HI, Shana,

I am new to this group too. I have sent this group to a few of my SCI women
friends to encourage them to join. I think it is great to talk about women's
issues.



One of the issues you have mentioned below is cathing. Within one year of my
injury I had a procedure done called the Mitrofanoff-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitrofanoff_appendicovesicostomy

I am a para of 7 years . I have it so that I don't have to be home to cath
and I cath through my belly button. 2 of my sci female friends have had the
procedure done but also had bladder augmentation done at the same time and
had to use intestine instead of their appendix as they already didn't have
one.

Once the healing is done, it is a wonderful freedom to be able to cath
anywhere.



Another sci friend has been self-cathing for 23 years and has a very active
live. She has made modifications to her clothing by using Velcro for the
seams in the crotch area.



All of us have looked into products and changes to help improve everyday
life in a chair including home modifications to what kind of commode to
purchase. Another good sci friend of mine recently built her new home and
has all sorts of knowledge and expertise to share.



Keep asking and sharing.



I will write more later. I hope that helps!



Have a great day!

Monica
----------------------------------------
Be the change you want to see in the world. -- Mahatma Gandhi

_____

From: womenwithsci@yahoogroups.com [mailto:womenwithsci@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Shana
Sent: Saturday, May 03, 2008 11:10 AM
To: womenwithsci@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Women with SCI] Life line



Is there anyone out there??? I joined this group in hopes to talk with
women who go through the everyday bs that I go through. I've been in
my chair for almost 2yrs. And most days are a struggle. I have 2
wonderful children ages 2 and 7. Like most kids they can be a handful
but I love being a mother. I have a great husband who tries his best
to understand what I go through. But I feel completely alone I was the
one everyone leaned on. But now that i need someone there's no one
around. It's funny how much you learn about yourself and the people
around you when things like this happens. I joined a group called
Transverse Myelitis in hopes to meet people there with the same auto
immune disease. But of course I was the only one in a chair. After a
couple of weeks of listening to people complain about not being able
to walk to far I had to quit reading the post. I'd give anything to be
able to move a toe let alone walk.I also live in a hick town and I
can't get in to most places. I cathe every 3 to 4 hours which is a
problem giving it takes 45min to get anywhere. When people do come
over they only stay for a few they don't like seeing me this way. I
feel like me and my kids are on house arrest. I was hoping that I
could learn new ways of doing things by joining this group. And it
would be nice to have people to talk to on my bad days. So if this
isn't that type of group please let me know so I can look around for a
new one.. Thanks





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