17 replies to this topic

[crash]

I have posted before about this and have recieved helpful advice but I still can't get a handle on my bms. I seem to have to go after almost every time I eat. Did anyone else have this problem soon after their injury? My accident was 3 months ago.

Maybe I need to clean myself out and start a new program then. I can't be going after every meal! Any suggestions?

[erickk]

What method of bowel treatment did your doctor prescribe?

[car]

To do a complete clean out you would have to use a fleets enema...that is what the doctor will tell you

You should be careful (as I am sure you are) to eat only at regular meal times. 2 or 3 times a day and do not overeat as most of us Americans do.

If your stool is like diarrhea you should eat things like bananas applesauce rice and toast to firm it up. Which might help you be more regular. But be careful that you do not become constipated. Your stool should be soft and formed. Now when my hubby was new to all of this he used suppostitories and he would have frequent accidents becasue they only move things out of the lower tract. A friend who was a c5 told him to use fleets every other night. His routine takes him about 1-2 hours but it works. He has to be checked or stimulated anywhere from 7-10 times to keep everything moving. Once he clears we wait 5-10 minutes and check him again. If he clears he is ready to wash up.

Everyone is different but my guess is you are only clearing the lower part of your tract out. ????

Hope this helps

[crash]

erickk, on Jul 2 2006, 05:03 AM, said:

What method of bowel treatment did your doctor prescribe?

They told me to use suppositories. I prefer not to though.

[crash]

car, on Jul 2 2006, 11:25 AM, said:

To do a complete clean out you would have to use a fleets enema...that is what the doctor will tell you

You should be careful (as I am sure you are) to eat only at regular meal times. 2 or 3 times a day and do not overeat as most of us Americans do.

If your stool is like diarrhea you should eat things like bananas applesauce rice and toast to firm it up. Which might help you be more regular. But be careful that you do not become constipated. Your stool should be soft and formed. Now when my hubby was new to all of this he used suppostitories and he would have frequent accidents becasue they only move things out of the lower tract. A friend who was a c5 told him to use fleets every other night. His routine takes him about 1-2 hours but it works. He has to be checked or stimulated anywhere from 7-10 times to keep everything moving. Once he clears we wait 5-10 minutes and check him again. If he clears he is ready to wash up.

Everyone is different but my guess is you are only clearing the lower part of your tract out. ????

Hope this helps

Thank you, I have feeling thats whats happening

[Ironside]

Your diet will play a huge part in how your bowel works. What sort of things do you eat? Plenty of vegetables, fruit and fibre, that's the trick to keeping a good bowel routine. As for suppositories, why are you against them? They have worked for me over the years. Also, what level are you?

[dom]

hi
yeah i used to have to do DEs quite a few times during the day,the i asked the spinal consultant and he said the situation was 'untenable' big word but it did'nt help me much
i stil do DEs quite frequently,maybe as some others have suggested i could be only clearing out my lower tract
i was wondering would a belt-a bit like weight trainers use help ? if put on tight it would put pressure on the bowels to empty in one go?
maybe a daft comment?

[jane]

bowl programme - whats that.!!

I know my bowl doesn't work properly - i am so bloated and hardly go to loo properly. I was told to use movicol and fibogel which i do but all that does is soften it up - it still doesn't come out.

I am hoping when i go to spinal unit septemer i will get some more help.

[car]

jane, on Jul 3 2006, 08:59 AM, said:

bowl programme - whats that.!!

I know my bowl doesn't work properly - i am so bloated and hardly go to loo properly. I was told to use movicol and fibogel which i do but all that does is soften it up - it still doesn't come out.

I am hoping when i go to spinal unit septemer i will get some more help.

A program or routine is what they try to get you on so you become regular. SO often they will see what works for you in rehab to get you going every other night or so (what ever works for you) so you do not have to worry about accidents.

[russ1]

Quote

bowl programme - whats that.!!

Hmm - Car I think you missed something

As to the original question it's still very early on at 3 months - I didn't get a proper handle on my bowels for the best part of a year. It's really really important what you eat, you have got to take lots of fruit veg and roughage, if you want cleaning out I find brown rice is as effective as any medication and a whole lot more natural. You should definately not need to go after every meal. Is this just a safety net for you or do you go anyway after every meal? I'd stick with the suppositories - all they do is stimulate the reflex to go. It's a lot less aggresive than most of the alternatives. You should be aiming for a once a day this early on post injury but you'll get that out to every couple of days later on.

Edited by russ1, 03 July 2006 - 07:07 PM.

[kksharprehabnurse]

question for my pt here at rehab.... dig stim does bring the stool to the rectal vault (where you can feel it) BUT the sphincter (sp?) doesn't stay open to evacuate stool.... we've worked on making it more solid (thinking it was too soft, not enough pressure to make sphincter stay relaxed...) using fiber capsules, but still the rectum doesn't stay open to release movement... pt has history of rectal fissures, so manual removal is contraindicated... anyone have any ideas? I guess I'm just not ready to start this pts home bowel program with alot of chemicals, etc right off the bat if possible...

[percepied]

Crash:

As you probably already know t12's have a particularly difficult time establishing a bowel program. Three months out is not a long time. I know you get tired of the accidents, but try to be patient.

All the dietary suggestions posted here are good ones. Bulking (fiber) and water are key. I use fiber supplements, colace and senna as well as trying to maintain a simple diet. I also use suppositories. Exercise like cycling (if it is available to you) also helps. After about nine months my BP really stabilized. Thank God!

One more thing, you might want to start over if you feel things are too erratic now. It's nasty but a dose of GoLightly will clean things out and allow you to begin again. Of course it will take your bowels a while to recover (about a month?) but it might be worth it.

Good luck!

[quad]

my program seems to be working
I would like to clean out my system and start out fresh
Does anyone have any advice

[sweetie]

I am a T12 and it took me a while to sort myself out, I will get a pain if I need to empty myself having eaten or drank something that has irritated me. You may find that food and drink you had no problem with before becomes a problem... Everyone is different but you will get in a routine.
I hope things sort out soon.

[fastwheels]

have you senn this. this could help you Peristeen Anal Irrigation

http://www.coloplast...7c?OpenDocument

fastwheels

[cprahl]

I wish I had it that good.... I have had terrible spasms related to fleets enemas lately. After usung fleets I will get really bad abdomenal spasms that last about 20-30 minutes. THen after I eat or wake up from sleep I get them again. I have tried using Ducolax Suposos but they just don't clean me out very well.I've been T-6 for 40 years now and last 5 years have had very sensitive bowels. Have had all the tests Upper and lower GI series, found nothing wrong with me. But I still have these terrible painful spasms in abdomenal region. Does anyone else have issues like this? Boy I would love to have any kind of normalacy with bowel program.....

[Edtezky]

I am having a little trouble my self but its slowing becoming stable. The fiber supplements help and you should drink lots and lots of water. Also if you eat salad, eat is daily. I go usually every other day with a fleet. You have to keep on it or you loose it. Good luck