Colon therapy and enemas.

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I came across an article the other day that exclaimed that every one of us carry an average of 7-8 pounds of impacted fecal matter within us. Some of the subjects noted within the article had went to a health retreat where there was extensive colon irrigation done. A marble was dispelled from a patient who claimed he had swallowed it as a child and now he was in his mid-forties. Is this possible or is it another medical myth?

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Specializes in NICU.

Where was the article?

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I heard a commercial for "Colon Cleanse", a product that claims to remove the 10-15 lbs of 'sludge' that supposedly collects in the colon over time. The proof that it worked was in the large, ahem, stools that one would pass when using the product (according to the radio commercial).

The primary ingredient was psyllium husk (if I recall correctly). Well, no wonder. Nothing like a bulk forming laxative to increase the amount of stool passed. Am I the only one that knows this?

I personally don't believe that 'sludge' collects in the colon in anything but very small amounts at best. I mean, if it were true, how would the nutrients from the food you eat pass through all that sludge to get into your bloodstream and nourish you? Perhaps someone who work in GI can tell us more about what they have seen.

Really, these kinds of claims need to be viewed with a critical eye. I'm not saying what you read didn't have any truth to it, I'm just saying I don't really believe it.

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I think our bodies are designed to handle the "sludge" without help in most circumstances. People who become dependent on laxatives are the ones with the problems.

I vote for myth, old wive's tale, hooey, baloney, . . . :D

steph

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I vote for gross and disgusting, and definitely not PG-13.

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If this is so, then why does "go lightly" work so well in a day for endoscopy? They take pictures to prove how well it works, I always thought G I Doctors had strange tolerance...yuk

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
Originally posted by BarbPick

If this is so, then why does "go lightly" work so well in a day for endoscopy?

Why do ppl call COLYTE "go lightly" ? I've heard this before and always wondered....where did it come from???

As for the topic at hand, if we're all impacted, then I guess we're really just all full of it, aren't we? :chuckle

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If you were ever a victim of the pre 1990 bowel prep, like human drano, with fleets phospho soda and SSE till clear, you would know why it is reffered to as go lightly, and now it is generic so it can be called anything including late for dinner

PS my husband just had his first sigmoidoscopy, was he surprised!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I should not tease, he just left for work in his Field Force Uniform, we live in Miami, so please have a kind thought for us, 70,000 protestors are expected this week.

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Specializes in Obstetrics, M/S, Psych.
Originally posted by jnette

Why do ppl call COLYTE "go lightly" ? I've heard this before and always wondered....where did it come from???

As for the topic at hand, if we're all impacted, then I guess we're really just all full of it, aren't we? :chuckle

I believe the names are used interchanagably. I used to hear of go-lightly more, so perhaps they have changed the name to colyte? This link considers them one and the same by the looks:

http://www.ellisfischel.org/gynecologic/surgery_02.shtml

I know a nurse who had to have a colonoscopy and said in reference to the prep:

"Yeah, go-lightly, tread quickly!":chuckle

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I suggest just to take the golytely and listen to some good music, like PINK FLOYD'S Dark side of the moon......

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Originally posted by jnette

Why do ppl call COLYTE "go lightly" ? I've heard this before and always wondered....where did it come from???

Golytely was the actual name of the product that was given before GI procedures in the hospital where I used to work. Not sure which brand was actually first to hit the market, but I had heard of Golytley long before I ever saw Colyte. I believe it's the same nasty laxative, just a different manufacturer.

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Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by Texagain

I heard a commercial for "Colon Cleanse", a product that claims to remove the 10-15 lbs of 'sludge' that supposedly collects in the colon over time. The proof that it worked was in the large, ahem, stools that one would pass when using the product (according to the radio commercial)..................

Really, these kinds of claims need to be viewed with a critical eye. I'm not saying what you read didn't have any truth to it, I'm just saying I don't really believe it.

It's a case of an entire industry being built around a fetish chuckle...How many of us don't know patients or family members with bowel fixations? My own mom had to stock up on coffee,cigs and her glycerin supps when bad weather was forecast.Everyone else's mom went out for bread and milk-mine went out for her supps and that gentle ladies laxative-what is that little pink pill called?
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