Embarassing Question

[crookedapostle]

Hello everyone,
I am new to the forum and am having correction of adult scoliosis (64 degree)
curve on Nov. 3rd & Nov. 6th. and will be braced afterwards. I am anxious about toileting care for myself post op. Is it something they teach you in the hospital?
I thank you for any help you can give me.
crookedapostle

[lelc2002@yahoo]

I had no problem with this... I got the elevated toilet seat from the medical supply store... the only thing that was any problem at all was reaching for the Toilet paper....I just pulled some off & piled it on top so it made it easy for the next time! Ly

[bbest]

The hardest part is getting on and off of the toilet. You have to learn to rely on your leg muscles since you will likely be unable to bend. Depending on where you are fused, you may have some difficulty reaching "certain" areas but the kind folks in the hospital will teach you how to handle this, should it become a problem for you.

[dawney]

I needed help wiping in the hospital but at that point I didn,t care. By the time I got home I could do for my self but one thing that i would suggest is the moistened flushabled wipes. They are helpful.

[LindaRacine]

Hi...

Wiping one's self can be really dangerous. I recommend that you buy a toilet tissue aid. For example:

http://www.activeforever.com/product...1_T18,0085.htm

Regards,
Linda

[Singer]

Someone on the forum (was it Kat?) swore that salad tongs and a big wad of balled-up tissue worked better than the toilet-tissue aid. I'm personally looking forward to trying that one out....

[HGD24]

I found the kamode seat to be more helpful and less bulky than the raised toilet seat. I simply had my husband remove the 'bowl' from the kamode and place the remaining part of it over our toilet. It was very helpful in that he could lower or raise the seat depending on how low or high I could sit. The arms made it very helpful to get myself on and off as well. I have very long, flexible arms and had no issue wiping, but like Linda said, you can hurt yourself so you might need an aid for that.

[crookedapostle]

I thank all of you for your tips. I do in fact have a commode that my Mom wouldn't use post stroke & it is brand new. I had given that some thought.
A friend of mine fractured her back & was in a brace for 3 months & suggested using the salad tongs So much to plan before the surgery in 3 weeks. It cannot come soon enough, as I have worsened in the last month.
Again, thank you for your helpful tips.