I've just undergone a colonic irrigation (largely to keep my boyfriend company, he wanted one for his birthday!?)

There was no compaction (so the specialist said and I believe) and nothing came out (sorry!) during the hour long procedure.

I'm well aware that the UK has the highest incidence of bowel cancer in the world currently, and that hydrotherapy has it's benefits.

Question is, if nothing 'came out' this first time, is it worth repeating the procedure in my case or not?

Oh, I weigh about 9st, am size 10 (US 6?) 5'6" and eat healthily when I can be bothered.

Thanks
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04-30-06, 02:52 PM
juanruiz
I do not believe anyone else here has ever given their weight in stone, so congrats on being the first. Having gone through the procedure, I have no idea why one would want to repeat it.

04-30-06, 03:03 PM
Sherasi
In the united states, colonoscopies are performed based on symptoms, blood evidence, pain, discomfort, risk facts, etc.

Typically these tests are suggested to start at a certain age and then evey 5 to 10 years or so.

Q: When should people begin colon cancer screening?

A: For the general population, without family history of colon cancer or other conditions which predispose them to cancers, screening for colon cancer and polyps should begin for both men and woman at age 50. Diagnostic evaluation at that time should consist of either a sigmoidoscopy, which evaluates the left colon, or possibly a full colonoscopy as an alternative.

Q: What are some of the warning signs of colon cancer?

A: In general, alterations in bowel habits, rectal bleeding accompanied by weight loss or lab abnormalities including anemia or iron deficiency should be warning signs for gastrointestinal problems and should warrant appropriate testing.

Q: How often should screening tests be offered?

A: A sigmoidoscopy in general should be offered to individuals every 3-5 years assuming that no polyps or other abnormalities are detected. In addition, fecal occult blood testing should be offered to all individuals on a yearly basis starting at age 50. As an alternative, colonoscopies can be offered to individuals at 7-10 year intervals if no polyps are detected or if there are no other signs of gastrointestinal problems. For individuals at greater risk for colon cancer, these recommendations would not pertain and colonoscopies at more frequent intervals would be the screening method of choice.

Health Tip:
"Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Due to the serious morbidity and mortality from this condition screening tests are recommended to detect early stages of this disease. All individuals both men and women should undergo colon cancer screening after discussion with their physicians." - Elie M. Abemayor, MD

04-30-06, 03:14 PM
spooked
Do you know I underwent the procedure purely out of curiosity. Strangely, apart from the first ten minutes when I yelped a few times, it was not unpleasant.

There are many practitioners in the UK and the procedure is enjoying some popularity : possibly due to a rich diet that we're all trying to negate, possibly because our dear departed Diana enjoyed these treatments.

Whatever the reason, I can honestly say it's not as bad as you'd think.

My boyfriend's treatment (in the words of the practitioner) produced some "good results". Roll Eyes

04-30-06, 03:22 PM
juanruiz
If you are saying you went through it as a recreational event, I wonder at your list of enjoyments.

04-30-06, 03:22 PM
kittypal
There are or at were a few places around here who do it as part of a spa day...I have always been curious to how you feel afterward.

04-30-06, 03:23 PM
juanruiz

quote:
I have always been curious to how you feel afterward.



Are you sure you wanna know?

04-30-06, 03:48 PM
Professor
You should be aware the colonic irrigation is not part of mainstream scientific (or allopathic) medicine. It is considered part of alternative, complementary, or holistic medicine and has the same questionable status as homeopathic remedies, chiropractic manipulation, chelation therapy, and a whole host of other treatments that are at best of dubious value and and at worst outright quackery and fraud.

(I realize this topic is posted in the Alternative Health category, but it's hard for me to just look the other way.)

Like other non-scientific medicine, colonic irrigation relies on anecodatal "feel good" testimonials rather than scientifically controlled research. It appeals to vague notions of health such as "detoxification" best described as folklore rather than science. It may be of limited value in a few specific conditions, such as listed here .

Sorry to be a (forgive the pun) party-pooper, but I view colonic irrigation as entirely lacking in merit, aimed primarily at separating patients from their money.

04-30-06, 05:26 PM
spooked
I was warned before the treatment that I may feel spontaneously euphoric afterwards. In truth I felt no different.

As to the fact that it's clumped with other 'alternative medicines such as chiropractice and homeopathy', I've always felt more benefit from those than mainstream medicine. Notwithstanding the placebo effect. In UK we tend to be prescribed a couple of paracetomol or antibiotics whatever the problem.

It has to be said though that colonic irrigation left me cold.

04-30-06, 05:41 PM
kittypal

quote:
Are you sure you wanna know



Probably not THAT much, I think the whole thing of letting someone (excuse my graphicness) shove a tube up there is a little humiliating...Maybe after a couple of strong drinks though! Wink

05-22-06, 02:00 PM
sid1114
Hard to figure the "notwithstanding the placebo effect" comment. How does an individual discount it? The fact is colonic irrigation not only has zero benefit, it has some risk (perforation, delay of correct diagnosis, etc.) But, as the perfesser said, this is the alternative forum, so whatever floats your boat. As it were.

05-22-06, 02:59 PM
babthrower
'Minds me of my ex and his more-than-merely-spooky family. He was a spiritist, which I thought was a mildly off-center belief, similar to Western Buddhism (pardon me, I was nineteen and ignorant as dirt).

Harmless until after we were married, and he tried to convert me. And tried. And tried, using every form of manipulation.

He had this book and in it were pictures of advanced yoga. It seemed to be unduly pre-occupied with concepts of 'cleanliness'. One set of photos showed a guy in the lotus position with a huge roll of cotton gauze. He yarded that stuff up his nose and down the back of his throat and then out of his mouth. I guess at that pointed he began a seesaw motion, for the purpose of removing 'impurities' from his nose and throat - I don't know, I was so grossed out at this bizarre behavior I never looked at the book again.

I said this would likely cause a massive infection in a normal person, because abrading your mucosa with gauze would break down the natural protection it provides. Nature put mucosa there for a reason. It is not 'dirt'. And if you do get a nasal infection, there are more sensible ways to handle it.

This led to an argument which neither of us won.

Anyway, he had many other ideas about 'cleanliness', such as that our bowels are full of impurities and it takes herculean efforts - fasting, two days per week on a liquid diet, irrigation, etc., to clean them out. I said that again, the bowels are lined with lubricant and that normal excretion 'cleans' them - they are self-cleaning. Okay, maybe not completely, but sufficient for health and good esthetics, unless you catch cholera or something.

The notions he advanced seemed to be based on simple ignorance, and a neurotic preoccupation of some sort. Glad he's my ex.

Anyhow, that idea is abroad, and only got worse when people became aware of pollutants and food additives and so forth.

But these 'impurities' are not in your colon. They pervade our tissues. The average person has something like 70 chemicals stored in his/her body that got there by food or water.

Best treatment is to avoid them in the first place by not eating food whose list of ingredients is forty items long. Cook our own food. Clean it well with water. Don't take health additives - they are unproven, and some are proven harmful.

Best of all is lobby for pure air, pure water and pure food standards.

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