You may wonder?

Is it really necessary to flush?
It’s up to you, but if you don’t want your bowels to become overloaded with stool, it is a good idea to flush. An overloaded bowel can cause you a lot of problems:
- A full bowel can cause abdominal pain and even bladder infections. This will make your wee smell and you will feel ill
- You may have explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea because of constipation
- You may have leaks, leaving “skid marks” or even worse!

When do I need to do it?
Most people flush their bowels every one or two days and usually in the morning.
Once you’ve been doing it for a while, you’ll work out your own routine. But you can’t leave it for more than a few days because it won’t work properly if your bowel is overloaded. About half an hour after a meal will give you the best result.

Does it matter how much water I use?
Everyone uses different amounts but your doctor or nurse will tell you how much. Most people find that between 500-800 ml is about right. Use the same volume for a few days rather than changing too often. With time you’ll find what works best for you.

Can anything go wrong?
It may not look like it but your bowel flushing kit is a really safe piece of equipment.
Just be sensible and follow the instructions exactly.

What if it hurts?*
If pumping water feels uncomfortable, stop for a minute. It could just be because you are pumping the water too quickly or the water is too cold. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you are worried.

What if the catheter falls out?
Check the balloon is pumped up properly. If you are a girl, check if the catheter is in the right place. If you are still not sure, try again with a new catheter.

What if it doesn’t work?
If nothing comes out, you might be dehydrated or very constipated. Make sure you
are drinking enough. If only water comes out, you might be flushing too much and
your bowel might be empty.

What if I feel unwell?
You may feel a bit sweaty or dizzy when you are flushing your bowel or just after. This will usually pass as you get used to using the system. But until then make sure that your mum or dad is close by.

What if I leak?
It may be necessary to wear a small pad when you first start flushing until you have got the hang of doing it properly. Make sure you sit on the toilet until you are sure you are empty. You can also try using more water or less water. If you are having accidents between flushing you may need to flush more often. An anal plug can help if the problem doesn’t go away. Talk to your doctor or nurse.

What about going on holiday?
You can easily take your bowel flushing kit on holiday. It comes with a specially
designed bag, so no one needs know what’s in it. All you need is a toilet, some
privacy and some water. If you are going somewhere where you can’t drink the water, use bottled water or cooled boiled tap water. And remember to take enough disposable catheters.

* Bowel flushing does not normally hurt and is perfectly safe. However it may feel
a little strange at first.