Liz was a college sophomore and lived off campus with two other girls. This particular month she was in agony. She had had PMS before, but never like this. Her roommates told her that it was not normal and that she should go get checked out. Eventually, admitting that her friends were right, Liz called Campus Health Services and got an appointment two weeks later with the gynecologist that they had on staff.
Liz arrived for the appointment and after being checked in was led to an examining room where after her vitals were taken she was told to undress and put on a hospital gown. A couple minutes later Dr. Amy Carlisle, an attractive mid-30s woman dressed in a white lab coat came in and introduced herself.
"Have you ever had a pelvic exam?" she asked.
"No, but I have heard about them from others," Liz admitted with some trepidation.
"Well, I want to see what is going on and that is the best way. So get up on the table and lie on your back as I adjust these stirrups for your feet." Liz followed Amy's instructions and had to admit that she had never felt more vulnerable and exposed.
"I see from your file that you had your last period about three weeks ago." Then she held up a device and explained, "This is a speculum. I'm going to apply a lot of lube to it, insert it into your vagina, and take a look around. It won't hurt, but it can be a little uncomfortable."
Liz nodded her agreement even if she wasn't herself totally convinced.
"Now take a deep breath for me," said Amy as she introduced it into Liz's vagina. It went much easier than she thought it would, but Amy was right, it was pretty uncomfortable.
After a few minutes, Amy withdrew the instrument and said, "Everything looks normal, but you are not the only woman that I have seen who gets PMS. Actually I've seen hundreds over the years.
Liz was happy to know that she wasn't alone, but then asked, "So what can I do about it? Can you give me a prescription?"
"There are things that I can give you, but one of the best solutions is probably one of the least harmful. Let me explain it in simple terms. Each month your uterus spends a couple weeks preparing itself to receive a fertilized egg. When none arrives, it gets pretty pissed off and does demolition. When all that destruction is complete all that stuff passes out of your vagina as your period. Now along the way your hormonal balance changes and you retain water, that's the bloating, but the water has to come from somewhere and it's when your body removes water from your stool, hence you also get constipated. Also, because you are both bloated and constipated, you are uncomfortable, which makes you, let's be honest, just plain grouchy."
Liz listened to the explanation and concluded that Amy made a lot of sense. "So what can I do about it? It is not a fun time."
"I know because I have the same situation each month. Here's what I want you to do. Have you ever had an enema?"
"When I was little my mom had a little bulb that she would squirt some soapy water into me to make me go."
"Yes, that is an enema, but I want you to take a bigger one. Go to the drugstore and get yourself a combination syringe and a bottle of liquid castile soap. Then on that day when your breasts feel quite tender make yourself a one quart soapy enema—you only need a teaspoon of soap for a quart."
"What is that supposed to do?" asked Liz.
"For one, the warmth of the enema will calm down your uterus. If you are having any cramping it will really decrease. Second, hold the enema as long as you can. It will reintroduce the missing water to your stool and you'll have a very satisfactory bowel movement..
"That's all I have to do?"
"That's all. I suggest that you do this in the bathroom because once you feel the urge to expel the enema you won't have a lot of time to find the potty. Just be aware that you will have a very large bowel movement and it might take several minutes to do."
"It's worth a try. But if it doesn't work?"
"If it doesn't then I'll be surprised. Also be aware that the warmth may induce your period so don't be surprised if its flow comes shortly after you do the enema."
"You're sure that this works?" said Liz reaffirming her concern.
"Trust me. I do this every month and have for years. Besides it doesn't hurt for a girl to own an enema bag, which you can also use as a hot water bottle if you want to hold it on your tummy sometimes. It does feel good."
"OK. And if it doesn't work will you write me a prescription for something?"
"I will. But buy an enema bag on the way home."
Liz did stop at the pharmacy on the way home and bought an enema bag and a bottle of liquid castile soap. When she got to her apartment her two roommates, Ashley and Gretchen, were both watching TV. Ashley looked up and said, "Hey, how'd you make out at Health Services? What did the doc give you?"
"You won't believe it. No prescription, but she wants me to take an enema when I get PMS. She claims it works for her and has been doing it for years."
"Ewww!" said Gretchen. "That is so gross. My mom gave me a couple growing up and I can't say that that is something I would enjoy."
"Well, it's probably which is the least bad, the PMS or the enema? I'm willing to try it at least once,"
"Let us know if it works because there are some months when I think I'm going to go out of my mind."
"You'd do an enema?" asked Gretchen.
