Extolling the Virtues of Irrigation
20 June, 2024
The vast majority of people with a colostomy opt for life with a stoma bag, but for many, there is a compelling alternative: irrigation. Yet despite irrigation being perfectly suited to so many ostomates, comparatively few explore this option for themselves.
This is all quite bewildering to Colostomy UK’s volunteer, Sally Laight, who started irrigating over eight years ago and has never looked back.
Demystifying Irrigation
For one thing, Sally is keen for people to understand that irrigating is not a medical procedure, which a lot of people mistakenly think it is. It’s simply a way to flush out the bowel using little more than warm tap water, which can be done by yourself, in the comfort of your own bathroom.
The process takes roughly an hour to complete (dependent on the individual), but following this, a person can go hours, or in Sally’s case days (she has ‘trained’ her bowel to empty every 48 hours), before needing to irrigate again.
In between irrigating, Sally goes about life as normal, without any need for a stoma bag. Instead, a cap is fitted over the stoma to prevent discharge.
Why Consider Irrigation
In Sally’s case, she lived with a stoma bag for two years before taking up irrigation, as the option wasn’t advisable while undergoing chemotherapy, which she was having to manage cancer at the time. During these two years, Sally constantly worried about leaks and ‘explosions’, and resented “…walking around with a bag of poo on my tummy” as she put it.
Of course, every ostomates’ experience of stoma bags varies, based on countless factors. Diet, underlying medical condition, and even personal character all inform how easily a person accepts their stoma bag. For Sally, it was a struggle, so when irrigation became feasible, she jumped at the chance.
The Benefits of Irrigation
Sally credits irrigating with gaining her confidence back, and with it, many aspects of her life too. Before taking up irrigating, she was fearful of activities like swimming and reluctant to take long journeys as she was concerned that she wouldn’t find anywhere to dispose of her bag when needed. She is also now able to wear more flattering clothing and enjoys the fact that she doesn’t have to carry a cumbersome ‘emergency kit’ on her person anymore.
As she put it:
“With the best will in the world, somebody who has a stoma bag is likely to get leaks, or pancaking […] I don’t have to worry about those problems anymore. It’s given me back an element of control.”
When Might Irrigation Not Be Suitable?
A certain amount of colon is required for irrigation, so if the majority has been removed, the process may not be feasible. It’s also not usually recommended for people with an ileostomy if the stoma is formed on the transverse section of the small intestine, as gravity is needed to help with the flushing process.
Ultimately, your colorectal surgeon should advise on whether the process is suitable for you.
Contact Sally
You can request to speak to Sally via our helpline, if you are interested in learning more about the process.
As Sally enthusiastically told me:
“There’s nothing that would stop me extolling the virtues of irrigating!”
Support From Colostomy UK
We offer a wide range of support for people living with a colostomy, including our free Stoma Helpline, live chat support, and opportunities to connect with others through local and online groups. We also provide trusted information and resources to offer practical advice, reassurance, and the confidence to live well with a stoma: colostomyuk.org/support
