Does anyone know, would a colonic hydrotherapy treatment be harmful?
The water is administered gently, and is targeted to the bowel rather than the colon, but I am wondering if it could end up going through the possibly compromised intestinal walls, enter the blood stream taking any toxins with it, and make me worse off?
I'm probably overthinking this and it's a bit of a niche question I know, but I would be grateful for any advice.
Thankyou, as always.
Written by
grumpyold
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My sister had a colonic treatment like the one you are describing, many years ago.
She regrets it as she thinks it upset the flora (or even the fauna) in her bowel, which has never worked quite as well as it did before since.
I don’t know the scientific basis for this kind of irrigation. In this country it tends not to be doctors who advise it - in my knowledge. Who has recommended it to you?
It hasn't been recommended by a doctor. I have become so desperate for a respite from chronic idiopathic constipation that I was tempted to get all the problem sucked out of me.
Doctors have been no help with it.
Having read about your sister's experience. I am having second thoughts.
I was having them anyway , to be honest so you have reinforced my own doubts. I do appreciate you sharing your sister's regret.
And do you know why you have this problem? Have you tried the stomach acid test with baking powder?
The preparations for an endo- or colonoscopy are major, but if I was to suffer regular constipation (am in a bad way of it currently) I would try to do something like that. It’s an irrigation of sorts but from the inside out.
In Britain we are so prudish about things that doctors then don’t treat problems like this properly / take them seriously enough.
I've tried senna. Dulcolax. Dulcoease, magnesium citrate, Exlax, Fybogel sachets, and most recently Solgar Psyllium fibre husks.
Yes, I burped within a minute on the bicarb test so that was OK. I have just added daily kimchi . I also now take a probiotic first thing.
I havent had a colonoscopy, nor do I fancy the thought of having to have one. Like you say, pretty major. Endoscopy too. I'm so squeamish and cowardly about intrusive procedures I have been putting up with the discomfort in the hope I can find a solution myself.
I can't say why I have this problem. Slow motility perhaps. Lack of colonic peristalsis? I hoped that with a great FT3 level, it would improve, but not so far.
My GP wasn't much help. Tested me for ovarian cancer (symptoms are bloating and constipation which is what I had). The test was negative (thank goodness) so all he offered was a script for Fybogel sachets. They helped for a while and then the bloating got worse.
I got a private SIBO test which was positive so the bacterial overgrowth probably contributes to the constipation.
Currently trying Atrantil for that, though it isn't a cure, it helps with the symptoms.
I do feel less bloated since I started it.
You are so right about we Brits being embarrassed about stuff😥
You say your GP tested you for ovarian cancer - do you mean the blood test? Not everyone who has that cancer gets a positive blood result. I’d suggest an ultrasound if they didn’t put you forward for one then. Only so you are on the safe side.
The scope isn’t that bad. I’ve had both. And the waiting lists are long, so you might as well get on one now. Plenty of time to make up your mind about the scope while you are waiting. You need a full day out of life to take all the stuff before the scope (which amounts to an enema) but you would probably welcome that part of the procedure anyway.
You have tried and are trying a lot of things. Well done! What do you eat for breakfast? My granny swore by raspberries (frozen / tinned just as good) and by linseed and porridge. I can’t say she was wrong, from the gut motility POV.
The first thing to remember - embarrassment-wise - is that none of this is your fault. You deserve to have good health just as much as the next person, and whether a person has a heart, an asthma or a constipation problem, all of these problems call for considered medical advice and solutions.
I don’t know enough about SIBO to comment.
How long have you been going through all of this for?
In fact I would say the scope is totally fine. Both times I have dozed off while I was having mine and the prep (lots of laxatives and water drinking) for the colonic scope is the most intrusive part of it.
Yes, the CA125 blood test. When it was negative, they offered me Fybogel. That's all. Typical of our surgery.
Thankyou for the reassurance that the scopes aren't so bad. Aren't waiting list times awful😢. I had to wait 18 weeks just now for ultrasound on my arm to check that a lipoma wasn't anything nasty.
For breakfast, I used to have porridge with blueberries and prunes or 2 Linda McCartney lincolnshire sausages. I recently changed to Kefir yoghurt with an unripe green banana and a tablespoon of ground linseeds. (Your granny was a wise woman.)
