This topic is about someone dealing with a retracted colostomy, which makes it difficult to get a good seal with their ostomy wafer. After several surgeries, their doctor suggests trying colostomy irrigation instead of another revision surgery. However, the person is hesitant and worried about the process. They are looking for advice and real-life experiences from others who have tried irrigation. Here are some helpful insights and advice shared by others:

1. Consider giving irrigation a try. If it doesn't work for you, you can always go back to emptying your pouch frequently. It might offer you more freedom.

2. Irrigation is typically suitable for those with a colostomy, not an ileostomy. The routine usually involves:
- Daily irrigation: Spend about 10-15 minutes to instill water and 20-30 minutes for evacuation. You can use this time to read, shave, or shower.
- Some people irrigate every 48 or even 72 hours.

3. Here are some tips for the technique:
- Start with a smaller amount of water and gradually increase to about 1–1.3 liters of warm water.
- Let the water flow in slowly for a more comfortable experience.
- Keep all your supplies within easy reach to avoid spills.
- Initially, wear a pouch until you feel confident, then you can switch to a stoma plug, pediatric pouch, or mini-cap for added security.

4. For learning, you can watch YouTube videos that demonstrate the entire procedure. There are also detailed posts by experienced members on this site.

5. Emotionally, resistance to trying irrigation might come from feelings of anger or mistrust of your body after cancer. Try to approach it with an open mind, and you might find positive results that change your perspective.

6. If you're considering revision surgery, it's usually possible 3–4 months after your last operation. In the meantime, protect your skin around the stoma with a liquid skin protectant and consider trying irrigation to help reduce leaks.

7. Many long-term users have found irrigation to be "liberating," providing them with freedom from managing output for a day or even multiple days. Some have been doing it successfully for over nine years.