Ass-ume the position!

Best results are achieved if the bowel is emptied immediately before the enema is given.

1

Preparing the Medication for Administration

a

Shake the bottle well to make sure that the suspension is homogeneous.<--white lovely suspension of a consistency many folks associate with penile fluids

b

Remove the protective sheath from the applicator tip. Hold the bottle at the neck so as not to cause any of the medication to be discharged. <--Actually easier said then done. Very flimsy bottles here. Man I hate the wet spot.

2

Assuming the Correct Body Position

a

Best results are obtained by lying on the left side with the left leg extended and the right leg flexed forward for balance. <--while carefully holding the bottle so as not to "discharge" medication, and without getting some body part crushed under you in an impossible to maintain position...In my case,most likely my breast.

b

An alternative to lying on the left side is the "knee-chest" position as shown here.

<--if best results are on side...why this less appealing option? Maybe for those who prefer blood rushing to their head for 30 min as opposed to squashed breasts?

3

Administering the Retention Enema

a

Gently insert the lubricated applicator tip into the rectum, pointed slightly toward the navel (umbilicus). <--toward the belly button? My rectum is nowhere near where I can point to my belly button, sorry.

b

Grasp the bottle firmly, then tilt slightly so that the nozzle is aimed toward the back, and squeeze slowly to instill the medication. Steady hand pressure will discharge most of the solution. After administering, withdraw and discard the used unit. <---without jumping out of bed and un-assuming the position.

<---interesting rendering of where it should go

c

Remain in position for at least 30 minutes to allow thorough distribution of the medication internally. Retain the enema all night, if possible. <--no babe, can't turn over, waiting for the magic white fluid to reach its target!

Store at controlled room temperature, 15°-30°C (59°-86°F).

After the Follow Up

After the Second Follow Up

I was less than excited by the idea of enemas. Every night for two weeks? Take them and stay in bed for 8 hours without using the bathroom? Is she kidding?

It took a few days for the drugstore to get the enemas in so that I could pick them up. No problem. I wasn't in a hurry.

Once I picked them up, I read the directions. I wasn't thrilled. This looked like all the side effects of prednisone combined with the "fun and excitement" of an enema. It took me about five more days to get up the nerve and figure out the logistics of doing this discreetly. At this point, my girlfriend probably doesn't care, has seen and heard more about my bowels than she ever wanted to know, but I do care.

I took a painkiller, imodium, and benadryl since the label suggested that sedation and anti diarrheal and cramping meds might help. I then followed the directions for the use of the enema. It wasn't too bad. I didn't cramp horribly and though I had less than amusing noises from my belly, it really wasn't uncomfortable. Not only that...the next day I didn't go to the bathroom AT ALL. That was a first for a good long time. I was pleased. That next night I gave up on all the prep stuff and went for night two. Still, not so bad, mild cramping. Nothing serious. Hey, if this continues to help, I am game. Ah, well, it continued to help to some degree. Then it stopped helping. Things have been worse again. I am in my second week now of the two week course. What next? I am not sure but we will see.

The Colonoscopy

I wasn't surprised the doctor had ordered this test. Like I said, I had figured all of this out way back in December. I was a bit taken aback at how soon she wanted it done! I went home. I worked out leave from work. I went to have my last solid meal before the test at Waffle House. Clearly, that was the best meal to hold me for the better part of two days right?

Then off to the drugstore and the grocery store for special prep supplies! These are the the goodies from the drugstore. Of course, my local drugstore didn't have the nice all in one kit. Grocery store purchases were made...clear juices, gatorade (not red),ginger ale, jello. Those were the "foods" I was allowed to have the next day while I enjoyed the prep.

The next day dawned bright and early. Clear liquid day. Then midday...I get to start using all the nice stuff from the drug store. Phospho-Soda mixed with gingerale. The first swig isn't bad...by the time you get to finishing the bottle many hours later you are sure it is the worst stuff ever invented. Actually, that realization comes earlier. I followed the directions though. I spent more time than I want to admit in the bathroom. Fortunately, by the next morning I was running "clear" which is what they wanted as a result...so I didn't have to use an enema to top off the phosphosoda and Dulcolax.

Very groggy, out of it and grouchy, I went to have the test done. More waiting. More history. Undress. Put on the special hospital nightgown. Wait some more. IV inserted. Wait some more. I get rolled down the hall and into this tiny room where my gi doctor and her assistant await. She makes friendly how are you doing small talk. I growl about the prep that tries to kill you off. She smiles and pats my head. Assistant starts administering the meds to put me under for the test. I ask her what on earth made her choose this line of doctoring. She laughed and said it was just one of those things.

Next she says, I am going to start inserting this as she does just that. YOUCH! That hurt. More than I figured such a thing would. I complain. More drugs and then more. Next thing I know I am in recovery. They handed me a coke. Then the doctor came and told us what she saw and had done. She said Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's Disease. She had taken a biopsy and would get back to me. In the meantime, she made orders for a small bowel study. That is about all I remember of what she said and only that in bits. Thankfully, my girlfriend was there to listen to all of that. (even more thankfully she was sympathetic through the whole prep thing!)