How many colon ft. needed to irrigate?

[Jude]

Irrigators:
How many feet of colon do you have?

[Jimbob]

Welcome to the Forum Jude;

What you are asking is iffy. First Ileos absolutely cannot irrigate, a person must have a portion of their colon left.

In general the more colon you have, probably the more successful irrigation will be. One needs what we might term as some storage space so the colon can do its job of removing Fluids and salts from the fecal matter.

I have heard of some people with a Transverse Colostomy having some success at irrigation but generally speaking the more colon left the better the results.

How much colon do you have left? And have you discussed irrigation with either your doctor of an Ostomy Trained Nurse???

I am also sure others will weigh in here to help you????

[steiconi]

Do most ostomates know how many feet of colon they have? I don't. I still have most of it (I don't even know how much I started with), but I've got plenty to irrigate.

I think asking your doctor would be the best plan. Clearly, I'm no help!

[markstan]

A quick check with Dr. Google indicates that the typical colon is 5 ft. long. I had 1ft. removed at cancer surgery. So I have 80% left. I have been successfully irrigating since the surgery. As Jimbob has stated the more you have the better the chances of success. The job of the colon is to remove water from the stool. The longer the colon the more solid the stool will become hence allowing storage in the colon. No colon means no solid stool and hence no opportunity for stoage of stool nor irrigation to remove it.

Mark

[newsueinWI]

Not related to an answer to the post but wanted to say Steiconi, thanks for the laugh at your comment, "Clearly, I'm no help. "mI may use that the next time I don't have an answer at work and excuse myself. LOL