This is a part of the Hot Topic podcast series from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center on Managing Bowel Function After Spinal Cord Injury. Marva L. Ways, SCI Survivor discusses The Challenges of Maintaining a Good Diet for a Bowel Program.

Marva Ways

Sustained a Spinal Cord Injury in 1976

Diet is very important and I think that’s sometimes one of the most difficult ones. As I’ve talked to my peers and I’ve learned myself too because I don’t always do like I’m supposed to do, sometimes you just say I want that sugar or I want this or I don’t want to eat all the fiber. But that’s very important and then when you take the fiber, you’ve got to make sure you drink a lot of water because if you don’t drink a lot of water then that’s going to cause problems with constipation.

I have found I love cheese and if I eat cheese that’s going to cause me problems. I’m going to have to double up on the laxatives, the oral laxatives to kind of loosen things up. I’ve also found out that these days barbeque ribs will cause met to sort of tighten up and I love barbeque ribs. Very seldom do I eat them now and so when I do I really savor the flavor and enjoy that.

But I’ve really noticed that that does sort of, you know, it binds me up so it really is important to check your diet and watch what you eat to have a healthy, normal bowel movement.

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