IRRIGATION/EXPLOSION

Well, those who told me irrigation was the way, I'm back on board. My sleeves have arrived. I irrigated Thursday and this morning. Thursday was just not a good day; the sleeve wasn't locked well. So, you know, it went on the floor. But this morning was a better day. I sat in a chair near the toilet, kept the sleeve hanging in the toilet, top of the toilet, after I found my spot. So after the water went, it cramped a little. There was an explosion. I guess Claudia said, "What's going on?" because a burst of waste came out for the first time. So, my fellow ostomates, how long does it take before Claudia says, "Ah, I got it?" But I will continue, not giving up. Have a great one, but always keep safety in mind, Angelicamarie

Attach the sleeve to you with an ostomy belt; don't rely on the "click on" connection. Cramping is normally a sign that the water is too cold; it should be at or slightly above your body temperature of 98.6. I use the Coloplast irrigation kit, which has a built-in temperature gauge on the water bag. If you don't have that setup, check the water temperature at the faucet with a good quality kitchen thermometer. Once you get the bag filled with the correct temperature water, put it in directly; don't dally as it will cool off quickly in the winter. That "burst" of output is normal for the first few minutes... then things will slow down. Keep us posted.

Hello Angelicamarie.
I agree with MMSH that having the water at the right temperature is helpful, although I just guess at it.
You say that you will keep pushing. This can have a couple of different meanings but if you mean pushing to get the output out, I would say that I have found my system reacts adversely to trying to push things through. What seems to work best for me is when I am concentrating on other things and simply let the stoma do its own thing. Also, I have made my own comfortable seat for the toilet as 'normal' toilet seats do not really suit me as an ostomate. It is just a foam-padded plank that allows me to sit right at the back of the toilet bowl so the sleeve goes between my legs and into the bowl without obstruction. After I've finished the seat id then taken off and stowed by the side of the toilet until I need it again. The seat is covered with an old pillow case, which is easy to remove for washing. It's all so much more comfortable than sitting on the toilet seats designed for people with completely different needs.
Best wishes
Bill

Hey friend, no, I don't mean pushing the cone further; I mean continuing, not giving up. I bought a new toilet so I could sit further back on the seat, which would give me room when the bag is so full. Once I remove the Velcro, it just goes crazy. That's a good idea about the pillowcase on the seat because the cleanup is horrible. But Bill, I will admit the last time I irrigated, I seemed to have more control; there was little cleanup to do. I think that's a better idea, to sit on the toilet with the sleeve between my legs, and don't lock it; just let it go. This is what you're saying, right? I will go for it next time. Thanks, Bill. Are your plumbing issues fixed yet? I hope so. Have they fixed the heat? I just want to thank you, Bill, for all the things that you have shared and let's not forget educated me on. Angelicamarie

Hello Angelicamarie.
I find that with a padded plank on the actual bowl (without the normal pull-down seat) gives more space in front for the sleeve to go down. I've rigged it all up so that my laptop can be used while I wait for the process to run its course. This way I don't have to think about the stoma issues at all and it doesn't seem quite like a waste of my time sitting on the loo for so long.
Yes! our heating has now been fixed and we are snug and warm once again. Thanks for your concern.
Best wishes
Bill

My Ostomy Journey: April | Hollister

Wonderful warmth is always comforting. Just now handling the irrigation, will wait before bringing the tablet, perhaps a book! Hey friend, have a great day as always. Thanks, angelicamarie.

Bill, I asked you to delete the last message, but I had an ostomate send me a message, saying, "Another one? Do I have to write so many?" And that this is the first time she has spoken up for herself. You see, Bill, I mean no malicious intent. I have nervous energy and I'm a chatterbox, so blogging is good for me. I'm doing it; perhaps it will help someone, like some of you have helped me. I told her to write to the administrator. I'm not stopping because she has a problem. My mom said when people go low, I should go high. Some battles are not my fight. Angelicamarie

Hello Angelicamarie.
I am not sure what the problem is with regard to blogging or posting on the forum a lot. Surely this site is about communicating with fellow ostomates about whatever it is that they want to talk about. I tend to be a prolific poster but so far, I have not had any adverse comments about the amount I write. Perhaps, for those who do not want to read all these posts, the sensible thing to do would be to skip the ones that are felt to be superfluous to one's own needs and only read those that we are interested in. A bit like discovering the ON-OFF switch on the TV for those programmes that we either like or dislike. I rarely watch any television but I would not deem to tell people that they should not broadcast stuff, just because it is not to my taste.
I have no doubt at all that there will be many people who have absolutely no interest in rhyming verse but that will not prevent me from continuing to post stuff that might be of interests to a minority. In fact many of my verses are written for and on behalf of just one person. Sometimes that person is me and other times it is for someone else who may have a problem. My expectation is, that if people do not want to read it, then they have the option of ignoring it and reading something that interests them more.
Best wishes
Bill

I'm still irrigating, but here's the problem, after irrigating I still have quite a bit of output will that stop? Angelicamarie

How long do you wait for the water to return? It could take up to an hour. You might try leaving the sleeve on after you finish {with the tail opening rolled up and clipped shut} and then have a little something to eat and a warm drink {coffee, tea, cocoa}. This should stimulate anything remaining to come out. Good luck.