Yeah, I think I might have been at the back of the queue when the health luck was handed out. One thing after another. There are so many people worse off, though.
I am learning so much about health issues as each fresh problem crops up 😢.
The constipation began over 20 years ago. My friends used to joke that I was the only vegetarian they knew, who was constipated. Two decades later, and I no longer think it's funny. I did have spinal surgery back in 1997 which I am told, might have some bearing on the problem.
I shan't be beaten and am determined to get to the bottom 😂 of it!
Unfortunately I don’t have emoticons enabled otherwise I would go to town in this message.
My granny was VERY wise and wore it lightly. She also had constipation and was from Scotland - porridge is the answer to many problems.
Please bear in mind what I said about the CA125 test. Unlike the smear test it is not conclusive. Since you continue to have symptoms - unexplained ones, too - please do ask for an ultrasound. No pain but at least some reassurance! GPs. Tut.
What is holding you back from wanting to get a scope? Have you heard any negative stories? Of all the procedures I’ve had (and I have been around the procedure block) it’s up there with an iron infusion as really not bad at all. Most recently I had a colposcopy and a Sjögren’s biopsy and a camera up my nose - these are all less nice than the endoscope and colonoscopy are.
I have Aspergers and I find hospitals very very intimidating. Bright lights, hustle and bustle and SO many people. I also hate being touched. (Yeah, a real bundle of fun,lol.)
I really appreciate your concern. I have thought in the past, if I ever did have a serious health problem which necessitated regular hospital appointments and being prodded and poked, that I would probably not bother.
The aversion/phobia is that strong.
You had to have an iron infusion? I wish I could give you some of my blood! I have the opposite problem. Too much iron. Hemochromatosis. Our GP is rubbish. Denied I could have hemo. Said if I had, my ferritin would be at least 1000. It was 579. Wouldnt help me. To prove I had it, I got my own DNA test.
If I could change surgery I would but there is only this one in the very rural area I live in. The next one along, refused to take me on cos I was out of their area.
Why does a doctor need to tell a patient they are fine before they’ve even been tested? What is that about!
I am unstoppable in my wish to see you have a scope procedure and see it’s not all that bad! But I do recognise now where you are coming from, and from the sound of it you’d probably need a sedative before coming to hospital and then again before having a scope!
Also - why haven’t you tried Laxido? That’s the one I’ve always been recommended for me or my kids.
In the past I found that if it doesn’t work, you just increase the dosage until it does. This may be terrible medical advice but a) so far it has worked for me and b) I don’t know any better.
For a one-off “clear out” a few times a year castor oil never fails me. However, since taking SeasideSusie’s suggestion of Vitality Calm magnesium citrate drink I rarely have a problem
Thankyou for replying. I haven't tried castor oil yet, so I'll bear it in mind. I haven't tried Seasidsusie's mag citrate drink either though magnesium citrate powder is part of my staple diet.👍x
The recommendation on the tub is to build up to 4g and I had to work up to that much before it did the job. Some days I take 5g so I think it might depend on how stubborn your bowels are!
Yes, FT3 and FT4 are in top quarter of reference interval and all vits and minerals are good. I have recently increased the amount of magnesium citrate I take and today I feel less bloated, so I'll monitor that.
I know what you mean about no joy in eating nor cooking.
I have a handful of nuts every morning. They also cover the “you should eat protein first thing in the morning” thing. I am Scottish but never benefited in that department from porridge I am afraid. When desperate (less often now but on hand) I use a mixture of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate. I get a proprietary? mix. It’s made by a company. PM me if you want the name so they don’t get free advertising. Just start low and work up to the recommended level. They say three times a day but I have never had to use it more than once. I should have mentioned this to @Georgeor too.
Unfortunately nuts make me worse😢. Sadly, porridge did nothing for me either, even with about 12 prunes on top. I think I will pm you for the name of the company you use.
I had a number colonic treatments years ago. It’s essential to have it done by someone with a very good reputation. I was lucky to have one of the best.
Unfortunately he is no longer with us . Not young when I saw him…
I was advised to take probiotics after treatment …
I don't think I will proceed with it. Scared of worsening my already compromised gut flora. Don't want to upset what remains. I have just started taking a different probiotic to the one I was on previously, so I will see if that helps.
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