[bensinjury]

i am new to all this, i have a 18 yr old son with what started out to be a complete sci...we are 3 months out from the accident date, and now have seen a new rehab doc who says the injury is a incomplete... the injury level is at the L2...we are still having issues trying to get the bowel under-control. He is taking fiber-lax 2 times a day, plus we are trying to bulk up his diet with high fiber foods...the issue is he will go for a week and have great Bowel movement and then NOTHING, we at times also use a supposotory, but he prefers to go on his own, any suggestions on getting this under control...he has no accidents...but at times i'm not sure if he's constipated.HELP

[Kwaka]

When i was in hospital, i went 17 days without a bowel movement (or doo doo as my partner calls it) and received a round of applause from the nurses when it did eventually let go.
After 16 months, i seem to go in phases - sometimes everyday and then miss for 3 or 4 days then back to everyday but i dont think this is too different from my schedule before my injury.
i have stopped using the various laxatives i was prescribed as i felt i wasnt controlling things myself but i think the medics would have a go at me if they knew this.
You said he prefers to go on his own so this implies he has some control and, if so, what does he feel about it?

N.B. The record for holding on to a 'doo doo' at Leicester Royal is 24 days - can anybody beat that?

[bensinjury]

Kwaka, on Jan 15 2007, 11:24 PM, said:

When i was in hospital, i went 17 days without a bowel movement (or doo doo as my partner calls it) and received a round of applause from the nurses when it did eventually let go.
After 16 months, i seem to go in phases - sometimes everyday and then miss for 3 or 4 days then back to everyday but i dont think this is too different from my schedule before my injury.
i have stopped using the various laxatives i was prescribed as i felt i wasnt controlling things myself but i think the medics would have a go at me if they knew this.
You said he prefers to go on his own so this implies he has some control and, if so, what does he feel about it?

N.B. The record for holding on to a 'doo doo' at Leicester Royal is 24 days - can anybody beat that?

he as well doesn't like to take laxatives, ect. he can feel that he has to go...BUT needs to get into a bathroom ASAP. Says he feels when "it" is right there...ready to come out. Another qestion i have is..he doesn't care for a whole lot of fresh fruits, But will drink fresh fruit smoothies. Does anyone know if this might be constipating him? basically i am mixing fruits high in fiber with skim milk and a little bit of ice cream or sherbert snd blending this. Again could this be constipating him?

[Kwaka]

Your son and i seem to be similar in that when i had to go, i really had to go there and then! I had a few accidents as well.
I can only say what felt right for me and laxatives did not. i.e. they made my stool too soft/loose and effectively gave me diarrhoea.
After i stopped using them i tended to become constipated but could exercise enough control to go when i wanted/needed to and the accidents stopped.
I am in no way saying this is right for your son, it just seemed right for me.

[percepied]

bensinjury, on Jan 15 2007, 07:30 PM, said:

i am new to all this, i have a 18 yr old son with what started out to be a complete sci...we are 3 months out from the accident date, and now have seen a new rehab doc who says the injury is a incomplete... the injury level is at the L2...we are still having issues trying to get the bowel under-control. He is taking fiber-lax 2 times a day, plus we are trying to bulk up his diet with high fiber foods...the issue is he will go for a week and have great Bowel movement and then NOTHING, we at times also use a supposotory, but he prefers to go on his own, any suggestions on getting this under control...he has no accidents...but at times i'm not sure if he's constipated.HELP

I had similiar troubles to your son's when I left the rehab hospital after 3 months. I was always constipated and took all sorts of nasty laxatives to prevent impaction. The result was constant diarrhea and accidents. Then a rehab nurse stepped in, pushed the physiatrist away and used her 30 years of SCI experience to get my bowels under control. Admittedly the start was rough (a gallon of GoLightly) but within another three months, I had regular movements again and very few accidents (usually only when I broke the rules.)

