The anal and vaginal openings were created for the expulsion of feces and urine from the body. When you begin to explore this activity, you must have a basic understanding of how the body works, a working knowledge of the internal structure you are about to enter and possess the ability to control yourself in order to allow the process to proceed slowly, carefully and at a pace the bottom is comfortable with. The primary dangers of fisting are damage in and around the anal/vaginal opening. Minor damage can come in the form anal/ vaginal fissures which are tiny tears in the skin surrounding the anal/vaginal opening, tenderness associated with the stretching of the openings and/or alack lubrication and bleeding caused when fissures occur. Severe damage is the actual tearing and ripping of the anal/vaginal muscles sometimes leading to incontinence (a loss of bowel retention/control), usually caused by an over eager- ness to achieve full insertion of the fist without allowing the muscle tissue to relax and adjust. The severest form of damage are the inversion of the bowel, in which the bowel tears loose from the abdominal cavity and protrudes outside the anal opening and peritonitis, an infection caused by fecal material entering the sterile abdominal cavity through tears in the bowel walls. The death rate is well over 60% when this condition occurs as there are no nerve endings to tell you something is wrong. 

 Preparation-- Enemas types of equipment preparing for completing How much is enough? Lubrication need for types of myths Safe Sex lube contamination gloves hands preparation fingernails callous' proper disposal of materials clean up Mood enhancements drugs alcohol poppers misc. Fisting the act itself environment your partner preparation control communication Whether you are a novice or experienced fister, valuable information and insight can be learned and gained through this discussion. NOTHING in this discussion should be construed to mean this is the only way to go. Everyone has to determine for his/her self what is right, best and most comfortable for them. This discussion is meant to be ONLY a guideline and to generate an open-minded, positive, free flowing exchange of ideas, information and experiences. I welcome all questions. If you believe knowledge dispels ignorance and fear and leads to a greater understanding of yourself and those around you, then come, journey with us as we explore the sexual pleasures of FISTING. 

Fisting, Part II - Common Sense

 Common sense tells us that any good fisting scene has to be preceded by thoughtful preparation. One of the MOST important processes is the enema. BUT, before you begin there are several things you should do first. (Here, again, I am speaking from a personal--this works best from my point of view. However, most fisters I've engaged in conversation with agreed we all prepared in basically the same manner with minor variations to suit ourselves.) Careful planning ahead will make for an easier "clean-out" and provide longer "staying" power. Diet is your first consideration. Foods that move rapidly through the digestive system should be avoided. Foods that take longer to digest, such as rare beef, chicken, lasagna, are highly recommended. (Personally, I find that a Pizza Hut pizza does great as the combination of meat, cheese and dough will plug my system for about 36 hours.) Foods to be avoided are veggies, fruits, soups and heavy sweets. Eating about 3 hours prior to the enema is also recommended as this allows your digestive system time to start moving the food from your stomach into the intestinal tract for "blocking". DO NOT attempt an enema immediately after eating. You wouldn't go swimming so don't do an enema. You MUST allow the body to prepare. Equipment--decisions, "What do I want?". There are several items available on the market today. Experimentation will help you decide which works best for you. Cost will also be a factor so take your time. Fleets--everyone has seen the neat little ready-to-use disposable product. For a quick "touch-up" before or a quick rinse out afterwards these are great. However, from a complete cleansing point of view they are ineffective and costly. Syringe bulbs have a major advantage over the fleet. You have are useable, refillable container that is easily transported and used. But, here again, they are not practical as you have to refill often. The old fashioned hanging "douche" bag is great for a novice/beginner. They come with a flow control device which will allow you to regulate the rate and amount you wish to take in. The bag is portable, easy to clean and use. Cost wise the bag is cheap and will last for some time given proper care and storage. Shower shots are becoming the rage today. They are somewhat expensive, ranging in price from $50 to $75 depending on where you purchase one. Shots are equipped with an aluminum nozzle attached to a flexible hose, connected to a 2-way valve that is usually installed in the shower. It is portable, but not without disadvantages. (Not every toy box/bag is equipped with wrenches.) The only disadvantages I have found are--solids in the water will eventually clog up the openings in the shot and not enough nozzle depth for a really high cleaning. Polypropylene tubing--cheap, flexible, easy to use/clean and sterilize for multiple person usage. Usually connected to a 2- way valve, like the shower shot. Allows for greater depth in cleaning. Easy to transport and is light weight. Having selected your equipment, eaten and mentally prepared, you are now ready to begin. Tune in a radio to your favorite station, drop in a cassette or CD of your favorite music. The idea is to create an environment in which you can relax. Relaxation is your "best" friend when cleaning out. Your bowels will be receptive and agreeable to the enema. Select a tepid water temperature (some- thing that feels pleasant to the skin. CAUTION--remember the bowels cannot "feel". Water that is too warm may cause burning of the interior lining. Water that is too cool may cause cramps). Apply a small amount of lubricant (something that is NOT water soluble or petroleum based) to the anal area and nozzle. Lubrication allows for easier insertion of the nozzle. Allow the water to enter you at a rate that doesn't cause immediate discomfort or "triggers" the evacuation response. The best results are obtained by taking just enough fluid in to cause some pressure in your left side. When you reach this point remove the nozzle and retain the water by clenching your anal muscles. Retention allows the water to move around in the bowel. As it does, the pressure you felt in your side will subside and additional water may be injected. Time and experience will teach you when to add more or release what you have. When releasing, FORCE, yourself to do so in a calm and relaxed manner. Sudden expulsion of the enema mixed with fecal material can cause fissures and abrasions to the rectal tissues. Use common sense. Repeat the process until the fluid you are releasing is clear with no fecal fragments visible. Later we will discuss power enemas. 