"Sure, why not. I haven't had one in years, but my mom had an enema bag and it got used on me, too."
"Well, for one this is for sure. I now have an enema bag," said Liz holding up the box containing her recent purchase.
Liz arrived for the appointment and after being checked in was led to an examining room where after her vitals were taken she was told to undress and put on a hospital gown. A couple minutes later Dr. Amy Carlisle, an attractive mid-30s woman dressed in a white lab coat came in and introduced herself.
"Have you ever had a pelvic exam?" she asked.
"No, but I have heard about them from others," Liz admitted with some trepidation.
"Well, I want to see what is going on and that is the best way. So get up on the table and lie on your back as I adjust these stirrups for your feet." Liz followed Amy's instructions and had to admit that she had never felt more vulnerable and exposed.
"I see from your file that you had your last period about three weeks ago." Then she held up a device and explained, "This is a speculum. I'm going to apply a lot of lube to it, insert it into your vagina, and take a look around. It won't hurt, but it can be a little uncomfortable."
Liz nodded her agreement even if she wasn't herself totally convinced.
"Now take a deep breath for me," said Amy as she introduced it into Liz's vagina. It went much easier than she thought it would, but Amy was right, it was pretty uncomfortable.
After a few minutes, Amy withdrew the instrument and said, "Everything looks normal, but you are not the only woman that I have seen who gets PMS. Actually I've seen hundreds over the years.
Liz was happy to know that she wasn't alone, but then asked, "So what can I do about it? Can you give me a prescription?"
"There are things that I can give you, but one of the best solutions is probably one of the least harmful. Let me explain it in simple terms. Each month your uterus spends a couple weeks preparing itself to receive a fertilized egg. When none arrives, it gets pretty pissed off and does demolition. When all that destruction is complete all that stuff passes out of your vagina as your period. Now along the way your hormonal balance changes and you retain water, that's the bloating, but the water has to come from somewhere and it's when your body removes water from your stool, hence you also get constipated. Also, because you are both bloated and constipated, you are uncomfortable, which makes you, let's be honest, just plain grouchy."
Liz listened to the explanation and concluded that Amy made a lot of sense. "So what can I do about it? It is not a fun time."
"I know because I have the same situation each month. Here's what I want you to do. Have you ever had an enema?"
"When I was little my mom had a little bulb that she would squirt some soapy water into me to make me go."
"Yes, that is an enema, but I want you to take a bigger one. Go to the drugstore and get yourself a combination syringe and a bottle of liquid castile soap. Then on that day when your breasts feel quite tender make yourself a one quart soapy enema—you only need a teaspoon of soap for a quart."
"What is that supposed to do?" asked Liz.
"For one, the warmth of the enema will calm down your uterus. If you are having any cramping it will really decrease. Second, hold the enema as long as you can. It will reintroduce the missing water to your stool and you'll have a very satisfactory bowel movement..
"That's all I have to do?"
"That's all. I suggest that you do this in the bathroom because once you feel the urge to expel the enema you won't have a lot of time to find the potty. Just be aware that you will have a very large bowel movement and it might take several minutes to do."
"It's worth a try. But if it doesn't work?"
"If it doesn't then I'll be surprised. Also be aware that the warmth may induce your period so don't be surprised if its flow comes shortly after you do the enema."
"You're sure that this works?" said Liz reaffirming her concern.
"Trust me. I do this every month and have for years. Besides it doesn't hurt for a girl to own an enema bag, which you can also use as a hot water bottle if you want to hold it on your tummy sometimes. It does feel good."
"OK. And if it doesn't work will you write me a prescription for something?"
"I will. But buy an enema bag on the way home."
Liz did stop at the pharmacy on the way home and bought an enema bag and a bottle of liquid castile soap. When she got to her apartment her two roommates, Ashley and Gretchen, were both watching TV. Ashley looked up and said, "Hey, how'd you make out at Health Services? What did the doc give you?"
"You won't believe it. No prescription, but she wants me to take an enema when I get PMS. She claims it works for her and has been doing it for years."
"Ewww!" said Gretchen. "That is so gross. My mom gave me a couple growing up and I can't say that that is something I would enjoy."
"Well, it's probably which is the least bad, the PMS or the enema? I'm willing to try it at least once,"
"Let us know if it works because there are some months when I think I'm going to go out of my mind."
"You'd do an enema?" asked Gretchen.
"Sure, why not. I haven't had one in years, but my mom had an enema bag and it got used on me, too."
"Well, for one this is for sure. I now have an enema bag," said Liz holding up the box containing her recent purchase.