17 replies to this topic

[City Girl]

I'm 4 yrs post-injury, T12 incomplete SCI. I've had fabulous recovery in terms of motor function. I still do physio weekly and workout regularly. I walk (albeit slowly and hit the gym 3x/wk on treadmill, elliptical, weight machines, mats).

Bowel and bladder never really returned, however. I have no program. I use IC when I have to pee. I can feel my bladder full and empty at that time (6-8x/da). I try to drink 2L/da and stop drinking at 6:00 pm so I can endeavour to sleep through the night without interruption of IC. Notwithstanding, bladder infections are common. (2 last year. 2 this year.)

I do nothing except diet for bowel. I'm super healthy in regard to my weight /BMI/fat % (5'4" - 105-110 lbs, 26" waist, 34" hips, BMI 18-19, 17.5% Body Fat) I eat tons of veggies/fruit/peas/beans/lentils/nuts/seeds/whole grains. I limit sugar/starch/trans&sat fats and eat limited animal products, i.e., lean meats/poultry/seafood and fat-free dairy. I cannot feel if my bowels and use a glove and digital evacuation...basically from after breakfast until dinner...when I stop eating (to manage my bowels).

I have occasionally noticed blood in my stool and now I'm noticing mucus. I'm worried that I have developed ulcerative colitis. I have a doctor's appointment to address this issue in a few days but wondered if this is a common development for people with SCI?

Any others experiencing blood or mucus in the stool?

I'd love to eat chocolate cake and french fries every day but I stick to a strict diet and exercise to keep a healthy bowel (and weight)...was it all for nothing? Are these kind of bowel issues just part of SCI???

~ City Girl ~
Pic of me standing in 4" chunky heels. (I cannot walk in those but I can stand and work real hard to balance. I love heels and I will wear them whenever I can.) I think the light circle in the middle is the flash.

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[Tetracyclone]

City Girl,

Good to hear from you... ugh on the health problem. I rather doubt it is related strongly to SCI, but your MD will know if it us related to low walking activity.

Shite happens, and no, your strictness was not in vain- it probably gives you a great energy level.

I am not excited about low BMI. We need reserves in case of illness.

[davjed]

We have similar injury levels although I did not get the return you did. This is strictly what I think about my own condition. I do no bowel program and IC once or twice a day. Usually if I stand (using KAFOs) I can strain down and empty my bladder completely. However, with the straining, I usually have a BM also. Then I have to make sure that is complete by using digital checking. I have found that I frequently will have mucus in the stool. I just take it as normal and don't worry about it. If I have to do a lot of digital manipulation, I will also get blood. However, it is bright red and usually no more than several drops. I know I have thrombosed hemorrhoids because I can feel them with my fingers. So therefore, I don't sweat the few drops of blood either. I am considerably older than you are and have been doing this much longer. I've gotten to where I just "take it as it comes" bowel and bladder wise. I do take 100mg of nitrofurantoin and 500mg of mannose twice a day to suppress the bladder growth. Some of the e. coli strains are getting to be antibiotic resistant so take note of what bacteria your are getting and what it is susceptible to. Hope this helps some.

[Kwag_Myers]

Hey CG, long time!

I get blood from time to time, sometimes mucus, but not as often. I'm about due for another colonoscopy, which means my wife will be laying drop-clothes between the bed and bathroom in preparation. They're not fun even for ABs, but should give you an idea of what's up. Probably what your Dr. will prescribe.

I haven't had a UTI in..., well, can't remember the last time. What's your routine for washing your caths?

[wheeliebear75]

I have had blood in my stool but it was a combination of hemorrhoids (I'm sure the lack of walking & all the time spent on the posterior has a LOT to do with that) + I'd gotten constipated so when I did get things going again I ripped something up THERE. I haven't had mucas in the bowels EXCEPT when I've been ill & coughing up/swallowing a bunch....guess it went down the pipes?

I'm kinda with Tetra on the BMI. I tend to loose around 20lbs give or take from November-March.....I just have a hard time wanting to eat + then there is the RE-eating whenever a storm comes through. So by mid fall I try to be in the mid 130's so I'll have something TO loose.....the "concentration camp" look just isn't in since Kate Moss went out.

[City Girl]

Kwag_Myers, on 08 November 2011 - 09:11 PM, said:

Hey CG, long time!

I get blood from time to time, sometimes mucus, but not as often. I'm about due for another colonoscopy, which means my wife will be laying drop-clothes between the bed and bathroom in preparation. They're not fun even for ABs, but should give you an idea of what's up. Probably what your Dr. will prescribe.

