Travels with the enema
As someone who travels a lot, and suffers from travel related constipation, let me respond to this post in rather a long winded manner, so please bear with me.
When we were first married, some fifty years ago now, I was using a diaphragm for contraceptive purposes, and the instructions then were to douche when removing it after use. For this purpose, I had a folding travel douche bag, made by the Italian firm Pirelli. It fitted neatly into a zippered pouch, about 9 inches by four inches in which it was supplied. It packed flat with bag, tubing and nozzles, and weighed very little. It was around the fourth or fifth day on our honeymoon, when for one reason or another, I was badly constipated, and so it was called into service, with the appropriate nozzle. It was easy and convenient to travel with.
At some stage in our first year of marriage, we obtained a Higginson syringe, which has always been my device of choice. I think that the first type of enema syringe that you encounter, is one you always have a soft spot for - in a manner of speaking. My childhood enemas, although few in number, were all delivered with this type of apparatus.
I think the Higginson is ideal for travel purposes. It is light, compact, fits into a sponge bag or pourch, is light and and packs reasonably flat. light. It also has the benefit that when used in a strange location, you do not need to worry about where and how to suspend a bag. The only real drawback that this type of enema suffers from, is that it is not always that easy to self-administer, but that is not, to my mind, a disqualifying factor.
When ever travelling for more than a few nights, I do pack the enema, as it is almost certain it will be needed. Change of environment, jet lag and meal times, as well as the state of public lavatories in airports and and aircraft are not conducive to regularity. Ironically, whenever I, either travelling alone, or with my husband, and I have not packed the enema, I have needed it. This lead to having to resort to Fleet's on two occasions whilst travelling in the US. I do however find these disposables unpleasant, irritating and not conducive to a feeling of complete evacuation and relief.
On the third occasion we left home without the device, we were in Europe, and purchased a syringe by a Swiss firm, branded as a 'Reprop' Enema. This is not quite a Higginson, and something more than a bulb, and is based upon a bottle as the container, with a valve to prevent back flow and injection of air. It comes with tubing and soft cannula type nozzles rather than the usual hard rubber or plastic ones. It is supplied in a zippered pouch, and also is very convenient and light for travel purposes.
Based on my experience, our Higginson is always the first choice, but that does mean that you have to find a container to hold the fluid for the enema. As the Reprop does not need a hook, a hanger, or a container, perhaps it is the ideal travel companion. However, I don't think that the are that easily available in the USA, but I have no doubt that a web search would lead to a happy outcome!
regards,
Delia