How can a c7/c8 complete do his/her own bowel program?

[mr_coffee]

Hello everyone. This question isn't for me but a friend. He/she wants to be indepedant but is having problems with the bowel program. We'll name him Tim.

Tim is a complete c7/c8, with alittle thumb movement, but no feeling/movment from the chest down. He can extend his wrist but not flex. HE also has some tricept but not full movment.

Are there any c7/c8 quads in his sitiation that can do his/her own bowel program? Also are you on any pills? He's currently on bascaydl, senacot and colace w/ a fleet enema somtimes and is having several accidents.

ANy info would be great! thanks

[JGNI]

I am independant using this:

http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm...22,11860,12603

Zero finger movement, just extensors and no flexors in my case.

Maybe the use of laxatives is causing him the frequent accidents. It's always good to taper it at minimum necessary. I don't use any.

[Aly]

I use what JGNI uses with a magic bullet.

[mr_coffee]

Thanks for the info guys i will link this thread!

[Bookjunky]

Yeah, I have a set of those tools as well.

[JoeyMearig]

magic bullet. in my experience they work much better. i never have to do the stim thing with them.

[FreeBird]

I havn't in 15 years. Your goal is to retrain bowels. I don't use bullets or laxatives because I don't have two. Your diet and exercise is key:

Morning:

* shredded wheat + a fruit
* plenty of liquids
* exercise daily
* glass of prune juice 12oz. 1hr. before bm

I eat healthly and don't drink alcohol or diuretics. I'll drink a soda once in a while. I'm able to transfer and position myself to go naturally. 5 min to 15 minutes. I do have episodes of constipation but seldom. Laxatives and softeners make you dependent. I understand most have no choice. We're all different. Good Luck.

[felieh]

Cory,
How often does he go and how is the quantity of his movement each time? The reason I ask is because many years ago, when I was a newbie SCI, I was told that I should go once every 2-3 days. I did what they told me but simply would not have much output. I would take fiber pills, magic bullets, finger up my ass but I'd get nothing but the absolute minimal result. My metabolism was always amazing pre-SCI and it has continued to this date. So, I got rid of all the pills and bullets and started spacing out farther the number of days in between each bowel movement. In short time, I developed a pattern of going every 6-7 days and when I waited that long, I had a complete and terrific movement. So, I trained my body to a new schedule.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe "Tim" should get off all this stuff and try spacing out his intervals. The other thing I learned is making sure that he drinks enough fluids and eats a couple of servings of fruits every day. Otherwise, his stool gets hard and moves harder through his bowels (another thing I learned).

BTW, I have not fingered myself in years. I just sit on the commode chair and let gravity do the trick. I also simulate pushing down to help out even though supposedly I don't have control over the muscles down there but it helps.

Though I'm a C-6 complete, I have some characteristics of a C-7/8 including those of Tim's.

[Rustyjames]

i don't take anything except if i haven't gone for 5 days or so I'll do half a magic bullet. I'll only do a bullet at night because i usually get "afterburn" a few hours later. i only eat once a day, dinner around 5-6pm. usually, after i eat, an hour or so later I'll have a BM (i have coffee after dinner and i think that stimulates my bowels) but not every day, sometimes 3-4 days before a BM. sometimes I'll have to go in the morning, but if i don't go by 10-11 I'm usually good till evening. I'm fortunate i can feel one coming on (C7-8Inc.) and can go on my own. Also, i have to watch what i eat as certain foods work like a magic bullet on me and i can't hold it in time to get my britches down!

[JMILLER11]

When you use that holder/stimulator, do you come from the side of your body and underneath or do you go between your legs and then underneath? Just trying to picture the mechanics.