Enemas

enema therapy

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Enemas

Postby berational » 28 Apr 2015, 14:03

I’ve been reading this forum for a couple days and am surprised not to find enemas mentioned more frequently. Let me share my experience with a chronic (1.5 year) anal fissure and hemorrhoids.

After seeing a coleorectal surgeon and being given topical antibacterial ointments to apply for several months (nearly a full year), I realized that was not helping. At several points the pain was so intense I laid on my side on my bed for two days wincing and entertaining some of the darkest thoughts I’ve ever had. In a fit of desperation, I again took to the internet and stumbled across a site recommending enemas to treat hemorrhoids. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I ordered the most basic enema kit from Amazon, mixed a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda with warm water and did the enema.

And what happened next was nothing short of miraculous (for me at least.) About 30 minutes after the enema, the intense pain in and around my butt completely disappeared. After suffering with this agonizing pain for over a year, I was in a state of shock when it went away.

For one year, in addition to the pain, the skin around my anus was red and irritated. Doctors asked me what I was doing to it, and told me not to wipe so hard. He thought I was irritating it, but I was already getting clean after BM with a gentle shower nozzle no problems. It hurt and I wasn't touching anything about it, something else was irritating it. Several days after the first enema, the redness began to fade. After several more days of daily enemas like this, and the little bumps of irritated skin around my anus smoothed out and disappeared.

I am still not pain free, but the daily enemas have made a huge difference and the overall level of pain is drastically reduced. The redness around the area, and the irritated skin around the area are entirely gone (only the tag remains.) After the first enema- the pain went from 100% to 10%. After several days of this, the redness was gone and so were the bumps. The enema didn't fix everything, but it helped.

So what is going on with this enema remedy and why is it working? Could it be the insertion of the enema tube dilates the anus and therefore reduces tension and pain? Maybe, but that would not explain the disappearance of the red rash and upraised surface bumps in the area. Could it be the teaspoon of salt and baking soda (potassium) is having some effect? My gut instinct (excuse the pun) is that some kind of infection (toxicity) was going on right inside the anus, because cleaning the area out made the pain go away almost immediately and the redness (a sign that the body is fighting something) vanish entirely. This irritation and pain did follow a colonoscopy exam. I don't have the complete answer, but the enemas have become part of my efforts to help myself along with diet, mindfulness meditation, and exercise habits.

I wonder if anyone else here has had a similar experience with these enemas? I don't want to offer false hope. I still have pain and it is more or less ruling my life at times, but the enemas have alleviated it substantially and I find them very worthwhile.

For those of you that are curious, I followed the enema procedure that can be found on this website:
http://www.choosing-natural-health.com/enemas.html

The surgeon also suggested the sphincterotomy. I was considering it, until I was able to lower the pain by taking enemas. Plus I am scared of the procedure and want to try everything I can to avoid it. I’m not saying the surgical procedure is a bad route (I might elect to do it if a year or two goes by and this pain is not yet gone), I’m just saying try doing an enema before you elect surgery.

This is the best forum I've been able to find on the Internet for this problem, so thank you for all of this great info and your personal stories. I've had good enough results with taking enemas to share here. Good luck. I know how much this condition hurts and can be depressing. It will be fine.

Enema:
Mix a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda in warm water and add to a basic enema bag, then fill the rest with warm water (about a quart total). Do the enema, hold it for about 10 minutes, and excavate.

When the pain gets severe, all I know to do is take some pain medication, do some relaxation exercises, and get in a comfortable position. I try to list the things I'm thankful for. You might laugh, but thankfulness mind exercises are effective- just to be calm.
Last edited by berational on 30 Apr 2015, 11:57, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Enemas

Postby hurtinend » 28 Apr 2015, 20:31

Thank you for this post. I have been considering enema therapy for a while but have not tried it yet. It's interesting, I take sitz baths with baking soda and Epsom salts, so doing an enema makes a lot of sense.

