My Beautiful Colonoscopy


By Sharon Gardner

But Doc, I just can’t do a standard bowel prep. You don’t understand! I can’t make a run for the toilet. I can’t tell when I have to go. The last time I went through this, I was sicker than a dog and passed out. My blood pressure dropped so low I could have died. The mess was disgusting and degrading.”

I shuddered recalling the previous ordeal in the ’80s, but now it was 2001 and my doctor insisted I was years overdue for another colonoscopy. “There’s got to be another option,” I pleaded.

I called my herbalist friend, who immediately suggested a colonic (colon hydrotherapy). I’d heard of them and imagined some kind of crude overextended enema. And I figured I’d still have the same problem trying to get from the colonic table to the toilet.

A quick check on the Internet showed colonics have been recommended by doctors almost as long as history has been recorded. Every year thousands of people utilize colonics to deal with constipation or for bowel preps before endoscopic examinations or bowel surgery. Currently there are two basic types of colonic systems — the standard closed system and a newer open system. Considering my mobility limitations, the open system seemed like a wonderful alternative.

Within days I called Regenesis Integrative Health Center and spoke to Rocco Bruno, a colon hydrotherapist with 27 years experience. He is also the inventor of the Angel of Water, a unique piece of equipment for an open-system colonic. It is manufactured in Austin, Texas, and sold throughout the U.S. and many foreign countries.

Bruno told me by phone that the client reclines comfortably on top of a large contoured reclining toilet (lavage basin), then wiggles down onto a short stationary disposable nozzle that goes about an inch into the rectum. When the client is draped and comfortable, the therapist is paged and the session begins. Privacy is respected at all times, and there is no need to undress the top half of the body.

The hydrotherapist makes sure you’re comfortable, then starts the water flow. The soothing warm water is gravity fed into the colon at less than one pound of pressure — very gentle. Plain water has been warmed to about 101 degrees and flows from an eight-gallon holding tank in a tower cabinet at the foot of the “recliner.” The flow continues for as long as needed, usually about 45 minutes. The entire time, excess water and fecal material are draining freely into the basin opening below the nozzle. No sprinting for the toilet. No fear of making a mess. No embarrassment. And, unbelievably, no smell!

The water travels into the colon past the sigmoid, through the transverse colon and into the cecum, loosening and removing stool all the way. The loosened stool comes out when ready with no bloating, cramping or nausea. If you need to urinate during the process — not a problem. It all flows simultaneously into the same lavage basin.

Prepping
Although few doctors seem to know about it, the good news is that the Angel of Water is an FDA-registered Class II device for medical colon cleansing, approved for bowel preps before colonoscopies, colostomies, colon X-rays and several other procedures. You still need to follow your doctor’s other instructions — usually clear liquid diet for 24-48 hours. It takes food 12 or more hours to pass through the digestive system, so if possible, get the colonic just a few hours before the exam — ideally in the morning before an afternoon procedure.

Bruno told me that many doctors recommend colonics to spare people, especially those weakened from cancer, the discomforts of laxative bowel preps. They can go immediately from colonic to colonoscopy or surgery and often don’t even have to do a clear liquid diet for two days.

The hard part was convincing my gastroenterologist. He was leery and warned me that if my colon wasn’t clean enough to do the colonoscopy, insurance wouldn’t pay for the hospital time and I’d have to go through the procedure again — the traditional way. By now I was informed enough to reassure him it would work. Reluctantly he agreed, but I was prepared to find another doctor if he hadn’t.

I did the liquid diet for two days, then went to the Regenesis Integrative Health Center for my colonic appointment. Bruno assured me that the Angel of Water was designed for comfort, safety and effectiveness.

In my younger years, transferring wouldn’t have been a problem, but now I did find it difficult for my aging shoulders to lift my body onto the basin seat, which was about 25 inches from the floor and surrounded by a 2-inch-wide platform. My attendant and Bruno easily lifted me over onto the basin. Once I was settled, my attendant helped me wiggle down onto the small nozzle and put the drape over me. I was completely comfortable and my modesty was protected.

Shortly after the water flow started, Bruno pointed out a small mirror attached near the top of the tank, well within my line of sight, allowing me to see what was coming out with the water. There was no doubt the colonic was working. The gentle process continued nearly an hour until the water flowed completely clear.

The next morning I arrived at the hospital for my colonoscopy, confident I was all sparkly and squeaky clean inside. When I woke up following the procedure, my doctor gave me the good news – no cancer, no polyps and an exceptionally well-prepared colon.

