Enema Dependence and Lazy Bowel Syndrome

This is a question I should have asked earlier in my post regarding our nurses. I went to Google today and tried to do some research regarding "lazy bowel" and "enema dependence", but I couldn't find a clear definition of either of these terms in the short time I had. Can anyone enlighten us as to the risks involved with continual enema usage please? Do we run the risk of the dependence on enemas and is it possible to inflict lazy bowel syndrome on ourselves by the use of enemas?

Thank you so much in advance for your knowledgeable answers! 😄

Speaking from personal experience, I have not found that continual or regular use of enemas leads to dependence on them or lazy bowel. It can however lead to heart palpitations due to electrolyte imbalance when over used. Some of this effect can be alleviated by use of salt in the enema recipe. I have asked my physician about these subjects, and as most physicians will say, he says limit the use and reccommends no enemas at all. Fat chance of that happening!! I think the answer is to be sensible about too much of anything can be harmful.

I suppose everybody is different, but I've been using enemas at a minimum of 4-5 times a week and sometimes daily for months at a time. I've been doing that for 55 years and if I miss 2 or 3 days, I still have a normal movement. Every year I take a 2 week vacation where I can't have enemas and I always have normal movements.

I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables so maybe that's why everything works the way it should. I've had 2 colonoscopies and both were good. I don't remember the last time I had even a cold and I don't take any pills for anything.

My doctor tells me that I'm as healthy as a 40 year old and to keep up whatever I'm doing to stay that way. I finally did tell him about my almost daily enema use. He said that he had actually heard from one other person around 80 who did the same thing and he said that he certainly ddin't see a problem.

Maybe you should ask your doctor. If he or she is young though you'll probably be told you shouldn't at all. If your doctor is older then you'll probably get the go-ahead.

I don't have any training in anything medical but your colon still pushes out the water so I shouldn't think it would matter what it's pushing out unless you don't eat right or you take pills that make you constipated.

--well Folk, I'm totally "enema dependent" but mine is due to a birth defect. So...neener, neener, neener!

The boxcar

Well, as I said, it doesn't make any difference to me and over the years I've read a lot of different forums and message boards and pretty much everybody who uses enemas frequently doesn't have any problem when they quit. In fact I've rarely heard of anybodyo who will go more than a couple of days without normal movements.

But if you abuse your system by trying to use huge amounts or strange ingredients, then that could be a different story. If you stick to normal amounts like 1 1/2 to 2 quarts and only water with salt or baking soda, then chances are that there wouldn't be a p roblem.

Hey Allen;No need to worry,if you eat right and live a haealthy lifestyle,your bowels will be fine regardless to your enema habits.I've been taking enemas for 56yrs and have NO problems with enema sessions three or four times a week.If my bowels get lazy,then I'll take care of it in a hurry.

Let the good times FLOW.w/m73yrs/Western Ma

Well, i've started my day with a Mae West enema for many, many years. i also have other enemas - sometimes 3 or 4 a day. i have no problem having normal bowel movements within 1-2 days after not having an enema.

Actually I must confess that my bowel is less lazy since I started using enemas on a regular basis--the frequency varies--there have been stretches of time when I did them daily.

Most of my experience has been to take a series once a week. There was a five year period when I did regular colonics--I did not do enemas at all.

Over the years I have met personally lots of enema users--they are all very healthy individuals. Probably because they also eat right, do not abuse chemical substances--tobacco--alcohol--illegal stuff--and pharmaceuticals.

So if I were to offer a rule of thumb---😃😃😃--taking an enema is a healthy practice.

badger

Enemas taken frequently more than 2 per week can cause a lazy bowel but eating lots fruit vegetables keep it ok

I have heard for years that frequent enemas can cause dependance. However, I been given and taken enemas for years and years and while I have most certainly developed a mental dependance, I have most certainly not developed a physical dependance. On top of that, I have yet to see a true scientific study that proves this popular hypothesis.

Interesting Zack et al, I have had the chance to treat many patients in this area and have had them tell me things. The long and short of it is enemas are not the same. Too hot, too long, chemicals (including chlorine) and you can do harm. Doing it a little cool causes contractions, exercises the colon. Have you ever heard of exercise causing lazy muscles?

The truth is that done right, yes people take them for decades with no harm. IE Dr. John Kellogg MD, daily colonics for around 70 years, and still doing surgery at age 91.

However do it wrong once and you can do harm. There are chemicals that hurt, in particular chloring, that kills normal, necessary healthful flora. This can cause problems within and without the colon.

So it is not the number, the quantity (within reason) it is the type and methods of the enema that can increase the quality of health or decrease it.

I had one patient 95, that did daily enemas, few problems in and good health at that age. I had another, age 40, damage to her colon from years of doing too warm coffee enemas.

thanks

30 years +/- of daily enemas. Usually one on the floor than empty in the toilet, than 2 in the shower. First on my knees than the last one standing up. I'm probably dependent on them, but I really don't know, cause I never miss a day!

I only do ememas every month or six weeks, but the "signal" for taking one is that I'm having sluggish bowel movements with not a lot of peristalsis. Then two or three 2 quart enemas "tunes my system up" and keeps things lively for awhile. So, I use enemas to *treat* lazy bowel.

In my opinion the lazy bowel syndrome is a lot of bull.I've been doing enemas for over 50yrs and never had problem having normal BM after a couple of days of an enema session.Now I am only speaking for myself.

I would like to add that my diet of fruit and veggies,plus cereals and very little process food could be the reason why my bowels work OK.

Let the good times FLOW.

This is interesting because a friend of mine was once told she had lazy intestines, and the doctor actually recommend she take a regime of enemas to get things going. he also said massage would be good to stimulate the bowels. my friend of course did not have a good diet.