I am on my own, is it easy to do an enema with no help from anyone?
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Re: Enemas

Postby berational » 30 Apr 2015, 11:47

Whether or not you can do an enema alone with no help from anyone depends on your body and health. I’m able to do it alone, but there are people out there who need help doing it. I get in the tub, on my knees, lean forward, reach back and slowly insert the tube, release the tube clamp, and let the water flow. It works for me but if I was heavier I think it might be painful on my knees (I’ve seen that some people put a towel in the bathtub to cushion their knees. I’m 5’11 220 lbs.) It takes a degree of flexibility to reach around, insert, and control the water flow. Try it. If it seems too difficult- just stop and don’t do it.

The main thing is to not rush anything, take your time, don’t stress, go slow. If anything hurts, then stop.

I do think “the Internet” tends to make so many things a lot scarier than they actually are. Consider the fact that people have been doing enemas for thousands of years when you brush up against alarmists (my guess is these kinds of people are alarmist about many many things. Fear-based thinking is commonly perpetuated online.)

Just go slow, don’t rush, don’t force, relax. I think you can do it.
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Re: Enemas

Postby savemybutt » 20 Jun 2015, 14:56

berational, Great post! I am also surprised to not see more about enemas anywhere on the net. I have only had my AF for a week now but wow! prob one of the worst weeks of my life and i've been through some pretty bad accidents.

Anyway After the initial 3 days i was in so much pain i went to the emergency in town the doc just prescribed laxatives and stool softeners. I asked about a enema but he did not give it much credibility and did not want to put the nurses through it. Thanks doc. I could not find anything in the local drug stores except the small fleet enemas. Tried one and it stung way to much. Left it for a couple days with just laxatives and stool softeners among creams and such. Then i decided to use the Fleet enema bottle with just warm water and WOW! almost no pain and what a sense of relief!!!

That was just yesterday. I think ill do another today to give my butt a rest. In my head it just made sense to go straight to an enema; as forcing anything just causes pain or more damage. Hopefully on the road to recovery! I will definitely keep an enema at home incase needed but will try not to rely on it. So far its been the most relief I've felt in a week. I would encourage people to try it especially in the beginning stages to give you butt a rest and chance to stat the healing process. What have you got to lose!
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Re: Enemas

Postby JPittman » 09 Jul 2015, 22:49

Wow, I've had an anal fissure for about a week and a half now, I've gone to the doctor's and I've even gone to the ER. But all they've given me at the doctor's was a hydrocortisone cream and I waited in the ER yesterday for 6 stomach agonizing hours just to get pain killers and still softeners. Today, I randomly thought about doing an enema since I have been constipated for the past 5 days but I was a little bit scared of doing it. Since you know how the pain feels. Anyway, I'm glad I read your story and now I really want to do it. I'm over this pain, I miss the toilet, no one should have to go through this.
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Re: Enemas

Postby savemybutt » 15 Jul 2015, 09:59

Hey JP, I had some really good success with mine. helped get me through the tough times with minimal pain while on the toilet. I used it anytime i felt there could be a issue arising and risk of tearing my but hole again. Only used when all else failed though. Anyway if you use it. take your time, don't force anything and try and avoid your AF when inserting. Good luck!
hope you feel better soon.
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Re: Enemas

Postby Scientist2516 » 15 Jul 2015, 14:09

JPittman,
The HC cream will help the pain somewhat, but should not be used long term for an anal fissure. You need that fissure to heal, and HC can thin the skin and make it fragile. If you can get yourself to a specialized colorectal surgeon and get a prescription for one of the three anal fissure medications, please do so as soon as you can. General practice and ER are not the places for an anal fissure. I understand finances can make it very very difficult to see a specialist, but you could be saving yourself months or years of pain by using the correct meds now.

I really help the enemas help you. You need to get the constipation sorted ASAP because it will make healing very difficult. Could be the cause of the fissure (it was for me). Read this forum for diet tips and fibre advice. Don't overdo the fibre because bulking the stool makes it painful to pass. Drink lots of water.

Good luck!
Nifedipine/lidocaine, no help
Diltiazem, effective, but caused major rash
Nitroglycerine, effective.
Topical estrogen for final healing.
Gentle heat to bottom - pain relief, muscle relaxant
Kondremul mineral oil
Time - lots of time.
Status - Healed!
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