Hiya, a question for any indy quads out there.....................

What are the tricks or how do you do your own bowel care ?

At the moment i have someone give me a couple of microlax and then some stim and i'm usually done in 10-15mins. But with very limited finger movement am I tripping to think that i could do it by myself with some tricks or tools ?

Its just frustrating when i go away that i have to organise that part.........

hi, couple of tricks,
get yourself a suppository inserter and stimulator from seatedlife.com, they will post out to oz.
you might need a long handle typically 12 inches, however if you have reasonable balance and arm movement you can manage with a short handle. a stmulator is used either to check your bowel is empty after you have a movement or if you feel you are not empty.
next tip, try using bisacodyl supps with an inserter as supps are easier to manage than microlax, personally i use 'magic bullet' supps coz they work real quick. you may need to take some bisacodyl tablets and sennakot tablets to get you regular if its a big prob but a good diet works just as well.
im a c5-6 quad and have been using this method for 28 years, hope this helps.
ghoster

What is the definition for Indy Quad, please.

Independant..............sorry I'm Ozzie.

hi pwuff, tricky one that, depending on level really, as a c5-6 it would be mostly be- bladder/bowel care independence, dressing of course and eating drinking.
ghoster

ghoster,

Just before I read your post I was thinking, duhh, Indy for independent. I'm so used to Indy being Indy cars that I was slow to get it. Typing is rough tonight as my fingers are all curled up from a UTI. grumble. I'm C-5-7 Inc., and hands are good enough for suppository insertion and cath. Good enough to paint a window frame today without making a mess!

I'm independent until I need something outside of the house! We live in an utterly inaccessible neighborhood- too steep for a chair to ever manage the hill. So ...independent until the fridge is empty. It took about 5 months for my bowel program to regularize, and now if I have to take antibiotics it goes haywire again. Another $200 for probiotics.

I think I must have subconsciously yearned for a peer group where I could discuss my bowel movements, so God answered with this injury. I'm so grateful.

Pat

You should definately be able to do your own BP. Get those 2 devices Ghoster suggested, and practice.

Obviously, if your program's done in 20min. than your doing something right. Just practice on your own and you should be completely "indy" in no time.--haha

suppositories take longer but a bit more gentle for ya bum yeh ???
whats the diff between magic bullet and microlax, they didn't give me an option in rehab ?

what if i have no sensation down there ??
How does the reacher work ?
i've got good balance and arm movement and sit on a commode over the dunny, its just the bloody fingers.......................
I'm pretty much indy besides my bumcare so want to get it sorted as it'd make my life a bit more normal.....

hi, i havent got any sensation down there either.
magic bullet is a suppository, microlax is a fluid that comes in a small plastic bottle with a thin tip that you insert into your rectum and squeeze thwe fluid in.
the reacher works by allowing you to place the supp in the holder and then inserter it up your rectum without reaching to far.
goto seatedlife.com and see some pics of inserters and stimulators
ghoster

I struggled with this issue, I am c7/t1. The bowel program was depressing to me. I was unable to do it myself and frequent infections meant regular diarehha-unfortunately sometimes in public. I ended up with a colostomy. 7 years now with absolutly no problems. It means that I can handle my bowel issues on my own even when I'm sick and even when there is no accessable bathroom (I just need private space).

my biggest issue here is opening the magic bullet/suppository package. tips???

Dani, You are back! Missed you, girl.

I had a very hard time at first opening the supp. packages. I would struggle for 5 minutes and then sometimes the bullet came out crumbled. Having rubber gloves on helped my grip a lot, or one glove and lick the other thumb and index, but it was rough for about two months. After that I found it easing up little by little as i gained finger strength. Now, 8 months later, it is not hard.

One could try a little careful utility knife work on a table top, pop it in a bowl and bring it to the bed to do the deed.

Bullets keep well in a zip lock bag for a few weeks if you want to ask someone else to open them for you.

Keep at it and you WILL prevail.

pwuff