My first comment is your son's injury is relatively new and he is still young, so many changes in his overall condition will likely occur. This includes his bowel and bladder control. My second comment is give any modifications to your son's med schedule AND diet time to take effect. Sudden wholesale changes will only confuse the GI tract and tell you nothing about their impact. Finally exercise patience and continue to look for helpful information. Things WILL get better!

[Tarkus]

I'm two years post and still have major issues.

You mentioned constipation and "smoothies". First I would look at all Meds, opiates are constipators.

Another thing to think about is the amount of fiber. The first course of action with me was to "bulk up", as it turns out that was the worst choice in my case. Conflicting nerve reaction made the anal sphincter thing it was relaxing when in fact it was tighting.

As others say your son is young and change happens for alot longer then most doctors say.

Finally, is he in pain ? For me the inability to have a movement or even pass gas was beyond painful.

If hes not in pain and not having impaction problems then stay the course.

It is strange how doctors, at the point it hits the fan, always talk about walking and feeling but wait to discuss the "internal" part of SCI.

All the best.

Be Big,
Alan

[bensinjury]

he is not on any type of med..only an over the counter fiber lax...(walgreens brand) but he also takes vitamins. i now wonder that maybe he is getting too much fiber.?

Tarkus, on Jan 16 2007, 05:46 PM, said:

I'm two years post and still have major issues.

You mentioned constipation and "smoothies". First I would look at all Meds, opiates are constipators.

Another thing to think about is the amount of fiber. The first course of action with me was to "bulk up", as it turns out that was the worst choice in my case. Conflicting nerve reaction made the anal sphincter thing it was relaxing when in fact it was tighting.

As others say your son is young and change happens for alot longer then most doctors say.

Finally, is he in pain ? For me the inability to have a movement or even pass gas was beyond painful.

If hes not in pain and not having impaction problems then stay the course.

It is strange how doctors, at the point it hits the fan, always talk about walking and feeling but wait to discuss the "internal" part of SCI.

All the best.

Be Big,
Alan

[elisabeth]

I've been able to regulate my bowel movements pretty well. I take 6 Senokot tablets at 5 p.m. every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. My bowels are then ready to go - albeit with the help of a suppository - at 8 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. If he still wants to take care of his own bowels being able to regulate the time of opening them would be quite helpful I would think. I also take two coloxyl every time I eat just to soften things up, and I make sure to drink a reasonable amount of water per day because if I don't I get blocked up.

[wheelierach]

bensinjury, on Jan 16 2007, 02:30 AM, said:

i am new to all this, i have a 18 yr old son with what started out to be a complete sci...we are 3 months out from the accident date, and now have seen a new rehab doc who says the injury is a incomplete... the injury level is at the L2...we are still having issues trying to get the bowel under-control. He is taking fiber-lax 2 times a day, plus we are trying to bulk up his diet with high fiber foods...the issue is he will go for a week and have great Bowel movement and then NOTHING, we at times also use a supposotory, but he prefers to go on his own, any suggestions on getting this under control...he has no accidents...but at times i'm not sure if he's constipated.HELP

Hello,

I am a much higher injury to your son, but I think all of us have the common issue of bowel problems to contend with.

I have started having 'innocent' smoothies every day for breakfast, just 250 ml a day to boost my fibre intake. Look them up on the net, buying the book and doing it yourself works out cheaper. Also, I dislike eating fruit and it seems these are much easier to drink. One 250 ml provides you with 2 of your 5 a day. I eat veg for the other 3. Also water is great, I try to drink 6 pints a day at least, or water with juice in just to spice things up a bit. Other things which help me are licorice, pro biotic yogurt. I take 2 senakot about 12 hrs before going to the toilet and then use supps. I have also been going for colonic irrigation about once a month for the last year, just to clear out the backlog that everyone with SCI seems to have to one extent or another.

Your son will be different to me as he is an individual; he's a much lower lesion; he's not been injured very long and will still be 'finding his feet' in all ways.

Anyway, hope some of this helps.

Good luck,

Rachel

P.S. Jacket potatoes, baked beans etc. will also be a great help.