Hi guys, new member here. I'm a little over a year now with a T10 injury. I've been taking the Magic Bullet bisacodyl suppository daily, I take Dulcolax in the AM and PM, and senna each night. I did some googling and I read on an SCI site that stimulant laxatives should be avoided for daily long term use because it causes dependence. These days I have some bowel sensation sometimes, and with that I don't want to work against any chance to eventually go without needing to suppository/digital stim. Does anyone have any insight on this? I trust my Doc over any website but now I'm curious. Any idea how I should move forward?
Yours is a heavy load of laxatives, but my own load is not light. Dependence? Well that would depend on whether you have much bowel function to lose to dependence. I tried mightily for 8 months to use only digital stim but it was a nightmare of frustration. Many SCId people manager with only digital stim, or even go naturally, but there is no point beating ourselves up if we are not one of those. The first thing anyone should do is work with their diet lots of fresh fruits and veggies, lots of water. If stool is too hard try eliminating dairy and sweets. When I do those things my own need is limited to magic bullet. When I do not, I need other laxatives as well.
Experiment as much as you can without disrupting your whole life.
In general though, I think it incorrect to say SCIs "become dependent" on laxatives and stimulants because we use them. We became dependent because of the SCI!
Great question. That's a question I've asked in the past. I also use laxatives every night and a suppository every morning and unfortunately I can't really make any changes to that because I need it to do a bowel routine. It is bad in the long run but what can we do? Perhaps try other things like peristeen?
When I had good medical insurance, I met with a nutritionist, allergist and gastroenterologist to get a handle on my bowel routine. They worked together to figure out the best diet for me so that I could avoid laxatives and other products. Like tetra, says, it is trial and error. Over the years I have had to tweak my diet, especially when I introduce new food and drinks. Good luck.
Inspiration comes and goes but when it arrives, oh how I cherish it.
When I had good medical insurance, I met with a nutritionist, allergist and gastroenterologist to get a handle on my bowel routine. They worked together to figure out the best diet for me so that I could avoid laxatives and other products. Like tetra, says, it is trial and error. Over the years I have had to tweak my diet, especially when I introduce new food and drinks. Good luck.
If I may, how did you know when your diet was enough to stop taking laxatives?
klipner, I weaned myself off of the laxatives based on the look of the movements. So for me starch/carbs and meats are a binding agent whereas dairy and veggies/fruits bring water to the equation. So I figured out how many servings of each I would have throughout the day so that I didn't back myself up too much. Alcohol and caffeine will also affect the progression within your system and each person is affected differently.
When the Paleo diet came on the scene, I figured out that the diet worked for me, especially because I was doing a lot sports and needed to build muscle.
It is just trial and error and knowing how your body reacts to what you put into it.
klipner, I weaned myself off of the laxatives based on the look of the movements. So for me starch/carbs and meats are a binding agent whereas dairy and veggies/fruits bring water to the equation. So I figured out how many servings of each I would have throughout the day so that I didn't back myself up too much. Alcohol and caffeine will also affect the progression within your system and each person is affected differently.
When the Paleo diet came on the scene, I figured out that the diet worked for me, especially because I was doing a lot sports and needed to build muscle.
It is just trial and error and knowing how your body reacts to what you put into it.
Wow, that's the first I've heard of "meat glue". Very interesting read. Everyday I learn about all the crap we consume and just wonder how any of it is approved by the FDA.
My bowels and bladder have become much more sluggish. Much of the time I feel a fairly overwhelming urge to poo and pee but nothing happens. Peeing is becoming increasingly hesitant and is often little more than a succession of dribbles. Leg spasms don't help. I'm not constipated and invariably pass soft stools which become sloppier on repeat opening of bowels. Typically I don't pass anything for 2-3 days. My rehab doctor has prescribed Bisacodyl suppositories which I'm supposed to take two on alternate days. I've been taking two senna tablets nightly for about three years. The suppositories have been hit and miss. I struggle to retain them for longer than 10-15 minutes and then poo them out only partially dissolved. Any thoughts?
My bowels and bladder have become much more sluggish. Much of the time I feel a fairly overwhelming urge to poo and pee but nothing happens. Peeing is becoming increasingly hesitant and is often little more than a succession of dribbles. Leg spasms don't help. I'm not constipated and invariably pass soft stools which become sloppier on repeat opening of bowels. Typically I don't pass anything for 2-3 days. My rehab doctor has prescribed Bisacodyl suppositories which I'm supposed to take two on alternate days. I've been taking two senna tablets nightly for about three years. The suppositories have been hit and miss. I struggle to retain them for longer than 10-15 minutes and then poo them out only partially dissolved. Any thoughts?
It sounds like the stool is a bit too soft. Ease up on the senna (gradually) to see if the suppositories then stay in long enough to dissolve and do their work. Leg spasms my be set off by your inability to empty the bladder fully. Have you suffered UTIs? Often people who retain urine ( do not empty fully) suffer infection which also can cause more spasms. Has anyone ever done a urodynamics test to check how much you are retaining? IF this is a problem, or becomes one, IC (intermittent catheterization) is the best option for minimizing infection.
While I hate the constant low grade UTI that goes with intervention, the best hours of my day are those immediately following catheterization. Sooo relaxing.
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