene glycol) solution on the morning of the endoscopy. If during colonoscopy the bowel preparation was poor, an enema of polyethylene glycol solution (500 ml) was instilled into the colon at the level of the hepatic flexure via the biopsy channel of the colonoscope which was then removed. The patient was allowed to recover from the propofol sedation and used the bathroom to evacuate the enema. The colonoscope was then introduced and the examination continued.”

“A subsequent successful colonoscopy was achieved in 25/26 (96%). Colonoscopic enema was highly successful as rescue for patients with inadequate bowel preparation and avoided postponement of the procedure.”

The first time I recognized what an enema was, was when I watched my older cousin give himself an enema after his mother told him to do so. He hung the bag from a hook about three feet from the floor. It took him three filling to empty the bag.

I'm not sure what percentage of the population has received an enema, but I'd guess it's nearly 100% in my age bracket (60+).