4 replies to this topic

[jxramo]

I just got home two months ago from the hospital, and I've been trying to get my BM to a certain hour and it just doesn't happen,I was diagnosed with complete paraplegia from my chest down, chest wondering for feed back...

[guido]

Do you mean you want to go regularly at the same time or you're trying to get it all started and finished within an hour? Whichever, the thing is you're only 2 months out of hospital. It's seriously early days and the body and you have a LOT of settling down and working out to do yet. Living with paralysis is an endurance event not a sprint.

We all know that the bladder and bowels are the most frustrating thing. I find that going after food means everything is moving along and it makes things happen easily, so my morning routine has breakfast first. From other threads you'll realise how differently everyone handles this, and some find it a slow and stubborn business and others find it goes relatively smoothly. Some will swear by pills and suppositories, others will say you can regulate yourself by exercise, diet and water intake (much will depend on level of injury and lifestyle).

Just keep persevering and keep a good routine. Routine will help you work out much quicker what's going on exactly, and then you can start tweaking routine to make it better/easier for you.

[Trinity]

jxramo, on Feb 6 2010, 03:51 AM, said:

I just got home two months ago from the hospital, and I've been trying to get my BM to a certain hour and it just doesn't happen,I was diagnosed with complete paraplegia from my chest down, chest wondering for feed back...

A lot will depend on your level of injury, do you know what that is?

The bowel behaves differently depending if it is a reflex or flaccid bowel, also known as upper or lower motor neuron.

As Guido says, everyone has a different approach, mine is an evening thing due to the hours I work.

Many things such as activity levels, diet and medication can play a big part. Most pain killers are constipating and I have to avoid certain food such as lettuce and cabbage, as they seem to upset my stomach although they were never a problem before!

It is a trial an error thing and even when you think you have it all sorted there is still the chance of a surprise or 2.

[Dearth]

jxramo, on Feb 5 2010, 10:51 PM, said:

I just got home two months ago from the hospital, and I've been trying to get my BM to a certain hour and it just doesn't happen,I was diagnosed with complete paraplegia from my chest down, chest wondering for feed back...

I'm a T-12 para. Big difference from your level. As I've gotten older, my bowel and bladder, which used to be pretty adequately reflexic, have become more flaccid.

This is what I do for a good, total plop (crapping other or every third day): I drink two cups prune juice. Wait 1 1/2 hours. Drink a medium large hot tea. Wait another 10 minutes or so. Eat a couple of cups kraft mac n cheese with a few veggies and meat added. Ay walla, el crapola! I void completely.

Every body's different, I'm told.

[dangerousdave]

Trinity is right on boy
We are all differant
So read - experiment - think - until you find your answers

Me - I'd love a final solution
My bowl rythem doesn't exist at all no matter what I try to do
Morning - evening - or both - or miss a day, drives me absolutly potty at times
But thats life as I know it