The Answers

Dude, if you're paralyzed, how do you poop?

While in bed, I insert a rectal suppository that makes me poop after 10 to 15 minutes. Then I would fight my stiff legs into my chair and roll into the bathroom. 1st I would pee and then rush onto the toilet and pull down my underwear hopefully before the poop falls out everywhere else but in the toilet. Once on the toilet, I put on a latex glove and lube up my 1st two fingers. Then I go ass spelunking and dig out the poop. Once my rectum is empty, I do a digital stimulation (Do three circles rubbing the inside wall of my rectum with my fingers. This stimulates the muscles to bring down any more poop.) I then wait for 10 minutes for any poop to come down and repeat. This whole process takes up to an hour.  I have wireless headphones that I use to listen to my favorite MP3s to help pass the time.  You can see in the picture the cool bars surrounding the toilet my Dad and brother Rick made for me.  This rack makes my life way easier.  Thanks guys!

I thought I should update this page since my bowel program has changed.  I have been emptying myself out only twice a week.  Monday and Thursday is working pretty good.  This way, I can do or go wherever I want.  I haven't had any mess do deal with in months.  I really have my shit in order these days.

Jake, if you're paralyzed, how do you pee?

Well, I can't feel when or if I need to pee or not, so it's important for me to have a schedule and follow it.  If I drink more, I need to pee more or sooner.  Although I can't feel if my bladder is full or not, I do get stomach spasms when my bladder is full.  It's a good failsafe, but I don't like to rely on that as notification to pee because my bladder can become extended and that's not good.  So, when it's time to pee, I lube up a catheter and insert it into my penis until pee comes out.  I have a container that I pee into.  I then dump the container into the toilet.

To update this situation, I have been able to feel when I need to pee.  My abdomen muscles will flex for a fraction of a second every couple minutes when my bladder gets around 600 cc in it.  I don't know why this happens, but it's a pretty reliable tell.  I still empty my bladder before and after the night though.

When I'm drinking, my abs don't give me the signal for some reason.  I guess it's because I'm more relaxed with the alcohol.  It's been a pain in the ass to have to go to the bathroom after every two drinks when I'm out.  I'm going to ask my doctor about a leg bag for when I go out.  I think it'd be way easier to deal with.   I'll update this later if I end up doing that.

To update this yet again, I didn't go with the leg bag idea.  I did however realize that if I drink mixed drinks rather than beer, my bladder doesn't fill up so ridiculously fast.  It seemed as though I'd drink one beer and have to pee 18oz, so the whole mixed drinks thing works great for me.  Don't get the wrong idea.  I don't really drink very often at all.  I just want to share the knowledge.

Okay, this is how I shower.

I've had some inquiries about how I shower.  I'd really like to have a roll in shower eventually, but for now I just use a bench that sits partially inside the tub and partially outside the tub.  Other than my recliner chair, it is the easiest transfer I have to make.  Gettin out on the other hand, can be scary at times with a wet but and wet slippery seat. 

I pull the shower curtain over the bench seat and tuck it under my butt.  It's really pretty easy to shower like this.  I'm able to clean my whole body just fine.

To update this whole situation...

As of August, 06 I have been able to insert my laxative suppository, unplug my brown flower, shower, brush my teeth and get dressed all in less than an hour.  Yeah sure...  I could do all that in 20 minutes before I broke, but it took me a good 4 hours when I was fresh out of rehab, so this is some great news.

You can still have sex, can't you?

Yes, I can still have sex, but I don't feel a thing below my injury level.  I can stimulate my penis in order to get an erection, but I can not under any circumstances ejaculate or have an orgasm.  I suppose it's better to find someone that likes to rodeo, because I can't ram it home like before.