[Distelrath]

I've been sitting in the hospital for the past fivve weeks for no other reason than to get a grant to go to rehab. I have no insurance due to my being a diabetic since I was 3 weeks old. Today I was told that I was somehow denied for the rehab scholarship, so my mother is going to take care of me until SSI kicks in. long story... I've actually been in the hospital for 66 days, five weeks of which the hospital was kind enough to hold me for rehab (only way that'd be possible is if I came directly from this hospital).

I can manage living without the rehab other than the bowel regimen part. I dont know how to control it. How do you guys go out in public without crapping your pants? What steps can Be taken to get a bowel routine? What routines do you follow? Please help me I am desperate.

ANY input is appreciated.

Thank you kindly,Ryan Distelrath (c6/c7 quad since June 25th of this year)

[buffie]

You need to make sure you stick to a scheduled bowel program every day sounds like and do it at the same time. You might want to change your bowel program to the mornings if you are doing them at night. That may decrease the chances of an accident in public.

[Distelrath]

buffie, on Aug 31 2007, 12:45 PM, said:

You need to make sure you stick to a scheduled bowel program every day sounds like and do it at the same time. You might want to change your bowel program to the mornings if you are doing them at night. That may decrease the chances of an accident in public.

Thanks for the reply

The problem is... I do not have a bowel management program. I am curious as to how you guys manage yours.

Thanks,
Ryan

[In The Wind]

Ryan, are you in the states? Have you applied at Shepherd? Or Craig? You cannot live as a quad without training..

Anyway, yes you need to start a daily bowel routine. That routine will depend on what reflexes you still have, but to start with I would suggest a suppository. I use enemeez, it's a liquid and works very well for me.

How about your bladder? These are very important issues for Spinal injuries and a person has to be completely re-educated as to how to care for themselves, you will have to go to rehab..

[alyssa]

Ugh, it makes me sick to think that you, someone who needs rehab, was denied. Being a higher quad myself I know how important rehab is. If you have no program what have you been doing while in hospital?

Its been mentioned a million times here but look into the magic bullet. Read up on digital stim and manual evacuation. And most of all, be patient. A good bowel program takes time to perfect.

[buffie]

Digital stimulation is what I use. My mom helps me with this. She has to manually evacuate my bowels for me. I wanted to use the magic bullet but at Sheperd's they felt that digital stimulation was best for me. One of the drawbacks of the magic bullet is waiting around for it to work. It doesn't always happen when you want it to. I started out with my bowel program every night, then every other night. Now, it's every 2 nights, but I can do this only because pre-injury, I only had bm's once or twice a week.

[Distelrath]

In The Wind, on Aug 31 2007, 01:21 PM, said:

Ryan, are you in the states? Have you applied at Shepherd? Or Craig? You cannot live as a quad without training..

Anyway, yes you need to start a daily bowel routine. That routine will depend on what reflexes you still have, but to start with I would suggest a suppository. I use enemeez, it's a liquid and works very well for me.

How about your bladder? These are very important issues for Spinal injuries and a person has to be completely re-educated as to how to care for themselves, you will have to go to rehab..

I do live in the states. I've never heard of Shepherd or Craig, but I'll definetly look into it. I have the reflex to actually defecate with the help of stool softeners, but a catheter is required for urination. I suppose emptying the bowels in the morning is a good idea, however when I take the suppositories I tend to defecate all day long. Perhaps enema is the way to go. I understand that rehab is a must and I do plan on going, but insurance seems to be a must at the moment. I'm seriously between a rock and a hard place. Aaargh!

[In The Wind]

buffie try enemeez, it'a liquid. Works much better, faster than the magic bullet..Sheperd wants you to digi stim means that your BP is intact. Hemorid city, let me tell ya! Try the liquid..

And buffie, You're a knockout..Ever date a white guy?


Ryan, Shepherd Center or Craig. One of these is where you need to be...right away. Insurance not necessarily needed....

This post has been edited by In The Wind: 31 August 2007 - 07:07 PM

[Somebody]

I agree,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Contact Texas Rehabilitation Commission in your area.
I didn't have any insurance and
they paid for 6 wks for me in a nice facility.
Also schooling for a trade and much more.

It's on the web.
I don't know where you live.
Call your local representative.

Also learn about autonomic dysreflexia asap.
A life threatening condition.



http://spinalcord.org/news.php?dep=17&...4&list=1178

[buffie]

Thanks In the wind,

No I haven't dated a white guy, probably because only old guys or really young ones were the only ones to try. I have always looked much younger than my actual age.

[Kev-O]

Distelrath, on Aug 31 2007, 06:11 PM, said:

buffie, on Aug 31 2007, 12:45 PM, said:

You need to make sure you stick to a scheduled bowel program every day sounds like and do it at the same time. You might want to change your bowel program to the mornings if you are doing them at night. That may decrease the chances of an accident in public.

Thanks for the reply

The problem is... I do not have a bowel management program. I am curious as to how you guys manage yours.

Thanks,
Ryan

Dang dude thats bull crap that they will not let you into rehab. Try to check out Shepherd Center, I went there an a guy i had to split a room with didnt have insurance an they helped him. good luck man an keep us posted

This post has been edited by Kev-O: 31 August 2007 - 08:02 PM

[edlee]

Use the search feature, here on this site, to get some pretty graphic examples of what to do. This is an amazing site with some really amazing people who are always willing to help.
ed

[hockeydahc]

whatever you do to get the poo out is your bowel program. if you can empty without outside intereference, fantastic! otherwise supp. or enema, or dig stim to get it out. repeat daily or every other. then tweak to perfection by chaging ever so slightly the variables until you feel confident. it takes time to perfect.
it seems this is only minor to the big picture which seems to be you need some of the info only from rehabilitation. I wouldn't know so much.

[JeanyuS]

the way i go through every day is on a program, mine is in the morn. usualy form 10-12 is my wndow. . .i get it out for the day and enjoy my evening. . .i dont know about doing it out n public because i have a catheter but usually the poop part is in the morning for me so i can do what i want for the rest of my day