For me, bowel management has always been part of the game, says 22-year-old Swiss handcyle road race champion, Fabian Recher. Born with Spina Bifida, a malformation of the spine, he has used a wheelchair from an early age and he loves to swap it for a mountain bike, cross-country skis, or his favourite piece of equipment, the handcycle.
Topics: Bowel management, Transanal irrigation (TAI), Spina Bifida, Neurogenic bowel, quality of life, parasports
Andre, 35 years old, lives an active life; he’s been an X Games Snowboard competitor, runs his own business and provides IT support for an organization supporting people with disabilities. After years of trying unsatisfactory therapies for his bowel issues, he’s found a solution that he’s happy with. In this article he tells us about it.
Topics: Transanal irrigation (TAI), Neurogenic bowel, Bowel dysfunction
"I would feel anxiety in my stomach beforehand, and then I knew it was urgent. In the days leading up to these cramping symptoms, I could go to the bathroom up to ten times a day, yet all that came out were pea-sized amounts. I felt like I constantly needed to go to the bathroom."
The image is an illustration.
Topics: Neurogenic bowel, Bowel dysfunction, Multiple Sklerose (MS), quality of life
I have MS, which has mainly affected my autonomic system, resulting in a neurogenic bowel. Unfortunately, many people today (whether they have MS or not) suffer with bowel problems. Constipation is often under-recognized as a problem, yet can really affect quality of life, and make for a miserable existence; frustrated, bloated, uncomfortable, embarrassed and ….really, really time consuming!
Topics: Bowel management, Transanal irrigation (TAI), Neurogenic bowel, Bowel dysfunction, constipation, Multiple Sklerose (MS)
"Completely changed my life" is how Ben* describes Transanal Irrigation (TAI). Having become paraplegic at age seven following the onset of the rare condition Ependymoma. Ben has lived alongside the terror of an incontinence accident ever since and wouldn't even have been able to work had he not been introduced to Transanal Irrigation. Now he can take part in all the regular pursuits of a young adult, but it hasn't been easy getting there.
Topics: Transanal irrigation (TAI), Neurogenic bowel, Bowel dysfunction, Fecal incontinence, cancer
