3 replies to this topic

[pjcstoke]

Do you use peristeen irrigation system - if so,how do you get on with it

It doesn't seem to do everything it's claimed to or maybe that's just me !!

[justbeingme]

hey, ive used it sinse i left hospital and i did it every day and it seemed to work ok then i went every other day and no problems, but lately its been acting up and i think it down to being constipated i dont think it works well if your constipated, but i think your right it never worked like they made it look like it should, maybe get some more fibre in your diet and keep at it see how that goes, good luck

[edlee]

A number of things aren't in the booklet. Like the time involved,,,I take considerably longer to be sure I'm finished,,,, been wrong a number of times. Like the amount of water to use,,, cause that varies with your health, diet,, and time of day??

On the plus side. I eat what I want,, Take no softeners or laxitives,, and only go every fourth day. I couldn't go back to the old way,,, I was never absolutely sure,,, or even reasonably sure, to be honest.
ed

[Scorpio81]

I've been using it for about 4 months, had loads of problems to begin with, especially with balloons bursting (but not had that at all since they redesigned the catheters). It's still not perfect - at the moment I can only get about 200ml in before the inflated balloon and all the water leaks out, which means I have to repeat the process 3 times (it says only do it twice maximum, but I don't really have a choice). My stools are pretty hard though - tried all sorts of laxatives to little or no effect, so maybe that has something to do with it. I do find the whole thing quite faffy, which means I spend longer in the (really tiny) bathroom than i'd prefer, but hey ho, it's better than nothing.

Just noticed that you're in Cambridge, which means you're pretty close to Coloplast's HQ in Peterborough. I'm in Norwich so not a million miles away, but anyway, when I was having real difficulties, I had a bowel care advisor (who used to be a specialist colorectal nurse) called Yvette come out to see me at home. She was actually really good, and taught me a few hints and tips that hadn't occurred to me before. I was first introduced to the system by a hospital colorectal physiologist, but the 'lesson' I received was really rubbish - she clearly didn't know much about it herself and I wasn't even allowed to try it out while I was there, which is just stupid! So it was no wonder I didn't really know how to get the best out of it.
So, if you feel like you could benefit from talking to someone who knows Peristeen inside out (she actually uses it herself, which I think makes a big difference), ring Coloplast and ask if they can send her out to you.

Hope this helps