15 replies to this topic

[Dillon]

I'm having problems with my program taking too long.

I have someone new helping me but I think the major problem is waiting for all of the suppository and/or gel to get out of my system. All the poop comes down relatively quickly, in about an hour, but I get continual discharges more than an hour later after I'm dressed and up in the chair.


To correct this, I was thinking about just using digital stimulation to try and clean me out. Has anyone tried this before? If yes, was it a success?

Thanks

[Tetracyclone]

Yes, I have success getting the last stuff out with digistim.

[davjed]

I use nothing but abdominal straining and digital manipulation for the past 20 years. I also empty my bladder with abdominal straining about 3 times a day and usually pass some stool each time. But I have fairly good lower abdomen musculature for my level. I learned this by trial and error and it is so much better than stirring things up with suppositories or enemas like I did for the first 20 to 30 years. Don't be afraid to experiment, especially if you have a lower level injury.

Edited by davjed, 28 April 2011 - 03:00 AM.

[Dillon]

Yes, I think I will give this a shot. I could probably cut my program down to half an hour, 40 minutes without the suppository.

I wonder if a different suppository would help. Any suggestions?

No, I have a pretty high injury. Thing is... when I've been in the hospital this was never a problem. Maybe my nurse is not doing it right.

[xxm]

Dillon,

You have made the right decision .

I've used suppository very rarely in my 35 years with SCI and always have had the problems you have now. So I've abandoned supps completely and use DS only.
Try and error with digital stimulation will teach you the right way that works for you. Listen to your internal sensations to learn what is best for you.
Straining is not always the best practice as it triggers reverse reaction in the anal sphincter.
You can check my posts in Bladder&Bowel section to see what works for me.

Wish you success
Rudy.

Edited by xxm, 28 April 2011 - 04:56 PM.

[andycm]

Me too, no supps needed since halfway through time in hospital, just dig stim in shower/commode chair over toilet. Including transfers and everything, takes about 25 minutes, and only get "accidents" about twice a year, usually after dodgy food.

[davjed]

I stand in KAFOs about 3-4 times a day to empty bladder and bowel and usually only take about 10 minutes each time to take care of both. So much easier and quicker than when I did enemas every three days and always worried about accidents in between. Now I only worry about eating something that makes me unload everything out of control (about once a year thankfully).

[Seier]

About four days ago we started trying digital stimulation with my husband because with microlax there is usually some manky stuff which comes out later when he's back in bed and also he didn't like the idea of relying on some unnatural chemical!

aaand it's been going really well, only takes a couple of minutes before everything clears and so far no accidents! So fingers crossed this will keep working

We are still in the rehab centre so safe place to try things out

[jlsh4e]

you know the best thing i found is this bag you buy in walmart for about 4.00 that you fill with warm water you hang it up on the wall above the toilet then it has a long tube attached to it(you only insert a little bit of it) this cleans and releases what needs to. And you don't have a mess afterwords. While you do this you can stop the water and take it out and do a little digital stimulation. This is a fast and effective thing to do cause it does not waste a huge amount of time. Hope this helps. (Oh and you buy this in the laxative section of walmart or any drug store.

[mellowgator]

i use enemeez. i use digi stem along with this and i'm done in 10 minutes. i really hated the suppositories because they took way too long. when i don't use the enemeez i have to worry about accidents in between programs.


mellowgator

[Harry3082]

I gave up the Suppository 27 years ago because of having the same problems as you.
IV been spending 25 to 35 minutes a day with just digital removal and stimulation, and almost no problems!
It probably would take less time if I wasn't dependent on someone else for my program.

In Google I found out 25 years after doing it this way, it's the way it's done for a Flaccid Bowel. It's worth a try, and to google Flaccid Bowel program.

Good Luck !!

[Tetracyclone]

Each is different. Digistim only works for me at the last of my routine. I struggled with it for 6 months, torture for all, until I got magic bullets, which work fast and reliably for me IF i am eating properly.

[Courtney]

My husband has been injured for three and a half years and all we use is dig stim. We stopped using any sort of softener or bowel stimulant as soon as we left the hospital. We do our program every other day and it takes us 10-20 minutes....max

[MrBump]

Yep, get off the softeners and eat well. Water is the best softener.
I use enemas to start the action and then 1 digistim to empty fully. I'm off the sunny in 10-15 mins.

[rickt11]

Hello i have been stimmulating for 4 years now, started out with suppositories. Had alot of time and troubles with this, stimulating takes about 10 minutes, i perform this once a day , same time every day, mornings. This cleans me out everyday, so far so good no problems. Iam t11, so i have use of my upper body.I hope this helps some of you who are still having problems.

[jlsh4e]

jlsh4e, on 05 November 2011 - 07:02 PM, said:

you know the best thing i found is this bag you buy in walmart for about 4.00 that you fill with warm water you hang it up on the wall above the toilet then it has a long tube attached to it(you only insert a little bit of it) this cleans and releases what needs to. And you don't have a mess afterwords. While you do this you can stop the water and take it out and do a little digital stimulation. This is a fast and effective thing to do cause it does not waste a huge amount of time. Hope this helps. (Oh and you buy this in the laxative section of walmart or any drug store.

This is a fast and easy way. since I have three kids and other things to do this method makes it where I don't have to spend alot of time on my bowel program. And you don't have to spend money on laxatives. This is a one time buy I have had it over a year and its great. Since I don't have problems with this I have less swelling and bloating. I would recommend this to everyone to atleast to try once.