Alternative To Irrigation - Update!

[lp1964]

Hi Everyone,
I'd like to present an alternative to avoid having output up to 7 days. I have been doing this for over 3 years either once a week or just before special events or vacations.

Once a week I take 6 tablespoon of Milk of Magnesia (99 cent store) and a huge glass of water. I mix the MoM with some orange juice and water since it taste bad. Nothing happens for about 4 hours so and I do whatever I want around the house or even leave. Then I have diarrhea for an hour during which I empty my bag about 5 times.
I drink large amount of water or tea during and after the process to enhance the cleansing and prevent dehydration.
After the procedure I leave my pouch on for a few more hours just in case, but usually next day I put on a coloplast stoma cap and I have no output for about 4 days. With low amount of low fiber food I can stretch this to a week when I do the cleansing again. Fibrous food always gave me a lot of gas and cramps anyway. Lately I started taking iron which expands the output free period even more.

This method takes only 1 hour per week and changed my life in every way and almost feels normal. It doesn't require any additional supplies or clean up. Not having a pouch on makes showering easier and allows me to wear any kind of clothes. Once a wee I go to a place where I enjoy swimming, steam and jacuzzi and am very comfortable without the pouch.

If any of you decide to try this please consult your physician, because it's a lot of magnesium that's supposedly does not absorb since this is an osmotic product just absorbing the water and inducing the diarrhea this way. It's not irritating the intestines and doesn't lead to addiction.
Let me know if you have any questions.

I did my Milk of Magnesia cleansing described in other posts 5 days ago and no output at all so far. Taking some iron and feeling great.
Have been wearing the same Coloplast stoma cap the whole time just making sure I don't get it too wet during showers. It's amazing to feel completely free of the hassles of colostomy. I'm gonna see if I can stretch it for one week till my next cleansing.

Update: so I made it to 7 days with minimal output and complete comfort. I will do my MoM cleansing tomorrow and hopefully with the iron I'm taking my new regimen will be no output for a week and just wearing atoms caps between.

I haven't been on a vacation for 3 years partly because of my colostomy. Now I can go as long as I want, be comfortable the whole time and just do cleansing once a week that takes only an hour of my time. Yeaaaaay!

All the best!

[ot dave]

That's great that this works for you. The way my system works, there's no way I could go 4 days. My motility is too fast for that. But you have found something that works for you and that's awesome! Wish I could go 4-5 days between irrigations. I like food too much as well! Just shows how unique each individual is and how something works for one may not work for another. Glad we have these boards to share ideas/tips/techniques with one another. Not sure where I'd be today with out it!

David