Any Cons to Irrigation for Colostomy Patients?

We've learned all we can about irrigation, and Hubz is scheduled for training on Tuesday.

Besides time and schedule, are there any cons to irrigation?

So far, we've read only positives for those that are able to irrigate.

So are there any cons? Hubz has a loop colostomy and is in chemotherapy treatment for colorectal cancer. The oncologist, surgeon, and ostomy nurse all say they have no concerns about irrigation.

We'd sure appreciate knowing in advance if there are any downsides, especially since (luckily) everything has been going pretty well so far using a 2-piece drainable Hollister setup.

Thanks!

The daily time commitment was unattractive to me. The only negative I remember hearing is that it can be tricky if you travel across time zones because your body wants to keep the same schedule.

If he is interested in trying it, there's no reason not to, in my humble opinion. He can go back to his ostomy appliance if it doesn't work out.

Not a lot of cons to irrigation other than the time commitment. I now have an ileostomy after my third colon cancer over 35 years. I started irrigation in 1989 and didn't realize how many issues and problems I skipped over the years until I got on some of the stoma/ostomy/irrigation sites on Facebook. I now know some people can't irrigate for various reasons (part of which I believe is Dr. Stomas Nurse's lack of understanding), but your options are to walk around with a 1/4 - 1/2 bag of poop in a bag or rinse out your colon every 36-48 hours and walk around with an empty bag (p.s. an empty bag doesn't leak). I irrigated every other night and ran a tire store, then sold my store and went through real estate school and worked as a real estate broker for 33 years. Without irrigating, I don't believe I could have done that.

Taking the time can be aggravating at times but is well worth it. I set up a chair in my bathroom and a TV and would watch a program while I irrigated (low stress is good while irrigating). I have gone to sleep while irrigating more than once. I wasn't too worried about timing; sometimes it would be early evening or late at night. If I ate too much, I sometimes irrigated extra (maybe 24 hours instead of 48 hours), and occasionally I might get an unexpected deposit in my bag, but it was never a big issue and it was rare.

This doesn't sound like an optional surgery; his stoma and bag are saving his life. He will learn to control his stoma and not let his stoma control him (or his family).

Tell him I said congratulations on getting his extension to life; make the best of it.

He's lucky to have a wife that is as helpful as you are and lucky that his cancer is in an organ that can be cut up or even removed, and he can walk out of the hospital. Cancer's not that nice to lots of people.

I'm off my soapbox now! Good luck.

You have nothing to lose by giving it a go. Wishing you good luck. Keep us informed.

IGGIE

Hello GoinWithTheFlow.
I have irrigated from before I had a stoma, so I continued this procedure almost immediately after.
For me, the negatives come in the form of wishing I didn't have to do it. That's a bit like wishing I didn't have a stoma and that my system would work 'normally'. 
I sometimes resent the time spent every day on this routine. However,  I then remind myself of the alternatives and quickly pull myself together and get on with life as best I am able.
I have no hesitation in recommending trying irrigation to anyone who is fortunate enough to be able to do it.
It's not suitable for everyone, but for those who do it successfully, it's a game-changer. 
Best wishes - and let us know how you get on.
Bill 

Tips on Hernia Prevention with Collin | Hollister

Your post is still up. As Warrior said, shit happens from time to time, but things tend to right themselves eventually. Unless you've been bad.

;O)

Good to know! Thank you!

Hi, I am just checking in to see if he tried the irrigation and how it went, if so? Hope all is well!

Hi Mia17,

He had an appointment with the Ostomy Nurse this week, who said she discussed with several surgeons whether there were any concerns about irrigating with a loop colostomy, saying they had none; however, there are concerns regarding the chemo treatments.

With the possibility of a neutropenic condition, the recommendation is to wait until the chemo treatments are completed.

Not sure whether I'm using that word correctly, but basically, we wouldn't want to risk any kind of infection as his ability to fight it is diminished while in treatment.

He's fortunate that the appliance doesn't really give him any trouble, so we're not heartbroken, but it really seems to be something that many folks appreciate being able to do!

Thanks for asking!