I haven't had a UTI in..., well, can't remember the last time. What's your routine for washing your caths?

Hey Kwag Baby!
Nice to see you around still! I'm kind of hoping the problem will just go away and it is a result of being on two antibiotics back to back but it's not going away. I see my doc tomorrow and will discuss it then.
In terms of my caths. I don't reuse. I use a new one each time I void my bladder. I also wear gloves. I have excellent insurance coverage!
How's life with you?
~ CG ~

[City Girl]

Tetracyclone, on 08 November 2011 - 01:46 AM, said:

City Girl,

Good to hear from you... ugh on the health problem. I rather doubt it is related strongly to SCI, but your MD will know if it us related to low walking activity.

Shite happens, and no, your strictness was not in vain- it probably gives you a great energy level.

I am not excited about low BMI. We need reserves in case of illness.

I like my BMI. My weight has never been an issue when I've been sick in the past. Moreover, my handle may be City Girl but I am also a Glamour Gal and although I have a SCI and some atrophy, I still like to sport bikinis and sexy clothes and I like a flat belly with sculpted abdominal muscles (I do 1000 crunches/wk). At my age, any weight gain tends to shuttle around my middle (unless it's muscle gain which is extremely slow) and I don't want a big, fat belly. This is me dressed up Burlesque last year. Nice flat belly. (My boobs are not really that big. I'm just wearing a padded, push-up for the costume.)

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Edited by City Girl, 09 November 2011 - 03:45 AM.

[Beautiful]

You go girl! My BMI is only 16.1, but I wish I had more definition. Rods in your back make it hard to do crunches ;)

[A trophy guy]

I just want to say, Kudos! to both you beautiful ladies, City Girl and Beautiful on the truly impressive feat of managing to stay lean and sexy in spite of all the challenges SCI can throw at you! In addition to the health benefits of low body fat levels, the psychological boost can really have some therapeutic effects on self esteem, body image, etc. I am not of the camp who believes one needs an extra bit of fat "just in case" one gets sick or otherwise needs the extra stored energy. We long since outgrew the usefulness, evolutionarily speaking, of "fattening up" for survival means.


ETA: If I were to have freaked out every time I saw blood in or with my stool, I'd of been in the psych ward years ago. All the sitting, straining, digitally evacuating; hemmoroids are bound to form, internally and externally; and occasional bleeding is something that just comes with the territory. Like someone else pointed out, the color of the blood is important. Being bright red indicates that it's fresh and new, not old, deep blood coming up from somewhere.

Edited by A trophy guy, 09 November 2011 - 06:40 AM.

[wheeliebear75]

A trophy guy, on 09 November 2011 - 06:33 AM, said:

I just want to say, Kudos! to both you beautiful ladies, City Girl and Beautiful on the truly impressive feat of managing to stay lean and sexy in spite of all the challenges SCI can throw at you! In addition to the health benefits of low body fat levels, the psychological boost can really have some therapeutic effects on self esteem, body image, etc. I am not of the camp who believes one needs an extra bit of fat "just in case" one gets sick or otherwise needs the extra stored energy. We long since outgrew the usefulness, evolutionarily speaking, of "fattening up" for survival means.ETA: If I were to have freaked out every time I saw blood in or with my stool, I'd of been in the psych ward years ago. All the sitting, straining, digitally evacuating; hemmoroids are bound to form, internally and externally; and occasional bleeding is something that just comes with the territory. Like someone else pointed out, the color of the blood is important. Being bright red indicates that it's fresh and new, not old, deep blood coming up from somewhere.

I'm fine & dandy with a "healthy BMI" & IF things changed during winter to where I didn't have my head in a bucket when it rains I'd be more inclined to stay in the lower 120's....but since I do NOT STAY THERE I actually do need to "work at" putting on some extra pounds during summer when I am feeling good enough to eat adult portions & can exercise. For SOME of us the weight dropping illness isn't a "what if" but a "What WILL happen" & for me it's every winter just to varying amounts (everyone else gets too fat from all the Holiday goodies & then there is me...I usually want nothing to do with any of it by that time of year....I need to move to Australia....I'd miss out on Thanksgiving but Christmas would ROCK). Me at 107lbs is NOT good & even my DOCTOR wants me to stay above 115 at all times.....muscle + fat does help cushion the bones in case of a fall. (We've got hard-wood floors.) Nails that split/peal & hair that splits & falls out....I kinda doubt that's considered to be "sexy" no matter how flat the tummy is.

