FAQ's

It is generally recommended to irrigate daily for at least the first three months to establish an effective routine, your healthcare professional will then guide you on how often to irrigate. If you feel you need to irrigate more often than daily it is best to contact your healthcare professional for advice and guidance on how to proceed.

After your healthcare professional has prescribed you the Qufora IrriSedo system and/or set you up for Qufora Direct home delivery service (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland), you will receive a support call approximately 14 days afterwards from the support team at myqufora. Going forward you can discuss how often you would like support calls from them. We can call or email you.

You can register yourself for myqufora support even if you get your Qufora IrriSedo products from another home delivery service (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland) or direct from a pharmacy. If you then decide to unsubscribe please Contact Us.

Many people find irrigating after their breakfast is preferable. This takes advantage of the gastro-colic response we get when we eat, which can help with a bowel movement. However, if this is not possible then irrigate at a time that fits in with your routine. It is generally a good idea to stick to approximately the same time each day, so your bowel gets into a routine.

It’s all about choice and many people find rectal irrigation a quicker and more effective method of bowel management.

Initially you should speak to your GP, they can advise you and refer you to a hospital clinic or community clinic that specialises in bowel issues. If you are unsure, please Contact Us at myqufora and we can advise.

Rectal irrigation (sometimes called anal irrigation or trans-anal irrigation) has been practiced for many hundreds of years. Over recent years, it has been more widely used as a bowel management solution. If your GP would like any information about irrigation or our Qufora products, just Contact Us at myqufora and we would be happy to send information over. You can speak to your GP and ask to be referred to a specialist clinic for assessment.

Rectal irrigation timings can vary depending on your symptoms and the type of product you use. It can take slightly longer when you first start rectal irrigation until you get used to using the system and establish a bowel routine.

The Qufora® IrriSedo Mini system uses a small volume of water and therefore the time spent may be shorter. The Qufora® IrriSedo Cone, Balloon, Klick and Bed systems all use higher volumes of water, which can increase the time up to 30 minutes and occasionally longer dependent on your symptoms. Most of this time is waiting for the bowel to empty not actually doing the procedure.

Your healthcare professional will discuss this with you on your initial assessment.

Do not be embarrassed – everyone needs to poo – FACT! Bowel issues can occur in all ages and sexes and this is something that is seen by healthcare professionals and GPs frequently. Contact your GP who can assess your symptoms and if necessary, they will refer you for further support from a continence team or hospital. The myqufora support team can provide support and guidance on the process.

To be continent is not just reliant on the anal sphincter muscles. It is a combination of the anal sphincter, stool consistency, rectal sensation, and muscle support of the rectum. For some people they may have a weak anal sphincter but remain continent. Therefore, it is normally with a combination of factors that a person becomes incontinent.

Rectal irrigation allows the rectum and lower part of the bowel to be emptied so that the individual can remain continent. Your healthcare professional will recommend the appropriate irrigation product to suit your bowel management needs, as there are various products in the Qufora® IrriSedo range.

You should also contact them if you have been using your irrigation system as instructed but remain symptomatic as you may need to be re-assessed.

The bowel progress diary is an important way of recording how your symptoms affect you and over time allows you to see the improvements of using Qufora® IrriSedo rectal irrigation. It is also helpful to show your healthcare professional when you visit for follow up appointments to review your progress.

This will depend on your reason for using irrigation. Many people find the advantages of irrigation mean they do not want to stop using it regularly. You can contact myqufora using the details on the Contact Us page and we can offer advice and support. We can advise whether to return to your healthcare professional for review or we can contact them on your behalf.

When sitting on the toilet feet should be placed flat on the floor or by placing feet on a foot stool. By leaning forward slightly can help with the natural anatomical pathway for the bowel to empty.

It is usual for the bowel to take some time to empty all the irrigation water out with any stool. As you get more experienced you will know how long you need to wait before leaving the toilet. If you are not sure you can get advice from your healthcare professional.

Rectal irrigation works well with simple lukewarm tap water, similar to the temperature of a baby bath (36-38 degrees).  You should not add anything to the warm water unless specifically advised by your healthcare professional.

