Hi, I have a shortened colon due to a colostomy. At about the time of the colostomy I had to take broad spectrum antibiotics which inevitably reduced my carefully cultivated gut mocrobiome. I have been doing my best to repopulate the gut, however, I irrigate my colon daily. What I would like to know is whether there have been any studies on the gut flora of colostomates and whether irrigation is washing out the good bacteria I am trying to reintroduce. I am looking for any trials on this.
I am working on the hypothesis that a shortened colon means that the microbes move further into the colon to populate and that irrigation reduces but doesn’t remove all the good microbes. Any evidence to support this?

Hi Meganmary- when you say shortened colon can you provide a bit more detail? Are you taking ongoing medication if so what? Is the colonic irrigation something your doctors recommended? What is your diet and lifestyle generally??