The topic at hand is about the safety of irrigating or using plugs with an ileostomy. An ileostomy is a surgical opening created to allow waste to exit the body when the colon or rectum is not functioning properly. People with ileostomies are curious about whether they can use irrigation or plugs to manage their stoma, but there are concerns about the safety of these practices. Here are some insights and advice gathered from discussions on this topic:

1. Routine irrigation is generally meant for colostomies, particularly those involving the sigmoid or descending colon, and is not recommended for ileostomies. This is because a colostomy can be "trained" due to the presence of part of the colon, whereas an ileostomy has a continuous, liquid output that cannot be regulated in the same way. Many people have not heard of anyone successfully irrigating an ileostomy.

2. Safety warnings are clear: do not insert anything into an ileostomy. It is crucial to consult with a stoma nurse or physician before trying any form of irrigation or plugging.

3. For those with colostomies considering irrigation, it is important to have a healthy segment of descending or sigmoid colon. Transverse or ileostomy stomas do not meet this requirement.

4. Regarding the use of plugs with an ileostomy, one person has tried using ostomy plugs with limited, doctor-approved experimentation, starting with 8–10 hours to test tolerance. However, others are skeptical and seek medical justification for using plugs in ileostomies.

5. In cases of "emergency" or partial irrigation, one ileostomy user mentioned gently flushing when a "mushroom" appliance is difficult to pass, but there is no standard protocol for this, and medical advice is strongly recommended.

6. Some products and resources mentioned include the Hollister mini-pouch, which is used by a daily colostomy irrigator as a discreet option after irrigating, and conceal plugs, which are being tried experimentally by one ileostomy wearer. Additionally, Phoenix Magazine has an article comparing UK and USA irrigation techniques.

7. A practical tip from a long-time colostomate is that even after years of daily irrigation, unexpected output can still happen. In such cases, they switch from a cap to a Hollister mini-pouch for added security.