The Qufora® IrriSedo cone and catheter have a hydrophilic coating, which when dipped in water produces lubrication to allow easy and comfortable insertion into the anus/rectum. If you feel you still need more lubrication, please contact myqufora using the details on the Contact Us page or contact your healthcare professional for further advice.

It is important to only use the amount of water advised by your healthcare professional. Prior to commencing treatment, they will assess your condition and discuss the quantity of water that you should use to irrigate. This can vary as everyone and every condition is different. If you are unsure, please contact your healthcare professional. If you are having difficulty contacting them, please do not hesitate to contact the myqufora support team who can assist you in trying to contact your healthcare professional. Details can be found on the Contact Us page.

It is important to use the water volume advised by your healthcare professional. Only change it after discussion with them.

Myqufora can listen to your questions about this and inform your healthcare professional if you need further advice about adjusting your regime. You can contact myqufora using the details on the Contact Us page.

There are many different irrigation products available for use – your healthcare professional may have discussed some of these with you before agreeing on a product for you to use. If you are experiencing difficulties using your Qufora® IrriSedo system, you can contact the myqufora support team who can assist – they can even help you contact your healthcare professional. Unfortunately, they cannot change your prescription for your product, this needs to be done by your healthcare professional who will need to assess your suitability for this product.

Your healthcare professional will advise you on this but generally daily use of irrigation for the first 3 months is recommended to allow you time to get used to the procedure and get into a routine that suits you.

However, at times your healthcare professional may need to adjust this to suit your condition so their advice should always be followed.

The water temperature should be 36-39 degrees°C (similar to the temperature of a baby bath). If you have separate water taps you can use a jug to mix the water.

Ensure the water is not too hot as this may harm the inner lining of the bowel.

When you insert the catheter into the rectum the balloon is inflated with water by using the hand pump. Your healthcare professional will guide you on how many pumps to inflate the balloon. When inflated the balloon will create a seal to stop the irrigation water from leaking out of your rectum. This means once the balloon is inflated you do not have to hold the catheter in place. Once the recommended amount of water is instilled, the balloon can be deflated, and the catheter gently removed.

Just hang your water bag at around shoulder height when you are sitting on the toilet (no higher than 50cm above the level of the toilet seat). You can use the supplied suction hook to hang the bag. This will allow water to flow without needing to use the pump, however the pump can still be used in addition if required. If you do not have a hook please contact the myqufora support team using the details on the Contact Us page.

After use, the cone or catheter should be discarded. They are SINGLE use only and must not be used again. The catheter or cone can be discarded in the pouch provided and disposed in your household waste. Please note that these products cannot be recycled at present.

Qufora® IrriSedo is designed to be easy to use but when you first start to use irrigation, don’t worry if you are unsure. There are videos for each product on our website by clicking on the products tab. We can also guide you via a telephone call or live chat.

If you need further assistance, please contact myqufora using the details on the Contact Us page and we can provide advice on putting the system together and techniques. Be re-assured that using rectal irrigation products takes practice until you find your own routine and we are here to support you at myqufora.

As with all prescription items, these are specifically for your own use and should not be shared with anyone. For safety, prior to commencing irrigation, patients need to be assessed to ensure that they are suitable for this treatment.

If a family member or friend is having bowel difficulties, encourage them to visit their GP who in turn can refer them to a continence service or hospital if required to allow their issue to be addressed.

Qufora® IrriSedo products are available by prescription only as patients require to be assessed for suitability prior to using our products. Your healthcare professional may give you a teaching pack to start you off on irrigation, but these products are only available via your healthcare professional.

This tube is single use only and should be disposed of with the single use cone after each irrigation.

The water bag should be changed every 30 days for Qufora IrriSedo Cone system (if on Balloon or Klick this should be 15 days) to prevent any mould or moisture occurring inside of the bag. To prevent this from happening the bag should be hung up out of direct sunlight with the cap left off and ensure the purple valve is left open after irrigation process to allow air to flow through the system.

Below is a list of when each part of your system should be replaced, just look for the system you are currently using:

You can keep your products in the packaging it arrived in or toiletry bag, stored away from heat and direct sunlight.

