Why do I get light-headed when my anus is penetrated (mostly enemas)?
March 29, 2015 2:41 PM Subscribe
I love to give anal, but receiving it- mainly in enema form- is a different story. I'd like to know why this could be happening.
For what it's worth, I'm female, twenty-six years old, and have been with my fiance (male) for about four-and-a-half years now. We have a very healthy sex life, and are completely open with one another about our desires and fantasies.
I've always been open to receiving anal penetration/sex, however almost all past attempts have not made it very far. I can completely accept it if I simply just don't like receiving anal penetration, but I'd like to know if there is an underlying problem that may be causing my physical reactions.
I love to give anal, rim jobs, etc. My fiance and I practice these acts regularly, and both of us enjoy it. We've made several attempts to penetrate me anally, but usually the only thing that feels tolerable is his tongue. A finger (inserted) is manageable at times, but I need to insert a toy/butt plug for awhile beforehand. We've had success with anal beads, and his penis for a few moments, once. I may have been slightly buzzed, and therefore was more relaxed, but that was a few years ago, so it's difficult to recall the exact details.
I have tried enemas before, and this is where the crux of the problem seems to lie. When I first tried an enema, I used regular tap water (cold to lukewarm). Almost immediately, I felt lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous, and was trembling. I had consumed caffeine beforehand, which sometimes causes me to feel weak/shaky if I engage in sex soon afterward. Nevertheless, the same reaction occurred the next time I tried an enema, and I had not consumed caffeine beforehand. I did some research after that, and discovered that using tap water in an enema can cause an electrolyte deficiency in some individuals, and all of my symptoms were common to this problem. There were a few suggestions to add salt to the water, but I have not tried this yet.
I tried a coffee enema this past weekend, and the same symptoms occurred as above. I realized that I begin to clench and get nervous before the enema is even inserted (we use the type that looks like a bulb with a stem). I had to ask my fiance to give me the enema, as I become dizzy when I try to insert it myself. I also seem to clench when I feel the liquid entering my colon, and my guts expand. That feeling seemed to make me the most light-headed. As I was emptying my bowels, I watched my fingernails turn almost completely white and dark purple. I broke out in a cold, clammy sweat, was trembling, and breathing very deeply. I had to keep myself from collapsing onto the floor. When I looked in the mirror, I was completely pale, and my lips were white. My vision was spotted, like in a prolonged blood-rush. I lied down on the bed, and was back to normal within about twenty minutes. Just for the record, I have never fainted, and do not have a history of seizures or any serious medical conditions (that I know of).
I've been wondering what causes these symptoms for years now. Is it something psychological, or could it be a somatic reaction, as well? My fiance enjoys the enemas, and has no negative reaction whatsoever to them. He has no idea what could be causing this problem in me, either. We are equally baffled. Could it be the liquid in the enema, or my reaction before it's even inserted, that in-turn causes a chain reaction?
Thank you for any suggestions/help/advice you can give. I'd greatly appreciate it!
For what it's worth, I'm female, twenty-six years old, and have been with my fiance (male) for about four-and-a-half years now. We have a very healthy sex life, and are completely open with one another about our desires and fantasies.
I've always been open to receiving anal penetration/sex, however almost all past attempts have not made it very far. I can completely accept it if I simply just don't like receiving anal penetration, but I'd like to know if there is an underlying problem that may be causing my physical reactions.
I love to give anal, rim jobs, etc. My fiance and I practice these acts regularly, and both of us enjoy it. We've made several attempts to penetrate me anally, but usually the only thing that feels tolerable is his tongue. A finger (inserted) is manageable at times, but I need to insert a toy/butt plug for awhile beforehand. We've had success with anal beads, and his penis for a few moments, once. I may have been slightly buzzed, and therefore was more relaxed, but that was a few years ago, so it's difficult to recall the exact details.
I have tried enemas before, and this is where the crux of the problem seems to lie. When I first tried an enema, I used regular tap water (cold to lukewarm). Almost immediately, I felt lightheaded, dizzy, nauseous, and was trembling. I had consumed caffeine beforehand, which sometimes causes me to feel weak/shaky if I engage in sex soon afterward. Nevertheless, the same reaction occurred the next time I tried an enema, and I had not consumed caffeine beforehand. I did some research after that, and discovered that using tap water in an enema can cause an electrolyte deficiency in some individuals, and all of my symptoms were common to this problem. There were a few suggestions to add salt to the water, but I have not tried this yet.
I tried a coffee enema this past weekend, and the same symptoms occurred as above. I realized that I begin to clench and get nervous before the enema is even inserted (we use the type that looks like a bulb with a stem). I had to ask my fiance to give me the enema, as I become dizzy when I try to insert it myself. I also seem to clench when I feel the liquid entering my colon, and my guts expand. That feeling seemed to make me the most light-headed. As I was emptying my bowels, I watched my fingernails turn almost completely white and dark purple. I broke out in a cold, clammy sweat, was trembling, and breathing very deeply. I had to keep myself from collapsing onto the floor. When I looked in the mirror, I was completely pale, and my lips were white. My vision was spotted, like in a prolonged blood-rush. I lied down on the bed, and was back to normal within about twenty minutes. Just for the record, I have never fainted, and do not have a history of seizures or any serious medical conditions (that I know of).
