Saline Enemas?

[Mona~on~wheels]

Just watched Dr. Oz on tv & he suggested Saline Enemas for constipation. Any quads use Saline Enemas?
I've used Magic Bullets for 20 yrs. Any chance Saline Enemas would work on me?
Plus wouldn't it leak right back out?

Thanks

[t8burst]

I occasionally use enemas with a balloon tip if I get backed up. I use ivory soap and not saline. I think anything that will mildly irritate your colon will help move things along so to speak. I bought a peristeen from austrialia and it was expensive and not very sturdy. You can get more durable enema products with a balloon tip that prevents it from coming out but beware it will take you to places on the internet you will wish you hadn't seen.

Also Mona, I forget are you a quad? If so there is a lot of dexterity involved in all this that I would think a quad would need help with.

One last thing, I find that simply downing mag-citrate when I get blocked up to be a more effective solution (but requires sticking close to the bathroom for a day)

[Mona~on~wheels]

Thanks t8 but my aide would be adminstrating it. I'm not sure about your comment about the internet. So maybe I shouldn't look?

[Van Quad]

Drastic stuff! Addressing it through diet hasn't worked?

[SCI-Nurse]

Sure any enema will clean you out. We don't suggest enemas of any kind except as a last resort- when suppostories, enemeez etc.. aren't working and still constipated. Not as a routine part of your regimen.
CWO

[Sue Pendleton]

As T8 pointed out quads don't hold enemas long unless you plan on doing all this in bed. Mag citrate can help for the rare problem but if this is constant you might want to start taking a daily dose of Milk of Magnesia or ducolex tablets. You'll want to talk to your doctor about this though because even the mildest laxatives can make you dependent on them. Are you taking any meds that cause constipation like pain meds?

[SCI-Nurse]

Large volume enemas and colonics can also cause autonomic dysreflexia in those at risk. Long term, routine use can also make you at higher risk for megacolon. Reserve these for times when you are badly constipated or impacted, but as above, they are very difficult to give successfully in someone with SCI, and quite a mess.

Dr. Oz knows little about SCI bowel management!

(KLD)

[Sue Pendleton]

"Dr. Oz knows little about SCI bowel management!"

But he's cuter than most GI docs. :-) After my most recent colonoscopy I suggest GoLyghtly because it is still working over a week after the test. Never doing that version again.

[crypticgimp]

but he's a cardiologist....

[SCI-Nurse]

but he's a cardiologist....

Actually, a cardiac SURGEON.

(KLD)