1st off allow me to apologize for the high-jacking of this thread.....didn't mean to. OK I'll shut up now & go drink a milkshake or something. LOL

[Edinburgh Colin]

City Girl, on 09 November 2011 - 03:42 AM, said:

Tetracyclone, on 08 November 2011 - 01:46 AM, said:

City Girl,

Good to hear from you... ugh on the health problem. I rather doubt it is related strongly to SCI, but your MD will know if it us related to low walking activity.

Shite happens, and no, your strictness was not in vain- it probably gives you a great energy level.

I am not excited about low BMI. We need reserves in case of illness.

I like my BMI. My weight has never been an issue when I've been sick in the past. Moreover, my handle may be City Girl but I am also a Glamour Gal and although I have a SCI and some atrophy, I still like to sport bikinis and sexy clothes and I like a flat belly with sculpted abdominal muscles (I do 1000 crunches/wk). At my age, any weight gain tends to shuttle around my middle (unless it's muscle gain which is extremely slow) and I don't want a big, fat belly. This is me dressed up Burlesque last year. Nice flat belly. (My boobs are not really that big. I'm just wearing a padded, push-up for the costume.)

Oh City Cirl / Glamour Girl,
With my well known affliction - boobs! You really should not have posted that picture! I have ben really good for the last few days but I'm afraid that amazing picture may have sent me over the edge again!
Absolutely gorgeous!
Enough said,
EC

[A trophy guy]

wheeliebear75, on 09 November 2011 - 08:44 AM, said:

A trophy guy, on 09 November 2011 - 06:33 AM, said:

I just want to say, Kudos! to both you beautiful ladies, City Girl and Beautiful on the truly impressive feat of managing to stay lean and sexy in spite of all the challenges SCI can throw at you! In addition to the health benefits of low body fat levels, the psychological boost can really have some therapeutic effects on self esteem, body image, etc. I am not of the camp who believes one needs an extra bit of fat "just in case" one gets sick or otherwise needs the extra stored energy. We long since outgrew the usefulness, evolutionarily speaking, of "fattening up" for survival means.ETA: If I were to have freaked out every time I saw blood in or with my stool, I'd of been in the psych ward years ago. All the sitting, straining, digitally evacuating; hemmoroids are bound to form, internally and externally; and occasional bleeding is something that just comes with the territory. Like someone else pointed out, the color of the blood is important. Being bright red indicates that it's fresh and new, not old, deep blood coming up from somewhere.

I'm fine & dandy with a "healthy BMI" & IF things changed during winter to where I didn't have my head in a bucket when it rains I'd be more inclined to stay in the lower 120's....but since I do NOT STAY THERE I actually do need to "work at" putting on some extra pounds during summer when I am feeling good enough to eat adult portions & can exercise. For SOME of us the weight dropping illness isn't a "what if" but a "What WILL happen" & for me it's every winter just to varying amounts (everyone else gets too fat from all the Holiday goodies & then there is me...I usually want nothing to do with any of it by that time of year....I need to move to Australia....I'd miss out on Thanksgiving but Christmas would ROCK). Me at 107lbs is NOT good & even my DOCTOR wants me to stay above 115 at all times.....muscle + fat does help cushion the bones in case of a fall. (We've got hard-wood floors.) Nails that split/peal & hair that splits & falls out....I kinda doubt that's considered to be "sexy" no matter how flat the tummy is.

1st off allow me to apologize for the high-jacking of this thread.....didn't mean to. OK I'll shut up now & go drink a milkshake or something. LOL

I never meant to suggest that being underweight was ideal; for anyone. It sounds like you struggle to hold on to weight, so weight gain in your situation would be smart. Now how you go about gaining that weight is a different story. Putting on nothing but fat is not good, I don't care what you say.

[wheeliebear75]

Yes & no. It's true that adding nothing but fat is not exactly "healthy" & I do try to add muscle during the warmer 1/2 of the year. But during bouts where a person is unable to eat enough OR is having a lot of vomiting the body is naturally geared/made/designed through evolution to take fat 1st, then muscle, then your body will actually start to break itself down/feed on itself....this is when people's nails will start to crack/peal, hair starts to fall out at a faster rate causing "thinning hair", teeth will actually start to get loose in the gums, & even further "starvation"/malnutrition & the organs will slowly start to shut down. A "healthy BMI" is 18.5-24.9% body fat; over 25% is considered to be overweight but anything less than 18.5% is too thin. Yes I know body builders (I believe that's what you're into if I'm not mistaken" are into having like only 5-10% body fat....and if your goal is to show off the muscles to the point of showing muscle fibers than....that's "your thing" & more power to ya. I have a friend who is a marine....due to all the additional exercise they do they often have very little body fat but are 100% MUSCLE.....the corp has actually done studies which show the muscle doesn't insulate nearly as well against the cold as does fat....so the military of course then intentionally gets their recruits somewhat "used to" dealing with hypothermia. And again City Girl....my sincere apologies for this highjacking.

