Having help changing

[Patrick]

Captain, the rum is always gone because I drank it.

[msshendo]

LOL Patrick! Same goes for my coffee. I always seem to be picking up an empty cup not realizing that I drank it all and wondering where it all went.

[johnstone]

Kdlstar,

Yes, I know about nerve blocks, the VA has been doing some kind of spinal procedure on my back 3 times per year for the last 5 yrs. The doc calls it something else and has done 2 different types of spinal procedure since I have shoot pains that starts with the nerves in my left SI Joint (deep just left of the spine), and the pain shoots down my left leg to about the knee. The injection I receive is not a "pain" spinal block where I'm numb after the procedure, buy I am injected with some type of steroid(s) which is the reason why I can only receive these injections every 4 months. The problem that I've been having is the injection DOES help with the pain for my left SI Joint, buy the steroid(s) are only lasting about 4 weeks at best.

I will be going for my annual check-up/evaluation at the "Regional" Spinal Cord (SCI) Center starting Oct 1st., so one of the things on the list for them to evaluate is if I should continue with the spinal procedure or not since they are not very effective. The doc's at the Regional SCI Center pretty much determine course of hearth care I will take for the next year, and the local doc's like to follow their suggested health care plan when possible. The doc's at the Regional SCI Center may come up with something entirely different one they check me out,...that's why I am a hospital inpatient for 7 - 10 days so they have plenty of time to do all the tests, and evals so they can determine the best course of action to take for my health care for the next 12 months. Like I said before,....they really do check me out from head to toe, and everything in between to include urology (that's the in between part).

The one thing that I found to have the best results are the Botox injections that I get for muscle spasms. I use to have severe muscle spams in my back that cause me a LOT of pain, but not since I started the Botox injections. The Botox does something that controls the muscles where it is injected and these injections really do last close to 3 months before wearing off when I need to have new injections,...every 3 months with this med.

I too, have heard a lot of stories, but you have to consider the source (the person making the complaint) sometimes, and other times there really was a some kind of problem within the VA, but most of all of that has been cleaned up now thanks to a few good senators. I will say one thing, any Vet assigned to their local Spinal Cord Injury clinic HAD good care health care. Just by design, the VA does a number of things differently for any Vet with a "traumatic" spinal cord injury, and/or any type of diseases to the spine. We are a much smaller group, and due to the nature of our injury to the spinal, often we get appointments in the day if necessary, or a week if needed. Routine follow-up doc (PCP) visits are always as needed, or 2 - 3 months. I see SEVERAL different doc's that specialize in different things, and I don't have any problems getting in to see doc's because the doc's are too busy. However, I HAVE witnessed several rude Vet's that wanted to be seen yesterday because they (the Vet) say they are too busy to come back in two, or three months for a follow-up. I have witnessed some VERY strange things since I've been receiving care from the VA.

I would go so far to say that any Vet assigned to their local Spinal Cord Injury clinic probably does NOT have any problems seeing VA doc's, etc

Hope all this helps.

[Patrick]

Although I am not epileptic, as nicbar is, I do have a bi-lateral (both inner ears) Meniere's disease. Instead of seizures, I have Tumarkins attacks, which are similar to epileptic seizures. Tumarkins attacks are a common feature of the bi-lateral form of Meniere's disease. In a Tumarkins attack, the patient momentarily loses consciousness and falls. An attack always involves the loss of bladder and bowel control; I am pretty much helpless for the first hour after an attack, so I need assistance with incontinence management, and I need three to four hours to recover fully from an attack. Depending on my GI medication schedule, this can mean that I may also need help for a large bowel accident. I find it difficult to accept, let alone be thankful for this assistance, but I have no choice.

[Porkchop]

John, stop talking about those tests..... it scares me! (covers eyes)

Note to self: I definitely need better emoji's!!!!

[mywaynow]

I was a bed wetter until I was about 17, and my parents always changed me, I didn't find this. Strange at all and was perfectly comfortable, even when changed in front of my younger sister! It was just what happened! I was never asked over for sleep overs but did stay at camps a few times when my parents advised the staff and they changed me without a problem, resulted in issues with the other youngsters.
Since then I have had incontinence on and off, usually for a few months at a time, either bed wetting or 24/7 incontinence as I have right now, no known trigger, but my wife is very supportive and freely changes me when I need help. I struggle to get the tapes on tightly enough!

[DedDude]

I agree to Eww, but not in as negative of a way as I may initially seem. Folks need help sometimes, and family often fall into that job. It is for myself that I saw Eww. This is hard enough changing myself. I don't want anyone else to see me/help me with my diapers if i don't HAVE to.

[mywaynow]

I should have said I have also had a number of stays in hospital and neede the help of nurses to change me, they have always been very profession and I have had no embarrassment, I do feel slightly more comfortable with female nurses changing me than males, but that king the just be because I am used to having this sort of help from females.

[Porkchop]

I should have said I have also had a number of stays in hospital and neede the help of nurses to change me, they have always been very profession and I have had no embarrassment, I do feel slightly more comfortable with female nurses changing me than males, but that king the just be because I am used to having this sort of help from females.

I totally understand! Because of my back injury, which thankfully it isn't as bad as some peoples here, I often struggle to diaper myself. Some days I give up and bring a laptop and TV tray to the bathroom and make it my "office" in fact rather than in name only. My wife helps me diaper myself at night, which covers that portion of the day, but she has a full time job in addition to assisting me and our two special needs children. I am glad you have a supportive family, and while I wouldn't want my diaper changed in front of siblings or by my mom, you deal with what you have to. Dealing with the stuff life throws at you beats the alternatives. At least that's my mantra so I don't become just another stereotypical combat vet statistic. Thanks for sharing.