I've been wondering what causes these symptoms for years now. Is it something psychological, or could it be a somatic reaction, as well? My fiance enjoys the enemas, and has no negative reaction whatsoever to them. He has no idea what could be causing this problem in me, either. We are equally baffled. Could it be the liquid in the enema, or my reaction before it's even inserted, that in-turn causes a chain reaction?
Thank you for any suggestions/help/advice you can give. I'd greatly appreciate it!
Yeah, seconding Vasovagal response, which some people report being triggered by anal stimulation (so you are definitely not alone). Unfortunately the most common advice is to avoid triggers, but there are a couple other techniques that have shown to be successful.
posted by muddgirl at 3:00 PM on March 29, 2015
posted by muddgirl at 3:00 PM on March 29, 2015
...and yes, a Vasovagal response can be partly psychological (for example, many people experience it at the sight of blood), in which case desensitization has been successful.
posted by muddgirl at 3:02 PM on March 29, 2015
posted by muddgirl at 3:02 PM on March 29, 2015
Response by poster: Thank you so much for the responses. I'm reading about the vasovagal response now, and it sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing. I don't recall having any sort of trauma throughout my life that could cause this reaction to anal penetration, but this is definitely something to look into.
posted by Jangatroo at 3:07 PM on March 29, 2015
posted by Jangatroo at 3:07 PM on March 29, 2015
The vasovagal response can be partly psychological, but it isn't a response to a traumatic event, it's just a sort of a physiologic reflex, and some people have that reflex stronger than others. The response is triggered by something called a Valsalva maneuver very strongly (bearing down as if having a bowel movement), my guess is that you are subconsciously Valsalva-ing in these situations. Being as relaxed as possible is probably the best way to try to avoid it.
P.s. tangential but electrolyte imbalances don't happen right away - the reaction to the enema is most likely not related to electrolyte imbalance unless it happens after frequent or prolonged enema use.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 3:40 PM on March 29, 2015 [7 favorites]
P.s. tangential but electrolyte imbalances don't happen right away - the reaction to the enema is most likely not related to electrolyte imbalance unless it happens after frequent or prolonged enema use.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 3:40 PM on March 29, 2015 [7 favorites]
Just another data point: I get a vasovagal response from anything having to do with needles -- tattoo, acupuncture, blood-drawing, etc. -- but after a while, when I know what to expect, it goes away. So the first two times I got tattooed, I had the response, but the third time, I was fine; same with acupuncture.
posted by holborne at 4:12 PM on March 29, 2015
posted by holborne at 4:12 PM on March 29, 2015
Yup. Vasovagal response. Some of us are are susceptible for some reason. I suffer from it in several different situations, including anal-ish stuff. Like the first time my doc checked my prostate. Passed out on him. With his finger in me. Not my best moment.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:31 PM on March 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Thorzdad at 4:31 PM on March 29, 2015 [1 favorite]
It's not just from bearing down, you can get a vasovagal response just from stimulating parts of the body that are connected to the vagus nerve, which includes the digestive tract. For instance, it's common in women who are having something done involving their cervix.
posted by Kimmalah at 2:32 AM on March 30, 2015
posted by Kimmalah at 2:32 AM on March 30, 2015
Response by poster: So many helpful replies. Thank you all.
I appreciate the anecdote, Thorzdad! It's a good feeling to know I'm not alone. Of course not with the prostate experience, but nevertheless. =P
I will look into the Valsalva maneuver, however the feeling I'm getting is almost the opposite of the "bearing down" description. As soon as the liquid from the enema enters my body, I just want it out. But then I feel so sick that I really have to concentrate on pushing down, in order to get everything out.
That's interesting, Kimmalah. Now that you mention it, I do have a slightly similar reaction to having my cervix touched, and even during pap smears. I get nauseous watching a speculum open a vagina/anus, as well.
It sounds like desensitization is a good route to take. I want to be able to at least try more anal play, rather than wanting to pass out at the very thought of receiving it.
Thank you all again!
posted by Jangatroo at 2:26 PM on March 30, 2015
I appreciate the anecdote, Thorzdad! It's a good feeling to know I'm not alone. Of course not with the prostate experience, but nevertheless. =P
I will look into the Valsalva maneuver, however the feeling I'm getting is almost the opposite of the "bearing down" description. As soon as the liquid from the enema enters my body, I just want it out. But then I feel so sick that I really have to concentrate on pushing down, in order to get everything out.
That's interesting, Kimmalah. Now that you mention it, I do have a slightly similar reaction to having my cervix touched, and even during pap smears. I get nauseous watching a speculum open a vagina/anus, as well.
It sounds like desensitization is a good route to take. I want to be able to at least try more anal play, rather than wanting to pass out at the very thought of receiving it.
Thank you all again!
posted by Jangatroo at 2:26 PM on March 30, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by platypus of the universe at 2:55 PM on March 29, 2015 [2 favorites]