Enema Through Ileostomy Stoma: Experiences and Advice

My doctor says that I have a partial blockage in my small intestine and I need to perform multiple enemas through my stoma to help clear it. Have any of you needed to perform this? Did it work? I assume it's a mess to do.

Hi Martles, how long have you had this? Before the enemas, you can try to do some easy postures to move things along. Lie on your back and pull your knees towards your armpits (so your knees don't put pressure on your stoma/bag). Stay like this for at least a minute. If you can, drop your knees to one side, also for a minute, and push your belly out as you slowly and deeply inhale, then pull it as far in as you can as you slowly and deeply exhale. Hopefully, you start to hear noises from your stoma. People swear by Coke to move things along. I've drunk seltzer, and that has helped.

Hi Martles, I agree with eefy. There are a few things to try first. I start with lying flat and applying pressure around my stoma. Sometimes applying a heated compress will help. Finally, the Coke trick usually works for me, but not always. Drink down a room temperature small bottle of the full sugar Coke, not sugar-free. I've never done an enema, so I can't really advise you on that.

Terry

Yes. Assuming there is a blockage by food at the abdominal wall, this is an accepted thing to do. This is best done using a red Robinson catheter. Eating large quantities of certain foods can cause an obstruction that gets stuck at the abdominal wall. However, in general, the most common cause of bowel obstruction is adhesions that will not be helped with enemas.

Hey, so your doctor should have told you to stop eating and go on a liquid diet. If it doesn't pass in a couple of days, you need to go to the ER. An enema isn't going to push out a partial blockage or a full blockage; it has to push itself out, and you don't know how far in the blockage is. Nothing should be shoved down your ileostomy; you can cause damage, and it can also tear easily.

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Thank you. I will try all you recommended.

I didn't even know or feel there was a blockage, but it showed up on my CT scan. I have no idea how long it may have been there.
I appreciate your helpful comments.

Basically, just doing irrigation like some on here do. Insert the garden hose, turn on the water, and flush the yuck out. 🤷‍♂️ I would think the doctor would have done it for you the first time to show you how. 🤔

Hi Martles,

After living with my ileostomy for 51 years (U.C. and Crohn's), I have had my share of blockages. When you have one, you definitely know and feel it. It is extremely painful. It feels like your entire abdominal area is about to burst with no relief. There are several useful solutions offered by our experienced team, such as exercise and using a carbonated beverage, Coke or Sprite. I've used both. It takes time for the carbonation to work, and remember you're adding to the temporary pain. However, when the blockage eventually releases and is pushed out, you'll know it.

But be very careful about putting anything into your stoma. The lining of your small intestine is very sensitive and may bleed if irritated or scraped. When you say you didn't even know or feel a blockage, that it showed up on a CT scan, I question, is it really a blockage on the basis that our experienced team is understanding it to be? Considering you are experiencing no immediate pain, I would suggest having a procedure performed by an ostomy specialist, by having a tiny camera inserted into the stoma and extended while observing the small bowel to the point that the CT scan showed the blockage. I recently had some Crohn's flares, and my specialist performed this procedure. You are anesthetized. The procedure is painless afterward, and the pictures give you considerable information and “peace of mind.”