Hi CArol, and friends, I'm Marsha, and I've had my ileostomy surgery for over 50+ years... You d idn't make it clear " what " you wanted to irrigate with a fleet enema.. The ostomy ( intestinal track)) or the rectal stump that you have left.. I was told NEVER to give myself an enema, ( fleet or otherwise) since I could damage the active bowel.. As for the rectal stump.. I had that for 4 years, ( after having my ostomy) and was treated with all kinds of medication using enemas. ( I'd often make the mixture myself.....insert / squirt , keep it in f or the required hour ) and then let it out, get dressed and go out on a date... Those were the tender years between 15-19. After 4 years of that, I was done, and fought with my parents and doctors to r emoved the rectum . I met with real resistance, and although the surgery didn't go well at t he time ( I lost bladder sensation) I've never regretted t he decision.. Yes....the pressure ( urge to go) is normal, as is the drainage of mucus and in my case blood... Even n ow with the rectum gone, I s till sometimes have t he urge to " go" because t here are still nerves an muscles... There should not be a problem with giving yourself a fleet enema but it's unlikely that the rectal stump will hold all of the liquid.. To be sure, I would check with a surgeon, just for an expert opinion, since you don't know how much of the stump is left. I w s doing it more than 50 years ago, ( prior to prepared fleet enemas) but was following my doctor's orders.. Best of luck to you.. Marsha
For Sandy.... The consistancy of the colostomy output, has to do with both diet, and the amo unt of laarge intestine y ou have left.. Meanin g the more y ou have, the more liquid you'll absorb, and the more formed the stool.. If you have most/ or lot of the large intestine removed ( it use to be called a wet colostomy) the output is going to be softer, more the consistancey of ileostomy output. If you wanted to experiment....try more fiber in your diet.. You might want to consider using ileostomy type pouches, since some of them are white or biege, and you don't have to "see" the brown out put.. Some people ( with an ileostomy) l ike to be able to see the condition of their stoma , and the " color" of the output...and are happy with clear pouches.. I'm not one of t hem. That's a personal preferan ce.. For me....I would never have considered a revision.....since I didn't want the chance of more Ulcerative colitis outbreaks... So it really depends on why you had the colostomy, to know if you're a candidate for a reversal... Best of l uck to y ou as well.. Marsha..