[A trophy guy]

wheeliebear75, on 10 November 2011 - 01:17 AM, said:

Yes & no. It's true that adding nothing but fat is not exactly "healthy" & I do try to add muscle during the warmer 1/2 of the year. But during bouts where a person is unable to eat enough OR is having a lot of vomiting the body is naturally geared/made/designed through evolution to take fat 1st, then muscle, then your body will actually start to break itself down/feed on itself....this is when people's nails will start to crack/peal, hair starts to fall out at a faster rate causing "thinning hair", teeth will actually start to get loose in the gums, & even further "starvation"/malnutrition & the organs will slowly start to shut down. A "healthy BMI" is 18.5-24.9% body fat; over 25% is considered to be overweight but anything less than 18.5% is too thin. Yes I know body builders (I believe that's what you're into if I'm not mistaken" are into having like only 5-10% body fat....and if your goal is to show off the muscles to the point of showing muscle fibers than....that's "your thing" & more power to ya. I have a friend who is a marine....due to all the additional exercise they do they often have very little body fat but are 100% MUSCLE.....the corp has actually done studies which show the muscle doesn't insulate nearly as well against the cold as does fat....so the military of course then intentionally gets their recruits somewhat "used to" dealing with hypothermia. And again City Girl....my sincere apologies for this highjacking.

I'm sorry but your information is simply incorrect. I could easily cite my reasons for saying this with corroboration from reputable sources but THAT would really be thread hijacking. For one thing, the body holds onto fat for dear life; it is the LAST thing that gets burned when you stop eating. Muscle is the first thing to go, that is why it is so hard to hold onto. And women do have a higher percentage of bodyfat than men, so a higher percentage is to be expected for a woman. But I digress...

Edited by A trophy guy, 10 November 2011 - 02:44 AM.

[A trophy guy]

Ideal bodyfat is also a widely-variant characteristic differing from person to person. Generally speaking, yes, women do have higher levels of body fat than men naturally. So a healthy level would be somewhere around what Wheeliebear has cited. But of course, what may be ideal for one women may be too much or too little for another.

[Kwag_Myers]

City Girl, on 09 November 2011 - 03:16 AM, said:

Hey Kwag Baby!
Nice to see you around still! I'm kind of hoping the problem will just go away and it is a result of being on two antibiotics back to back but it's not going away. I see my doc tomorrow and will discuss it then.
In terms of my caths. I don't reuse. I use a new one each time I void my bladder. I also wear gloves. I have excellent insurance coverage!
How's life with you?
~ CG ~

Life is good. I had a hip replacement this summer - wow, what a difference. Now I can stand for more than 30 seconds and riding in the car doesn't feel like riding in a clothes dryer. May even be able to help with the snow shoveling this year.

[City Girl]

Saw the doctor yesterday and she said it's probably haemorrhoids, although I'll have to go for a colonoscopy to confirm that diagnosis. Haemorrhoids suck but I do feel reassured that I don't have cancer or colitis. Oh the joys of SCI!!! Thank you everyone for your input!

[City Girl]

Beautiful, on 09 November 2011 - 04:01 AM, said:

You go girl! My BMI is only 16.1, but I wish I had more definition. Rods in your back make it hard to do crunches ;)

Hey Baby Girl! According to the World Health Organization, you should try to keep your BMI between 18.5-24.99. A BMI of 16.1 is a bit low. I am taking Basic Human Nutrition at UofT and I'm learning a lot. You should up your protein and fibre. Nuts are a great way to pack on some healthy protein & good fat (Omegas & Monounsaturated), as well as fibre for your digestive tract. I'm on a pistachio kick right now. I can get a big bag of unsalted for $9.99 and I try to eat 1/2 cup/day and it lasts me for two weeks. I've also started eating lentils. They are a great source of protein and fibre and and no fat. I have a fabulous recipe for Tuscan Lentil Salad I could email you. I also have rods and screws T10-L3 and I still do crunches...just partials. I put my legs up the wall and let them fall into splits then I do straight crunches and twists in sets of 100. I should do video to demo how easy they are. Msg me for more info as this post is wrapped up now.