HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Help me with enemas

Support Forums
>
Ulcerative Colitis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/5/2016 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Just started Salofalk enemas, in a squeeze bottle with a nozzle and short tube.

I've just managed to get some in for the first time I think - but although I kept squeezing, not all of it went in even on multiple tries. I THINK I'm doing it right. But - I can't feel the liquid going in, and I keep having the experience of squeezing and squeezing it but finding the bottle hasn't really gone down at all. Does that mean I haven't penetrated far enough?
Posted 8/5/2016 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
I generally can't feel liquid going in, just can tell that the bottle has less in it because it collapses. It's tricky doing it with one hand but you'll get the hang of it. If you shake the bottle and it's still half-full then give another try unless you think it will be too much at once. Once your rectum get used to the process it becomes easier.

Do you have the accordion-shaped bottle or the smooth bottle? I prefer the smooth type but don't get a choice when ordering from Canada (always get the accordion).
Posted 8/5/2016 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
I have been using these enemas for years. The bottle were changed a few years back (can't remember when) but they are hell to squeeze now.

If your medication are covered by insurance I would recommend that you squeeze one down the drain so you can see how they work. That way it will be easier to do so when you are laying down on your right side with your hand behind you.

Actually, I always squeeze a little bit of liquid out before I inserte it. There is a bit of lubricant in the cannula and it kind of makes it very difficult to get the liquid out if you don't squeeze it out before.

I just don't get why the lubricant is in the cannula and why these bottles are so hard to squeeze? It obvious the ones making those are not users. rolleyes
Posted 8/5/2016 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Imagardener, they're the accordion ones. You know I was really expecting to feel it go in and I was convinced something had gone wrong. But nope I absolutely definitely got it in, I guess that's great that it doesn't hurt or feel too weird or anything.

Thanks Chantrelle. Not just me then? They are most definitely hell to squeeze! It's pretty insane. I think I'll do some bodybuilding for the next one. Although I think most of my problems is being a bit wimpy with how far in I put the nozzle. I need to make sure it's really as far in as it'll go and then I think the squeezing will be much more efficient!

I'm excited cos I finally got one in today after a few days of screwing it up. I'm convinced I can do it daily now without much hassle at all. It's just the resilience of the bottles that annoys me - it's gonna kill my hand!

And no I don't think the makers are users... And the instruction manual is absolutely useless, it just tells you to put it in rectally lol. I guess like any skill it can be super easy once you've got it down, which for me did take a few tries.
Posted 8/6/2016 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah the accordion type are harder to squeeze. You'd think pushing from the bottom, like an accordion, would be right but I have better luck pressing from the sides. Takes too much strength to press from the bottom. Dumb, dumb design from non-users.
Posted 8/6/2016 2:22 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I'm kind of at my wit's end with these ... I find them extremely difficult and hit-and-miss to administer so far. There have been a few successes but trying to repeat them has not really worked. I'm not going to give up but it's so darn frustrating when you think about how helpful and therapeutic they could be. The bottle is very hard to squeeze, often as hard as I squeeze it doesn't seem to be playing ball. I wonder if I'm squeezing at the wrong angle or something. I'll hang in there and keep trying though.
Posted 8/6/2016 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
I use them, and yea....some are almost impossible to squeeze. Iakes more effort, thats for sure.

You could warm it in a bowl of warm water for a dhort time before you use it to soften the plastic. I've not done it, bit it could work.

I push it with the palm of my hand...certainly not fingers how it shows in the pics.

It doesnt matter how far in you have it as to how it squeezes out...but having it all the way in gives a bit more stabilisation for the initial push.
It almost feels like a back pressure that doesn't allow it to be squeezed.

q
Posted 8/7/2016 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
I use them.. I'll try to to explain with words but I don't find it too difficult. I actually prefer it to Pentasa except at the end I seem to get some air which isn't comfortable.
I take my index and middle fingers and hook one on each side of the bottom of the applicator nozzle. The palm of my hand ends up cupping the bottom of the tube and gives me lots of leverage to squeeze downwards.
Hopefully that makes sense! Good luck.
Posted 8/7/2016 3:57 AM (GMT 0)
I had for a few weeks a problem with my right hand and wrist. I was similar to the carpal tunnel syndrome, I had numbness, tingling, weakness and pain in my hand and wrist. So I had to administer the enemas with my left hand.

It got me thinking what the hell I'm going to do if I ever get bad arthritis ? I'm joking about this now cause I'm 46 but one day it might not be just a joke.

@quincy the warm water is a nice idea. Thanks.
Posted 8/7/2016 10:59 AM (GMT 0)
VIEW IMAGE


something more like this maybe ?
Posted 8/7/2016 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
Would it be possible to purchase a soft reusable rubber enema bulb and tranfer the contents of the accordion enema into it? It is hard enough trying to be a contortionist without the hassle of trying to squeeze something that is badly designed into the back passage. Just a thought 😉
Posted 8/7/2016 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
It helps to squeeze them down for a second or two in the sink before you administer as this gets rid of most of the air in the enema so that isn't going inside with the liquid...
Posted 8/7/2016 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Is there a way to upload pics from a phone into the post? I took a pic of my hand placement last night... Turns out I use my middle and ring finger her actually. Funny how you can't recall something you do every night 😞
Posted 8/7/2016 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
Don't know how to post pics.

I insert it differently than administering the med. Once in, I cup it in my hand with fingers and thumb around the top collar of the bottle and squeeze down with fingers and up with the palm. If it's a tough one, I move my fingers around to gain a bit more strength. Closer to the end I withdraw a bit to fully cover the lowest part of the rectum.

q
Posted 8/7/2016 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
Posting images isn't supported on this forum. Best you can do is link to an image sharing site like imgur, photobucket, etc.
Posted 8/8/2016 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
@soynomore, I would go with with the idea of @OhCrap! If I ever get bad arthritis. Lol...
Posted 8/15/2016 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Turns out the K Y jelly I was using liberally for the last few days to lubricate the nozzle and my anus is expired, this explains why it smelled very strange and did not appear to function as a lubricant (it was just like a liquid). That does concern me a bit that I've been using that, as I'm sure some has been going into the anus, do you think this is dangerous? I've switched to a new tube and it's all back to normal but I've been using this horrible expired stuff for a little while.
Posted 8/15/2016 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
Doubtful. How are you doing regarding squeezing the bottles?
q
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply