Greg [and all,] If you're sitting on your commode chair for two hours your sweating my have something to do with pressure--those seats aren't padded very well.
It seems we all have our own systems for bowel programs, but sometimes things change. I'll describe how I do mine, in case it might be of help to others. As a c5-6 quad I am able to tell when I need to have a bowel movement because of a certain chill I get, plus some sweating that accompanies that (mild A.D. symptoms.) Generally I need to 'go' every other day, but it depends on how much, and what, I've had to eat or drink. Once I feel the need to use the toilet I inform my caregiver and he transfers me to my shower/commode chair, pulls my pants down, rolls me over the toilet and I do my business. Generally this takes less than 15 minutes and requires no suppository or digital stimulation. I do, however, use a stimulus that works well for me: Years ago I figured out that when in the shower if I sprayed a blast of hot water underneath me [onto my rectum] it would stimulate my bowels every time. The water has to be hot, but not hot enough to scald or burn, obviously. Anyhow, the hot water sprayed underneath, briefly, causes irritation and promotes the parastalsis to begin. My shower is right next to my toilet, so when I'm sitting on my commode chair over the toilet I can still use the [hand-held] showerhead to spray underneath me and get things started. This is also a good way to clean myself underneath, after the BM. Yes, the water does sometimes get all over the bathroom floor, but that's an easy cleanup with a towel. As such, I have found that a set bowel time for me every other day does not work. Because I let my body tell me when it's time my BMs are fairly natural, quick and easy. However, there are drawbacks to this system as well. First, it requires access to your caregiver at short notice [my caregiver lives with me, so it works out.] And, second, it's more difficult to schedule around. [Another thing that has always been a laxative/stimulant for me is coffee. A cup of coffee about 20 minutes before wanting to do a bowel program starts this moving for me.] I hope this info helps someone. Don. ________________________________ From: Danny Hearn <ddh...@sbcglobal.net> To: wheelch...@aol.com; g...@eskimo.com; quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Tue, January 11, 2011 11:54:43 AM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Unidentified subject! Greg--how often do you have bowel routine?? in my early stages as a quad, myself and some others had those problems when they had us trying every day or every other day------the nurses in st. louis told us that many quads have better resullts going every 3 days or so--the doctors here agreed,.......so we started doing bowel routine twice a week--worked out great for us !!! been on this schedule over 13 years now-- spinal docs told us that going every 3 days or so will not cause any problems ( some think that a person must go every day ) but this is not true,,, a quads body function slows down for many people---some may need to go more often but many do not. I'm not sure if this is related to your problem but just a suggestion..... good luck----- Danny H. here in snow covered st. louis, missouri area. ________________________________ From: "wheelch...@aol.com" <wheelch...@aol.com> To: g...@eskimo.com; quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Mon, January 10, 2011 6:55:46 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Unidentified subject! It is all about diet and if you keep changing your diet, you might continue to experience issues. Have you considered performing a good clean, using Easy Go to clean out the upper bowel. This way you can begin to train your bowel to go each day or night at the same time... usually after a meal. Make sure that your Primary Doctor is aware of your issue as something like this is so important and a lazy bowel could happen. Best Wishes In a message dated 1/10/2011 6:51:29 P.M. Central Standard Time, g...@eskimo.com writes: I'm having such problems with my “bowel routine” > It use to take 45 minutes using the Enemeez, but they started to not work >as >well. Now I'm using the Magic Bullets, but they too are now not working as >well. >Not only is it taking 2 plus hours, I'm sweating buckets. Not to be too >graphic, >but I start to go ok then things slow down. I can't do this myself, but my >helper says she can feel stuff there, it just will not drop down. Then after >numerous tries it might come down or it might go back up. I've tried using a >second one and it works sometimes. The biggest problem is… hours after I get >in >my chair it sometimes then comes down and out. I've tried changing my diet, >taking different softener type things. It's not that it gets too firm it just >is >slow. > Anyone have this issue that found something that can help things move along? > Thanks
