I've booked a colonic! Has anyone had one? Advice pls.

[plantchef23]

As the tittle suggests, I've gone ahead and booked a colonic after years of thinking about it. I've had chronic constipation all my life. I go on average once a week, but lately I've felt super backed up and despite eating normally, my bowel movements are pretty small whenever I do have one and I'm just feeling really heavy around my midsection because of it.

I'm really hoping that a colonic will help clear me out, but I'm wondering if anyone else is willing to share any first hand experience about what to expect, if it helped them, etc. I'm quite nervous but also excited just to feel a bit back to normal again. I've heard it can take a few to clear you out and restore you back to normal, so I'm wondering if I can expect to notice a difference with the first one.

Have you had one? What did you think?

I had IBS which despite dietary changes got worse. Was booked in for a colonoscopy so took moviprep Sheesh that cleared everything out. The oddest thing happened my IBS settled right down and hasn't returned.

Yeah I was going to say this. Get the OK from the doc

I have had 3 or 4, about 15 years ago. My experience is very similar to @serenity 's. I didnt have any problems from it, i felt a beautiful emptiness afterwards, but did feel a wierdly emotional as well.

I definitely wouldnt have them frequently, and would be very cautious with your history, as PPs have said.

You seriously haven't at any point had a colonoscopy given your history? Why would you do this instead of getting real help? It needs to be investigated and treated. Rather than a non medical professional sticking a tube up your bum and you hoping that water helps.

Exactly this

Just an update to say I went ahead with it anyway. I feel a lot better afterwards, and have managed to have regular bowel movements since, so I really think it helped clear out the backlog of 💩 and kind of re-set me a bit.

The woman was lovely, she's been doing it for 15ish years, so very trained and knowledgable. I'm also taking probiotics to restore my good gut bacteria. 👍🏻

Is it similar to an enema? Those were routinely given at the onset of labour.

I have similar issues to you and have a colonic every now and then. I find the effects really soothing and I always feel great afterwards. It also helps to keep everything working well for a while afterwards. I think, as long as you take probiotics, it's fine.

Kind of. But they basically put a lot more water in and it goes up into your colon. They let it soak for a min and then the lady that did mine did lots of massaging movements on my tummy. Then releases the water and your body pushes it back out again. It's all done through a tube that's attached to a system. So no mess: you're not sitting on a toilet, but laying on a bed. The poop that comes out goes down a tube and you can see it. The whole thing takes about 45-60 mins. I feel so much better after it now and I'm 💩 every day now rather than every 5 and having to take senna