Newbie Questions-gctid9985

1.) Yeah, it takes a lot of practice though. When they say it's a journey, they're not joking.
I didn't get much from it at first, but it was nice enough to continue using. Sessions improved slowly over time.

2.) I wash my aneros with warm water and soap, and again with some anti-bacterial handwash.

3.) This ties into question 2, but I don't create a big mess, so it's not really something I consider a problem.

My routine involves having some folded sheets of toilet-paper ready. When it's time to take the aneros out, I grip the base of it with toilet paper and take it out. This way I don't have to touch any residual lube. Then I take the other folded sheets and wipe any remaining lube from around my anus. Those sheets are then wrapped around the aneros (dirty side in, clean side out), and the whole thing wraps up like a mummy. I'm holding the aneros in one hand during all of this, so I never have to set it down anywhere until it's all wrapped up.

What I also do is have a small towel or face-cloth to sit on top of. Sometimes lube can run or drip, so having something to save the bed sheets is great.

I don't know if you've explored anal stuff before, but just inside the anus is the rectum, which usually stays empty. This is the area where the aneros works, so you may not encounter much physical poop at all during a session. Granted it's still an unclean area, with bacteria and such, but it doesn't have to be a total horror show.

4.) As I understand it, diet will affect the consistency of poop. And can make a difference in how much poop is left behind in the rectum. I've never had much of a problem in this area, so I've never looked into it. I'm presuming it has something to do with fibre.

Hello, Onei
Looks like your questions finally provoked my first post. And why, you might ask? Because, I had many of the same concerns.
Personally, I've never been particularly keen on exploring my rectum due to the inherit indecency pertaining to said orifice. This, however, has been a huge detriment towards my personal sexual journey, as I recently turned 39; and as a result, I'm disappointed in not beginning sooner.
Now, with that said, I wouldn't let the negativity of your latter three questions dissuade some quality time with an Aneros device. Why? Because, it's a lot of fun. And this is coming from someone who's only been using for about two and a half months and has yet to actually generate a true orgasmic event. Though, I have had quite a few moments in which I could feel that precipice, and I don't expect to break that wall anytime soon.
I am, however, having a great deal of enjoyment and rarely feel like time has been wasted. Overall, I feel more in tune with my senses for a good 90-120 minutes most days and tend to end each session with a satifying, traditional ejaculate orgasim, which requires only light stimulation. I even gain some temporary relief from my physical tourrette's syndrome which, I am most grateful for. Because, I can never truly sit still, but during my Aneros sessions, the pleasurable feelings grossly outweigh everything else and give me periods of peace from the constant feelings of phantom pain and the consistant need to flex various joints, muscles.
Now, why should I bother mentioning some of these things? Because, it's totally worth trying. The benefits definitely outweigh the negatives. And I assure you, after awhile, you will lose some of the phobia towards that particular doorway. Not that you will forget it, mind you. I still dislike the true aspect of said orifice; but, I've adopted my own ritual, routine for repeated, recreational use.
What I would highly recommend is to invest in an anal douche. No matter your diet, there will always be a little residue within the rectum and depending on which device you select, it could be off-putting. Why does it matter, you say? Because the silicone Aneros devices will retain some odor, while the plastic ones will not. This, however, isn't a huge negative due to the feel of silicone versus a hard plastic lump as my personal favorite so far is the Helix Syn. It's comfortable, moves effortlessly and, unlike the MGX and Maximus, has a small Ptab and Tail which matters to me. But, this particular toy has a chance to retain odor and requires more care per my experience. Regardless of the device, however, I only clean each a few times before and after use with a sterile, soft toothbrush and some natural hand soap. I do have some anti-bacterial spray as well but rarely use it. Sometimes though the Helix Syn needs a little more help and this is where your standard, run of the mill Hydrogen Peroxide comes into play. Just find some at your local grocery, get a container the toy will fit into and let it soak overnight, then clean as usual.
Now, I would like to go back to the anal douche for a second. I personally have a model made by Colt which has a polished, injection tube about the thickness of a finger. The bulb is also the size of a baseball and, after much experimentation, I've found that a single bulb is good for two flushings of the immediate area which is very important. Because the last thing you want to do is rinse more than the rectum. It's also important not to rush this process. Give your body time to expell the full contents of the fluid before moving onto the next step.
I'd also like to visit your question on diet. Personally, I've had an aversion towards rectal play. Let's face it, there is a certain "ick" factor associated with that area. Which makes diet all too important when interacting with the prostate. I guess this is where you have to ask the question, am I regular? Because a proper, or at least, better maintained eating plan will make this much easier. And, I have to admit, my diet has changed a good deal to facilitate Aneros play; because, I like to be clean. Seeing any residue is very off-putting, especially during the cleaning process. So, I would recommend making better choices and to not forget some level of exercise to aid in the digestion process. My own personal choices, since beginning Aneros use back in May, has resulted in a good fifteen pound loss with some gain in muscle. Basically, I cut back on the bad food and increased my exercise routine. Not to forget, an Aneros session can be a work out as well. However, I wouldn't recommend going full-on vegetarian. This can create very loose stool which is hard to completely remove.
Beyond all that, I would probably recommend one last thing. Lubrication. Lubrication is key to this experience. And no, you can not simply use any slick substance mostly due to longevity. From experience, Aneros sessions can last a "long" time. I've gone as far as four hours with a single application of Shea butter / Coconut oil without any repurcussions which is impossible with other lubricants. Why? Because Shea Butter coats and doesn't absorb while the Coconut oil adds an initial layer to promote movement as the Shea melts from your internal body temp. There is also the fact that these substances are pure and natural which promotes acceptance by the rectum and does not create an urge to use the bathroom. Other options also exist as alternatives to mass produced lubricants. Just search the forums for Lubricants and you will find a number of posts on the subject. But, whatever means you choose, remember that too much won't hurt, while too little could. And let's face it, no man wants to go to a doctor with a clearly constructed lie about how your dog tripped you into a backwards fall onto a broomstick.
So, yeah, hope some of this helps. And remember, don't expect fireworks. Just relax and do nothing. Let your body, or more to the fact, let your prostate dictate the actions. After five, ten, fifteen sessions, you will notice things start to wake up. It was somewhere between session ten to fifteen that my prostate began contracting on its own and that is an impressive feeling. Recently, I've also found my nipples, which never gave any pleasure, are becomming a sort of on / off switch. Oh, and you will definitely get a smile when that first Anerosless session occurs.

Sorry for the lack of spacing. I have no idea why the paragraphs got stuck together like that.