irrigation

 

My name is Nadir from Zonguldak,a coal-mining city on the northwest coast of the Turkey.I have been an ostomate for about five years.When I had my rectum removed in 2005,I was told that I would have to wear stoma pouches for the rest of my life.It was then that my world shattered because I was also told that I would not be able to control stool evacuation.At first,I even wanted to put an end to everything.However, later on,I learned how to live with it and tried to find a solution.Then,I heard of bowel irigation and began to practice it.Now,I put a special cap over my stoma every time I irrigate. I have some suggestions for those who opt to irrigate.İrrigate at regular intervals.I usually use 1 and a half litre of water each time.Of course,the amount of water you are supposed to use depends on you weight,your eating habits,etc.,.For some people 1 litre would be enough or even 750 cc.Water temperature is important too.If the water is not warm enough,there is a risk that the water fed into the bowels will not be fully discharged.In that case,always wear a pouch,not a pad.When you start irrigate ,go on wearing pouches for about four to five months more until your bowel movement becomes regular.If you start wearing a stoma cap or pad right after irrigating for the first time,your day may be ruined,especially if you are not sure whether the water you sent into your bowels has not been fully evacuated.This has happened to me on several occasions.You know what I mean.I wish you all a healthy life.

 

                                                       Best regards,

 

                                                     Nadir Bostancı

                                                                                                   

Thank you for giving your story about irrigation. I know that has been a previous challenge on irrigation. I should be in the archive - maybe there is something interresting there for your.

 

For my understanding: Do you irrigate due to your bodyshape or for other reasons ?

I know how you feel about staying in strange places and having to irrigate, I think it's actually easier in a hotel room for example than in a friends house as it is more anonymous.

Most of my friends now know that I perform some strange proceedure called irrigation and leave me to get on with it when I am staying with them (the first time in someone elses house is always the worst)  I irrigate every second day too and normally that goes without problems, but as you say

diet can affect your output and sometimes when your digestive system is a little bit looser you may find that your stoma is more active. I don't know how you deal with this, but I just put on a normal pouch and irrigate at my normal time. I find that chopping and changin your irrigation schedule doesn't really work. It is ok on odd occasions but to keep doing it on a regular basic really upsets your rythmn.

I swim and although I am still self conscious, I think I am more aware of my body differences than any other person is. We just have to try and ignore our sensitivity about our changed body shape, it really is true that nobody else notices ( most people are too preoccupied with their own faults to notice others!)

An example!!!! I have a scare on my face, it runs from the inner corner of my right eyebow across the top of my eye lid all the way behind my ear. I wake up most morning s and grimace at it in the mirror. The thing is if I point it out to somebody, they say 'what scar?' They havn't even noticed it. It is the same with the time it take to irrigate when in someone elses bathroom and our little caps being visable in our swim wear, we are fretting about them but others really don't notice.

There now, I have bored you, so feel free to natter on at any time, we are hear to share, and I am sure that Aideese feels the same way, it's great to have an other irrigator around and I hope you will keep us up to date with your holiday experiences,

Go out there and enjoy, don't worry, be happy!!!

Best wishes

Dolly

Do stay in touch, the more the merrier.

aideesi