[quote="tammylayne"]Sudeha...what exactly is a lavage? What/how do you do it? How long does it take? How long does it last? WHat supplies do you need?
Hi Tammylayne
You can google enema supplies online. there are many choices. I just ordered a 2 quart enema bag with a hose and for me i needed to get a pediatric sized enema tube that was flexible because of so much radiation damage in my anal area. I also got the heavy duty “S” hook. A lavage is the same thing as a regular enema but you are not lying on your left side and retaining the water for as long as possible. Instead, you are sitting on the toilet and inserting the nozzle into your anus. There are many options out there. here is an example of one:
http://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com/2-o ... s/1018.htmFor me, I need to refill my 2 quart bag about 5-7 times to complete my “clean out” I use warm water and i add a little bit of sea salt to keep the water cleaner. I have some plain oil either olive oil or i also like coconut oil which is thinner to lubricate the nozzle to make for easy insertion. it comes with a clamp to put on the tube. I open it all the way and allow the water to flow and I hold it the entire time with one of my hands so it stays in. In between,
I close the clamp all the way and put a wad of toilet paper (with the nozzle still in) into my butt crack (sorry no other way to say that:) and i refill the bag again and again until no more stool is coming out. I have to bear down to make sure i get all the poop out. A lot comes out at first then it begins to taper down usually after the 4th-5th bag. but often more is on its way down my colon so i keep doing a few more bags until i feel sure there is none left. You can opt to buy the 4 quart bag which will hold twice as much water. It’s a lot heavier so you definitely need to get this heavy duty hook. Here this one i got:
http://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com/Ene ... s/1001.htmIts the Vinyl “S” shaped enema hook. I recommend getting this for both the 2 or 4 quart bag.
I also prefer this clasp:
http://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com/Mul ... s/1030.htmits the blue one: 619 Enema Hose Ramp Clamp
As i shared, I needed to get a pediatric sized tube:
http://www.optimalhealthnetwork.com/Lat ... s/1025.htm(the blue flexible one) but you may be alright with a normal adult sized one
I also bought the top of the line bidet which has been a Godsend for me. Interesting I have not seen this mentioned on any online support forums before and it has changed my life big big time! You install it onto your toilet as your new seat. It has all the bells and whistles. It has different settings to wash you, with different setting of water temperature, a heated seat, a vaginal wash for women, a dryer and even an enema button which has come in GREAT handy when i have taken too many anti diarrhea meds and got overly dried up, i just put this button on and a heavy duty jet stream of water goes into my anus and just cleans me out. I have gone from using 8-9 double rolls of toilet paper per day down to 2 from having this bidet. Its called the
Bio Bidet 1000. spend the extra money to get the best one, it is well worth the money for sure. as much as i am on the toilet it has been an enormous support. Its’s about $499.00 and paid for itself with the amount of money i have save on toilet paper alone. you can buy it here:
http://bidetking.com/product_info_bio-b ... ilter.htmlI never ever could go out of my home without having full on accidents all the time sometimes 5-10 accident in just one trip to buy food at the store. i mean it was awful and bad! now if i need to go anywhere i will do 1-3 enemas within a 2 hour period before i leave. I have soooooo much less anxiety now it is a HUGE change for me. as others have said it becomes so routine and not a big deal. If i need to go on a flight, I absolutely do NOT eat anything for hours prior and i will do 2-4 enemas within 2 hours before to make sure i have thoroughly cleaned out. We all have different transit times according to how much large intestine we have had taken out. For example, I have only 2 feet of large intestine left. I know my bowels like clockwork.
I have exactly 8 hours from the time i eat until the time it’s coming out. So i know how to time my meals and leaving my house and all. If i thoroughly clean out before I get on a flight, I know i can eat something right before i go on the plane because that won’t come out for 8 hours. But this is only if I thoroughly clean out before. Whenever i eat, it begins the peristalsis action and i start pooping right away. That is whatever food is from 8 hours prior.
I have an entire other horrible problem going on that I have been trying to heal for a very long time. I had C-Diff in the hospital which causes horrible awful diarrhea. For 1 1/2 years i have been going to the toilet 80-100 times a day. It’s been HELL! I finally got it down to 60-80 times a day which is still hell. But the enemas have drastically changed my reality. Whenever I start a “poop cycle”, I just go straight away and do my “lavages”..”enema washes” That is why i personally need to do so many enemas in a day. But others need to only do one a day and that is all for them. So you need to just know and learn your own personal rhythm, transit time and all, and do yours accordingly. Yes i have tried everything imaginable (trust me) to stop the diarrhea and to get bowel control. I have been unsuccessful thus far but am not giving up at all! I have plan B, C D and F!!!!
Doing these enemas will absolutely get you on this train ride next week. you may want to take some immodium as well to slow your system down to have even more security. My physical therapist also turned me on to these great pads for us bowel incontinent people. They are actually mens incontinent pads by TENA. You can buy them at your local drug store in the adult diaper section. they look like a shape of a bicycle seat and you turn them around backwards so the bigger part is in the back.
http://www.tenatwist.com/ and I always no matter what, I put a double or triple layer of “VIVA” brand paper towels on top of the pad because its easier to throw those away if I can keep “my accident” in the paper towels. these are by far the softest best paper towels out there which has become a staple 24 hours a day. I know I am sharing more than you asked but I wish someone told me all these very handy things for myself but i never read these things anywhere. So hopefully this can bring a lot of support for many people.
If you feel awkward doing the enemas- “lavages" at first, DON’T give up, just keep practicing and it will become like brushing your teeth in no time at all! i wish to God i knew about doing these a long time ago. I even bring my whole enema kit with me if i am going to a long class or to a friends house in case a poop cycle starts for me, i just excuse myself and can take like 15 minutes and clean out and be done to feel secure again. I know it take so so much for bowel maintenance. It’s the part of life that just does not seem fair but these things i have mentioned above can truly make life easier.
I hope this explains what you were asking and also helps many more people with the other helpful tips!
Blessings to all of us and may we all find a way to fully recover.