Tell me about self administering an enema prior to an endoscopy appt...

[MajorClanger123]

I am under a colo-rectal surgeon due to childbirth trauma to my bottom. She's ordered various investigative procedures to assess the damage, one of which is a flexible sigmoidoscopy.

The appointment is 8.45am Monday morning (delightful way to start the week!) and I have been sent a large bottle with nozzle so that I can perform my own enema 2 hours prior to the appointment. Instructions are - insert nozzle into anus, wait, then sit on toilet for complete bowel emptying.

A few questions - how easy is this to do on your own? I guess I could ask my DH but it's a little gross for him to be sticking the nozzle up my bottom. Also, how long after squirting in all the bottle will it take to work? I'm worried about having to then get in a car and drive 40mins to the hospital- I was thinking of wearing a large sanitary pad in case of leakage?
I'm not really worried about the actual procedure, just the enema beforehand! Any experiences gratefully appreciated.

You might need a bit of lubricant. Lie on your left side and gently have a feel with your finger, to find and loosen your anus. Then insert the nozzle and empty the enema.

Sit somewhere comfy until the urge to go is impossible to ignore. Don't go straight away as the potion needs time to work. Once you go, that should be it.

I've done them on my own. These are a paraphrase of my instructions:

Lie on your left side. Insert nozzle up bum and squeeze the bottle really hard till it's empty. Lie there and hang on for 10 mins (if you can...sometimes you can't)

Dash to loo. World falls out of your arse, then calms down after 5 mins. Have a shower and head off.

Maybe take spare pants as insurance

It's not difficult to do. I've had a few sigmoidoscopies. The worst bit is feeling the cold liquid in your insides!

I lay on the bathroom floor for 15 mins or so I think. Def don't go straight away as it won't clear enough out. One time I was constipated and the camera came to a dead end of poo and the procedure was abandoned

I've never had any issues with leaking at all.

Hope it goes ok and sorry you're having more health issues

Try and relax and take your time, then it's easier. If it hurts, stop, slow breathe, relax then carry on. Once you get the hang of it, they're easy to administer.
Agree it's; insert, squeeze, hold on, world falls out of arse, end.

Thanks so much for your speedy responses. I think I'm going to get up and do it at 6am, then it'll all be 'cleared out' by 6.45 (so the required 2 hours prior to appt), and I'll leave the house 7.45ish to drive to hospital. DH taking kids to school so he's excused from proceedings .

Waving at dubious - from boobs to bum! I had actually been in the system for referrals for my bottom issues last year, but it's taken so long to get the appointments through the breast lump worry happened in the meantime! As is always the way, the bottom leakage issues I was experiencing last year that has led me to the colo rectal consultant are now behaving & I'm not experiencing any symptoms as such, but seeing as I'm in the system id better have it all checked out. Hope you're doing well xx

I will defo take spare pants

I hope all goes well and that everything is ok for you.

Hope it goes well for you this morning Major. I remember by first sigmoidoscopy- dc were 2yr and 1yr old and I absolutely enjoyed having a few hrs away from them

Dubious ha! Yes I know what you mean - DH did the school run (in the rain) this morning whilst I sat in a hospital waiting room reading a book in peace.

All went fine - the enema didn't really work that well - it all went in ok, but I literally could only wait for

For reassurance, I would take a spare change of clothes for the waist down. A pair of leggings, pants and socks can even fit into a handbag. Hope all goes well.

Glad it went ok