For specific items after irrigation use:

• Water bags: Rinse and dry the water bag and store away from heat and direct sunlight, ensure the cap is left off and the valve is left open.
• Pump/Control Unit: Clean the exterior of the pump or control unit with lukewarm water and soap. Rinse and dry, store away from heat and direct sunlight. Leave the control unit on number 1 to allow air to flow through.
• Tubing: Ensure all water is drained from tubing which if required can be achieved by hanging the bag and tubing on the hook supplied.

Before starting irrigation, you need to be assessed and trained by a healthcare professional therefore our products are prescription only items. If you are considering using irrigation you can speak to your GP and ask to be referred to the appropriate service who can assess and advise you. If you are unsure, please Contact Us at myqufora and we can advise.

If you live outside the UK – please click on the following link for a list of our distributors
https://mbh-international.com/contact/distributors/

You need to be assessed and trained by a qualified healthcare professional before you use Qufora® IrriSedo products. They are available on prescription via your GP. We would advise that you visit your GP, they can advise you and refer you to a hospital clinic or community clinic that specialises in bowel issues.

To obtain supplies, you can get your products delivered free to your home or go to your pharmacy. Our home delivery service Qufora® Direct (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland) can deliver you discreetly packaged supplies to an address of your choosing (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland). They can also set you up with monthly reminders to help ensure that you always have supplies. For more information visit Qufora® Direct.

You can either get your products delivered free to your home (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland) or go to the Pharmacy with your prescription and they will order them. Patients in the UK can also use a home delivery service. Our home delivery service, Qufora® Direct can deliver you discreetly packaged supplies to an address of your choosing (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland). They can also set you up with monthly reminders to help ensure you always have supplies.

Below is the suggested monthly order for Qufora® IrriSedo. Just look for the product you are using:

If you are unsure about anything to do with your order, please contact us at myqufora or Qufora® Direct (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland).

It is important to make sure you get your supplies regularly and on time, either from your home delivery service (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland) or pharmacy. You can set up a monthly reminder from Qufora® Direct (this service is not available in the Republic of Ireland) where they can either text, call or email you to remind you to order supplies.

If you think you might run out of your supplies, contact your delivery service or pharmacy for more advice. You can also contact myqufora using details on the Contact Us page.

At myqufora we are here to help and support people who are using Qufora® IrriSedo rectal irrigation products. We are there to support those new to irrigation but also those who are more established but have questions or concerns. You can contact myqufora using the details on the Contact Us page. If you are having any symptoms such as pain or bleeding, myqufora recommend seeking advice directly from your healthcare professional or GP.

This may depend on why you stopped irrigating. If you have had surgery recently, then this will depend on the type of surgery you have had and should be discussed with your healthcare professional. If it has been for any other reason, then it may depend on the length of time you have stopped. You may need to see your GP or healthcare professional in this regard to recommencing this regime and prescription, including the particular type of system suitable for you. You may need to be re-assessed as your symptoms and general health status may have changed. For further advice, contact myqufora using the Contact Us page.

Your healthcare professional will advise you on this but some people find that if the irrigation water does not start a bowel movement straight away then massaging your bowel gently in circular movements, clockwise around the abdomen can help to start the bowel moving. You can also try leaning forward and coughing once or twice.

Improvement in symptoms can vary for individuals as everyone is different. Some people notice an improvement straight away while others may need to establish the best routine for them over the first 3 months. It is recommended to irrigate daily for the first 3 months to establish an effective routine. Your healthcare professional will assess you and advise on this during your training. With regular rectal irrigation you can effectively clear the bowel, alleviating symptoms of constipation and faecal incontinence. Over time your bowel pattern may change slightly, and your irrigation routine may need to be reviewed by your healthcare professional. You can contact myqufora for advice and support using the details on the Contact Us page. We can advise whether you should return to your healthcare professional for review and further management or we can contact them for you.

The purpose of using irrigation is to establish regularity of the bowel and help manage your bowel. There is no clinical evidence regarding reduced bowel function after using irrigation.

After using irrigation for a while, you will understand how long your bowel continues to empty after the irrigation water is released. If you leave the toilet too soon you may have to return to continue to empty your bowel. So, with experience you will learn how long you need to wait. Your healthcare professional should discuss this with you on your initial assessment and training.

