UOAA Discussion Board

I've been gatoring since 2010....with high levels of success over that time. During that time, I developed a pretty decent sized hernia as well....but continued to irrigate without issues. Back in March, I had a routine colonoscopy. Since then, my irrigation success has been all over the place. Some days just fine, other days, I would have been better off sleeping in...

There were sessions were my colon simply would not allow water to enter. I tried everything from eating before, drinking glasses of water, standing on my head, everything that we discuss here. It got to the point where the colon would go into peristalsis and contract to skin level...with a lot of force, and then push the water out with a ton of force, causing water to go under the flange around the stoma, leading to breaches in the flange itself. I used to get a weeks wear time out of a flange, and then I went to replacing them 2-3 times per week....I was not happy.

Just recently, I started paying attention to how I was lying in bed prior to irrigating. I noticed that if I woke up on my left side, that irrigation was almost pointless, but if I woke up on my right side, that the sessions were noticeably improved. So, when the alarm goes off now, I hit the snooze (which I always did anyway), and either turn to my right side or on my back. This allows the colon to "go back" to where it is supposed to be. I get in there and irrigate before gravity works its magic again, and the sessions have gone back to being pretty successful.

That said, I have had to alter the number of infusions, because as I am getting to the 3rd infusion that I used to do, the hernia is reappearing, trapping water in some of the folds, and then showing up again 2 or 3 hours later.

Anyhoo...I just wanted to say thanks to the gators here. If it weren't for you guys and the endless list of tips and techniques that I used to regain my success, it would have taken me considerably longer to problem solve my troubles. As it is, I just kind of stumbled onto it by accident!

So, here is a new tip/technique that I don't know has ever been discussed when having irrigation issues.....

If you irrigate, and you have a hernia, try reducing the hernia to see if that allows the infusion to flow more freely.

David

Great tip Dave. Thanks.

Sorry to hear you've been experiencing some issues after 5 good years. It's should be an eye opener to all of us who irrigate to be vigilant of how our body is responding. Time changes everything!

BTW it was one of your posts about being able to go hunting with your son at 4am that encouraged me to start irrigating.

Thanks again,
Murph

Dave,

Am really sorry for the problems you have been having. However, it seems like you have found some solutions, and I hope you continue to improve, and get the success you once had.
Ed

Sorry that you were having trouble but glad you figured out a way to improve things again. Thanks for sharing your experience. It's really helpful for newbies like me. You have been very helpful to me on this journey. Wishing you all the best!

Lisa

It's been said before, that this ostomy business is a trial and error process...a marathon, not a sprint. I've had my ostomy for over 6 years now, and most days I really feel like I've got it figured out. I know 6 years is fairly short, especially when you read that folks here have had ostomies for 20 plus years. I just hope I don't run into too many surprises in the future.

My success seems to have returned to what I had before (with my new found adaptation). I know that as I age that things will change with time...hopefully not too much though. When they do, I know that I can come back here and the good folks who stick around will again help me problem solve through my issues. That's why I hang around. I like paying it forward when I can.

Hope you guys had a good 4th of July....I did, and my ostomy was again, thanks to irrigation, a non-issue!

Have a good day my friends.

David

Well, I guess I spoke too soon. Still having issues getting the water to enter the colon. Have also noticed a new bump on the side of my stomach, so I'm pretty sure the hernia has changed positions on me. That said, I gave irrigating while standing up a try this morning...with good success. I guess that gravity helped pull the hernia out to allow the water to enter.
So, I guess that will be my new normal for a while until it has to be changed and I have to start irrigating from an inversion table!!
Just FYI, this is frustrating, but not to the point that it is making me anxious or depressed...more annoying than anything, but I will persevere.

Have a good day my friends!

Welcome to the standup gator club! . It's how I've been irrigating for my 1+ year.

Got a question Bob,

How do you secure the tail of your sleeve? Do you just leave your clip on, or is there a way you fasten it so that when output comes that it is not splashing all over the place? I'm thinking about using a clamp of some sort to clamp the sleeve to the toilet seat, but thought I'd ask you since you are a pro already!

Hey Dave,

I had a similar issue with my hernia and also have a small lump on the left side of it. For quite some time I fought through repeated attempts to get the water in. After about a month or two I found that by pushing in and around the left side of my hernia, I would hear and feel a little pop and or gurgle which seemed to open up a path for the water to go in. So now after I insert the cone but before I open the valve, I just push in and massage the area a little bit and the water flows in freely.

Hope this helps,
Murph

Hi Dave- I'm 5'7" and when I stand straight the hollister sleeve tail ends up about 1" above the toilet waterline. So if I stoop a little and break my knees a bit the tail goes into the water, and there is usually no output splash. Usually . I tried a stool that sits me just under my normal standing height, and that had the tail dangling in the water. But my best setup for me ended up being a stander /leaner/ stooper. Also when I stand the counter top next to me is the right height to have my iPad easy to read and use. I.e. Multitasking.

Well, I tried standing today using a clip to secure the tail....that's where I went all wrong....instead of getting and using a new clip, I simply used the old one I had been using when there was no output. It broke, and I lost about 1/3 of a sleeve, of mostly water, but a mess none the less. I didn't get good returns today at all. I think partly because I didn't eat all that much yesterday/combined with about 3 hours of mowing the yard, and my water being too cool. I'll try it again tomorrow and see how it goes. If it doesn't go well with standing, I'll give your suggestion a try Murph.

Thanks guys,

David