This blog is sponsored by Wellspect HealthCare

Living with a neurogenic bowel disorder can be especially difficult when you’re young. There is often physical pain and other difficulties such as bloating, loss of appetite, and soiling many times a day. But it can also lead to emotional pain, embarrassment, and insecurity.

At a time when children and teenagers should be growing, developing, and discovering their identity and independence, a neurogenic bowel disorder can steal their youth and make them feel sad and isolated.

This has a major effect on parents and other family members too – who worry when seeing a loved one who may be struggling to cope.

Living with a neurogenic bowel disorder

Many young people and their families spend a lot of time trying to deal with these problems. There’s the time it takes to eat, use the toilet (or try to use the toilet), change diapers or wash clothes after leaks, and care for red and sore bottoms … all this has a huge impact on everyday life.

What’s more, this limits a child’s playtime and getting involved in social activities with friends.

Looking for answers

With bowel problems affecting the child, it’s understandable that parents do all they can to find the right treatment.

But many struggle without success, trying an endless line of different dietary and bowel medications such as laxatives or stool thickeners. And every failed attempt increases the feeling of hopelessness.

Take control and save time with TAI

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But there is hope for youngsters with neurogenic bowel disorders and their families. Transanal irrigation (TAI) is a technique for effectively emptying the bowel and can provide a very welcome solution that helps them better manage their bowel – and life itself.

TAI has been used for children since the 1980s. And now, with the development of the required equipment in the last 10 years, it has become part of routine bowel management for children with ongoing problems.

TAI helps a child regain control of when and where to go to the toilet. With that, the inconvenience of accidents eventually disappears, and both parents and children can start living life without constantly thinking about their bowel and toilet needs.

“With TAI to help gain control over the bowel situation, children have more time to do the things they want to do. With this comes increased confidence, and saving you as a parent or caregiver a lot of worry, effort and time.” 
– June Rogers, Pediatric Continence Specialist, Bladder and Bowel

How Does Bowel Irrigation Work?

 

 

 

 

A rectal catheter with a balloon, or a cone catheter (without a balloon) is inserted into the rectum. The balloon is inflated in the rectum and holds the catheter in place while the water is instilled.

This initiates the bowel movements (peristalsis), that moves the stool toward the rectum. When the water is instilled and the catheter is removed, the bowel can be emptied. The procedure is carried out on the toilet and you can do your bowel irrigation at home.

Performing this procedure regularly will empty the bowel effectively, and the bowel will remain empty until the next irrigation. This will allow you to choose the time and place when you empty your bowel.

What are the Benefits of Bowel Irrigation?

The purpose of bowel irrigation is to prevent bowel symptoms. When bowel irrigation has been compared to bowel care with medications, there are:

• Fewer complaints of constipation
• Less bowel leakage
• Improved symptom-related quality of life
• Reduced time spent on bowel management

With bowel irrigation, you regain control and the independence to live the life you prefer without being afraid of having a bowel accident.

In Brief, TAI:

• Promotes evacuation of a large part of the bowel
• Water is instilled into the bowel via a rectal catheter
• When the catheter is removed water and feces come out
• The bowel stays empty until the next irrigation, preventing soiling and also giving control over the time and place of evacuation
• Insertion of water creates mass movement which prevents constipation
• Once familiar, the irrigation routine can take 30, sometimes even as little as 10 minutes
• Depending on the child’s needs, TAI is performed daily, every other day, or twice a week
• Less time and energy spent on bowel management for children, parents, and other family members
• More predictable bowel-emptying routine for less risk of accidents and more confidence, even when the child is away from home e.g. at school or with friends
• Older children and teenagers can learn the procedure themselves, giving them more independence

Click here to learn more about transanal irrigation (TAI). For additional support, please contact the Wellspect clinical team by email at:

[email protected] or

Call 1-877-456-3742 and select option #4