Perhaps you’re wondering what irrigation is and how to irrigate a colostomy. Irrigating is a technique available for people with a colostomy. A colostomy is an ostomy with output which is thicker and released at intervals (versus consistently through the day like with an ileostomy). Irrigation is an enema through your stoma that stretches the bowel walls resulting in waste being expelled. It is not a technique to use with ostomies that have loose output.
The UOAA has put together a Colostomy Guide which has been reviewed by two ostomy nurses and includes specific instructions on how to irrigate a colostomy (see pages 7 and 8). It is very important to speak with your doctor or ostomy nurse before attempting to irrigate your colostomy and get their blessing and instructions as well.
Things to keep in mind when choosing to irrigate a colostomy
Irrigation works best if you can do it at the same time every day, or every other day depending on your body’s rhythm.
You’ll want to have time to yourself in the bathroom for this, as it takes about 45 minutes to pass a bowel movement with this technique, after you’ve inserted the water.
Make sure you have access to clean luke-warm water. Water temperature is important; too cold can cause cramping and not be as effective, too hot can burn you and would probably hurt like when you drink a beverage that’s too hot.
Do not use water from any source that you wouldn’t also be willing to drink from. This is typically relevant to remember if you’re traveling. If you’re traveling, do not use tap water, as it can make you sick if it touches your ostomy; bottled water warmed up is the way to go. Keep this in mind when you’re completing an appliance change as well.
People who irrigate can often use stoma caps instead of a full ostomy pouching system, once they’ve gotten into a routine and know their bodies’ bowel rhythm. Stoma caps are small, round stoma covers that have very little space to hold stool. They basically just protect your ostomy from the outside world. If you find yourself with diarrhea, discontinue irrigating until the diarrhea passes. You’ll want to wear a regular ostomy pouch instead of a stoma cap while you have diarrhea so there’s room for the output to go. With diarrhea, a drainable pouch is easier to manage than a closed-end pouch.