Fisting A General Introduction Part III--Lubes

 Realizing that the anus was intended for the expulsion of fecal material and not for the insertion of foreign objects, one must take into consideration two primary factors; one-how do you coax the anus into allowing the insertion of a foreign object and two-what lubricant(s) should you use. In this posting we will concern ourselves with the various lubes that are currently available. Lubes basically come in 3 main classes; water soluble, tropical oil based and vegetable based. There is another class which is petroleum based, such as Vaseline, but it's use is strongly discouraged as it is not readily digestible, leaves a residue in the bowels that inhibits the normal functioning of the bowel, rapidly deteriorates latex gloves and is harder to wash off the skin and out of laundry. Each class has it's own particular advantages and disadvantages. Water soluble lubes, (Astroglide, Foreplay, KY, etc), are water based. These have a tendency to dry out and become tacky during use and need to be re-applied several times or moistened with water during a session. A spray bottle of water is a useful and convenient way to accomplish this. Tropical lubes, (Elbow Grease regular, Fist, Natural Lube, etc), are made from palm/coconut oils and usually do not require any additional moisture to keep them slick. Care should be used as some people are allergic to tropical oils and products containing them. Ask your partner before using any lube that contains as part of it's chemistry palm/coconut oils. Tropical lubes, like petroleum lubes, cause a rapid breakdown of latex items, so use a little extra caution and change gloves often during a session. Vegetable based lubes, (Crisco, etc.), are made primarily from corn or soy bean oils. They are heavy, do not need any additional moisture to keep them slick and  provide excellent adhesion to the anal area. Breakdown of latex items is minimal and the cost is negligible compared to the other types of lubes which generally cost $5.95 to $12.95 or more. Some lubricants, with the exception of Crisco, contain Nonoxynol-9, a spermicide, which has proven beneficial in the destruction of the HIV virus that causes AIDS. However, there are conflicting reports among experts as to how beneficial Nonoxynol-9 is and there have been statements issued by the Surgeon General's office that Nonoxynol-9 has caused allergic reactions in some people. Here again, a little common sense and caution will pay off. Ask your partner if he/she is allergic to Nonoxynol-9.If your partner does not know proceed with extra care, or better yet, select a lube which does not contain nonoxynol-9. In fisting, there can never be too much lube. You must remember that the sexual activity that you're engaging in causes a tremendous amount of stress to the anal area and the bowel, regardless of how careful you are, so the smoother you can make the penetration the better. I have been known to use an entire 5 pound can of Crisco in a session. A little messy, but the results were great!!! Lube contamination is a major concern, especially if you are involved in a group scene. Most of the commercially available products come in squeeze tubes or with pump tops for dispensing. Others, such as Crisco, do not have these advantages so extra care must be taken to prevent contamination. The easiest way to do this is to portion the lube out into disposable containers. This way the original container doesn't become contaminated by everyone "helping" themselves. In a one on one session the one pound cans of Crisco are easy to use and dispose of. With a little experimentation you will determine which lube is best for you. Everyone has his/her favorites. The best rule of thumb that I have found is to use whatever the bottom prefers. If you, as the top, are allergic to the chemical structure of the lube, take a few extra precautions to protect yourself such as wearing a long sleeve shirt with the gloves up over the sleeve cuffs or obtain some veterinarians' gloves like those used inartificial insemination of livestock which go all the way up to the arm pit. With a little common sense and care, you and your partner should be able to have a fulfilling session. No information in this posting should be considered absolute. The information contained herein is intended solely as a general guide to provoke thought and commentary among those interested in fisting. 

Parting note--a booklet entitled, "A Fist Fucker's Manual", is available online for $9.95. The material and information contained in the manual has undergone little revision but does provide some excellent material for thought. There is also a story or two about fisting. Once again, this exchange of information in no way sets an absolute standard for the practices being discussed. Each individual must determine for him/her self what suits them. This point cannot be stressed enough.  

  Remember---Knowledge overcomes ignorance, dispels fear, tears down barriers to acceptance and expands your own capabilities. 

The opinions expressed herein are personal  and should not be taken as "the only way to go".