Mine can take up to two hours to finish but it is well worth it with not having to worry about output the next day. I do what MMSH suggests and make the sleeve into a bag. This enables me to walk around or do whatever I want. I then leave it on overnight but rarely get any more output. It's just a precaution.
Best wishes
BIll

Bill, how do you sleep in it? Does anything slip out? Because it burst on me once, so I don't totally feel comfortable walking around in it. Do you use that clip to lock the sleeve? Angelicamarie

Mild-mannered superhero, I wait about 45 minutes. That clip that you lock the sleeve with, I put on once; it let go. So, how do you lock the bottom without fear that it will stay that way?

Roll up the bottom until the sleeve is a manageable length, say 12 inches long, and put a clothespin on either side of it. In this fashion, the plastic itself is holding the weight; the pins only hold the plastic rolled up. I always wait 1 hour... better safe than sorry. After you finish irrigating, have a light meal or a snack; this should stimulate your colon to finish emptying. Wait 30 minutes and then take off the sleeve and put on your regular wear pouch. Good luck, keep us posted on your progress.

Hey mild-mannered superhero, thanks. I will try that. I will have to get some clothespins because I do not have any. No problem, I will keep you posted because the more I do, the more comes out, but I continue with so much output. I will time it for an hour. Thanks, friend, Angelicamarie

Hello Angelicamarie.
My method for using the sleeve as a bag is quite simple: After washing it thoroughly, I squeeze all the air out by putting the sleeve on the side of the wash basin and a flannel on top of it, then I pull so that it slides under the flannel. so all the water and air is out. I then spray a deodorant in the top before folding.
My folds come in three big ones and two small: The first fold makes a bag about nine inches long, which leaves quite a lot of sleeve left. The next fold is level with the top (open end) of the sleeve and the next brings the bottom of the sleeve level with the top and the fold.( so all the ends are together). I them fold all the ends over twice about two inches, followed by folding them inwards on each other, which makes an airtight seal. This is all squeezed together with a freezer bag seal and I'm set for the night! ( I could not get on with the clip they provided) This makeshift bag could hold any output that I'm likely to have and it's easy to empty and clean out before I retire for the night. Most nights it remains empty except for wind. It always fascinates me how much wind I pass overnight and this bag acts as an accurate measure for that.
I hope this helps
Best wishes
Bill

Okay Bill, I will try this too, but the folds and the storage bag, is it going to hold? You haven't had any problems? I'll give it a shot. Thanks, my friend angelicamarie, you have a great day. You are probably up now, getting ready for your day to start. How's everything, Bill? Nice and warm now, the problem is solved, right? It is always something, isn't it? As you say, best wishes!

Hello Angelicamarie.
I don't have any problems with this method but that's not to say it will work for everyone. It's been said many times on this site that people ought to experiment to see what suits them the best. I am still trying new things when people suggest them and some of them work better for me, others don't. Then secret is; to keep trying and not to give up.
Best wishes
Bill

Bill and Mild Mannered Super Hero, I put some of what both of you told me to do, and I have had no output as of yet, so I did something right. Thanks, friends! Angelicamarie, try to have a good day; there are always obstacles, push them out of the way.

Bill and Mmsh, I tried a little bit of what both of you told me this morning. It definitely takes more than 45 minutes. I waited over an hour. Now, she still might be hardheaded, but as of now, she expelled quite a bit. Thanks, my fellow veteran ostomates! 'angelicamarie

Hello Angelicamarie. Thanks for your feedback. I'm sure you will get the hang of it if you keep at it. I usually sit for a couple of hours - but then, I'm usually writing so I do not notice the time drifting by and when I've finished writing I'm quite surprised that the stoma has also done its thing for the night.
Best wishes
Bill

Hey Bill and Mmsh; it's been almost a month. When do the stoma get it? Mine seems to be a bit stubborn. Less is coming out after irrigating, but how long do you have to do it when none comes out?!!! Angel

Hello Angelicamarie.
I do so wish that I could give you definitive answers to your questions. Unfortunately, we are all different and our stomas react in different ways. I can plod along for months in a predictable routine, thinking that I have mastered the control of my stoma and then, without warning it will throw the routine right out of the window and start doing its own thing, as if to tell me that I'm not really in control at all. I try to figure out what I'm doing or eating differently but invariably cannot identify anything. Eventually things settle down again and the routine gets back to some sort of stoma 'normality'. It seems to me that much of the time there is little that can be done except be patient and hope that things do not get so far out of hand that medics need to be involved. I still think that Irrigation has freed me up from the ties of the bag and toilet anxiety during the day, which has improved my quality of life no end during that period. The process of irrigation can occasionally be frustrating and irritating but placed in the wider context it gives me a much improved quality of life so I would still advocate persevering with it.
I hope that your efforts at irrigation take you to a place where it becomes much better for you than it might otherwise have been.
Best wishes
Bill

Thanks, Bill, for replying to my message. I won't give up, but my stoma has control, not me!!! Angelicamarie