Bowel emptying times can vary depending on your reasons for using irrigation and the type of irrigation product used. It can take slightly longer when you first start irrigation until you get used to using the system and establish a bowel routine.

Qufora® IrriSedo Mini system uses a small volume of water and can have more rapid results. The Qufora® IrriSedo Cone, Balloon, Klick, and Bed systems use larger volumes of water and can increase the time up to 30 minutes and occasionally longer dependent on your symptoms. Most of this time is waiting for the bowel to empty not actually doing the procedure. Once you have established a routine the time may decrease. Your healthcare professional should discuss this with you on your initial assessment.

In general, rectal irrigation should not cause this issue. There is no evidence to suggest this over long-term use of irrigation. It is always wise to ensure enough fluids are also drunk during the day. If you have any concerns, please discuss this with your healthcare professional.

There is no clinical evidence to suggest that the good bacteria in the colon is adversely affected by using rectal irrigation.

It is not recommended to use rectal irrigation occasionally unless your healthcare professional advises this. Regular use will prevent constipation and/or faecal incontinence. It is recommended to irrigate daily for at least the first 3 months to establish an effective routine. Many people continue daily use. With regular rectal irrigation as prescribed, this can effectively manage the bowel, alleviating symptoms of constipation and/or faecal incontinence. Your healthcare professional can advise you further.

This will depend on the type of surgery you have had and should always be discussed and advised by your healthcare professional.

Your healthcare professional will assess you prior to using Qufora® IrriSedo rectal irrigation. They will assess if you do have haemorrhoids and determine if it is suitable for you to commence rectal irrigation.

You should always insert the cone or catheter slowly and carefully to prevent any trauma, pain, or bleeding and ensure the cone or catheter is properly lubricated.

If you are finding your system isn’t working you can contact the myqufora support team using the details on the Contact Us page. You can also visit our website where we offer videos and booklets:

• Qufora® IrriSedo Mini System
• Qufora® IrriSedo Cone System
• Qufora® IrriSedo Klick System
• Qufora® IrriSedo Balloon System
• Qufora® IrriSedo Bed System

First thing is don’t panic as this can sometimes happen in the early stages of rectal irrigation. Wait for a few more minutes, you can try coughing – and massaging your abdomen, this can help to start your bowel moving. If this persists, contact your healthcare professional for advice.

Yes, you can travel! If you are travelling abroad, we would advise that you ensure that you split your supplies across your hand and hold luggage (just in case anything does not arrive!) Likewise, we would suggest that you take a few extra supplies in case of any delays at your destination.

One thing to be aware of when you take your system abroad is the water quality – if you can drink the tap water then this is fine to use for irrigation. Should you be in any doubt, cooled boiled water can also be used as well as bottled water – remember that this should be lukewarm, similar to the temperature of a baby bath (36-38 degrees).

You should also be mindful that if you are travelling to a different time zone, this may take your bowel some time to get used to your new regime.

Myqufora also offer travel certificates for your products – this explains in various languages what these products are should these be questioned. To obtain a certificate, please contact the team using the details on the Contact Us page.

You can dispose of these in the airplane toilet disposal bin. It may be worthwhile booking a seat in advance near to the toilets and familiarising yourself with the location of the toilets when you enter the plane.

If you order through a home delivery service, you can contact them for assistance. Qufora® Direct can be contacted on direct@qufora.co.uk or you can contact info@myqufora.com. If you do not receive your items through a home delivery service, please contact your GP in the first instance.

If possible, it is best to stick to your routine with irrigation whilst abroad. You can calculate your time difference and attempt to irrigate when you usually would back in the UK.

One thing to be aware of when you take your system abroad is the water quality – if you can drink the tap water then this is fine to use for irrigation. Should you be in any doubt, cooled boiled water can also be used as well as bottled water – remember that this should be lukewarm, similar to the temperature of a baby bath (36-38 degrees).

Myqufora also offer travel certificates for your products – this explains in various languages what these products are should these be questioned. To obtain a certificate, please contact the team using the details on the Contact Us page.