Eight Years Later
Eight years later, in 2009, when I decided to have an elective colostomy, I was more than able to refute my surgeon’s arguments and tell her I would not take the laxative and would consent only to a colonic. She was reluctant, but I held my ground, armed with experience and facts.

I arrived at Regenesis Integrative Health Center at 5 p.m. This time the colonic process was more difficult. During the past eight years my increasing muscle loss had allowed my transverse colon to sag like an overstretched clothesline, medically referred to as a redundant or prolapsed colon.

Due to further decreased muscle tone, the water flow was not producing enough results this time. I was getting worried. My surgery was scheduled for 7 a.m. the next morning. No time to take the traditional laxatives even if I was willing.

Thankfully, Bruno was experienced enough to know how to manipulate my  abdominal wall upward until the water finally worked its way through my entire colon, flushing out the contents. This time the process took almost  double the time needed eight years earlier, but I never felt any discomfort.

My surgery the next morning was a complete success, and when I woke up, my surgeon acknowledged my colon was perfectly clean and prepped.

What You Need to Know
Statistics on the occurrence of colon cancer (third most common cancer in the U.S.) are frightening, but most cases could be preempted if people would get periodic colonoscopies. The American Cancer Society recommends that people with low to average risk begin screenings at age 50, followed by a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years and a colonoscopy every 10 years. However, screenings should start earlier than age 50 if you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, adenomatous polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.

The good news is that now there is an easy alternative to the dreaded bowel prep. The Angel of Water is used by professional hydrotherapists across the nation and around the world. Practitioners are not hard to locate. Here’s what you need to know if you want to try this option:

1. Talk to your doctor about your need for a colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy or the less invasive CT colonography. Are you having symptoms? Are you in the suggested age range? Does colon cancer run in your family? Does your diet have enough water, fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables?

2. To find a hydrotherapist equipped to do open-style colonics in your location, go to www.angelofwater.com, click on the AOW Network tab, then on View List, or call 877/564-3185 for more hydrotherapists not listed on the website.

3. Ask the therapist about their experience in manipulating the abdominal wall to navigate the water into the transverse colon in case it’s redundant or your muscle tone is weak. Ask if they will schedule extra time that might be needed for your unique situation.

4. Ask about the charge and be prepared to pay on the day of the session. My cost was $75, but prices vary around the country.

5. Be aware that many states require therapists to have a prescription written by a doctor or health care practitioner licensed within their state to administer colonics. If your doctor will not give one, the hydrotherapist may have a doctor they work with, but the referral may cost slightly more.

6. Be prepared with the facts when you tell your doctor you prefer a colonic to the traditional laxative bowel prep. Hold your ground. It’s your body.

7. Bring an attendant with you just in case you need a little help transferring or wiggling down onto the nozzle.

Remember, your colon health is foundational to your overall health. A colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy can reveal any potential problems and allow the doctor to remove polyps before they turn into cancer. Although it can be deadly, colorectal cancer has a well-documented cure rate if intercepted early.

Understandably, mobility-impaired people are even more reluctant than nondisabled people to undergo the procedure. But colon cancer doesn’t make exceptions for disabilities. It’s easy to assume that occasional bleeding is from your bowel regimen, but it could be something far more serious.

Many insurance companies now pay for preventive colonoscopies. If you’re 50 or have a family history of colorectal cancer, play it safe and schedule a colonoscopy right away.

Colon Hydrotherapy

Colon hydrotherapy is a broad field with various products available for use, both open and closed systems. Whatever product is used should be safe, gentle, and prescribed by a doctor.A closed hydrotherapy system that is popular with those with SCI is the PIE bowel preparation system. Like the Angel of Water, the PIE is FDA registered and approved for use as preparation for a number of medical procedures that require thorough bowel cleansing.

While the PIE is a closed system (with containment bags), the Water of Angel is essentially a reclining toilet with a spray hose for cleanup.

Both require an attendant to help with use, especially when the client is a quad. The client using the Angel of Water can be left alone for periods, while the PIE requires the attendant to run the machine and be present at all times. It’s best if the attendant knows how to treat autonomic dysreflexia, since that is a possibility, especially with the PIE system, most likely because water is pulsed into the colon instead of being gravity fed.

As with any medical procedure, colon hydrotherapy is not recommended for everyone: Contraindications include congestive heart failure, intestinal perforation, carcinoma of the rectum, fissures or fistula, severe hemorrhoids, abdominal hernia, renal insufficiency, recent colon or rectal surgery, cirrhosis of the liver, and first and last trimester of pregnancy.


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