[QUAD-L] sharing game changing products

[Edward Tessier]

In a recent post I mentioned some of the products that have been essential to  
successfully living my life as a quad (C5 –6, 38 years post surfing injury). I 
wanted to expand upon and share my list with everybody. I think it would be 
really interesting to hear everybody else's list as well.

Products that change my life:

Sure Hands Lift – – I'm still using the lift I bought 20 some years ago when 
doing board and pivot transfers became too rough on me and my attendants.  it 
has never broken down and only needed a replacement battery once.  nothing gets 
me in and out of bed faster-- no Hoyer type sling. It also places me in exactly 
the right spot in my wheelchair.  I only wish they had a travel version.

Peristeen Bowel management program--  there is more about this my last post, 
but basically it is made my   bowel program faster, more dependable, easier on 
my body, and easier on my attendants.

 Dragon dictation system-- I use this every single day and if I didn't have it 
I wouldn't be able to work, right creatively, keep up with friends, etc.

 Ride wheelchair cushion – –  I lost a year to pressure sores when every other 
wheelchair cushion failed me.  I tried EVERYTHING.  The ride cushion ( which, 
counterintuitively, is made of hard foam) is fully customized to each user. It 
got me back in my wheelchair and back to  work,  spending time with my kids, 
and enjoying life.

 Alexa for smart home control--  turning on lights, controlling my bedroom fan, 
calling attendants hands-free, listening to music,  ordering groceries, etc. 
etc. etc.it's amazing being able to do so many things by voice that once 
forced me to constantly ask for help.

 accessible minivan with EZ lock--  after my wheelchair and I fell off of an 
old school van lift, the ability to just quickly roll up the ramp and into a 
self locking  tiedown was revolutionary. I take it too much for granted.

 Fully tilting power wheelchair--  my Permobile  300's tilt function has 
extended my functional time in my chair and made pressure relief much less of a 
hassle. It's also been my most dependable wheelchair ever. It's going strong at 
10 years and has never needed anything more than batteries and replacement 
cushioning on my armrests.

 Lithotripsy kidney stone removal--  like many quads I have chronic kidney 
stones and this tech replaced difficult surgery. now, every 2 to 3 years, I go 
for a cleaning and I'm up at around in a week.

  iPhone/ iPad and Siri--  the touchscreen, and later the voice assistant, 
changed everything about communication, making me much more productive at work. 
apps made so many life management tasks incredibly easier-- banking, shopping, 
reading books, listening to books, tracking my kids, scheduling help, paying 
bills,  ordering meds, taking family pictures...  couldn't we all go on and on 
here?

 Viagra and Ferticare  vibrator--  getting erections and ejaculating aren't 
required to have a lot of fun in bed, but they sure are nice.

 wheelchair accessible RV by Newmar--  our first accessible RV was a DIY 
project that mostly worked, but wasn't all that comfortable. Newmar's  line of 
wheelchair accessible RVs were designed from the ground up for comfort and ease 
of use.  they are by far the best product on the market.  the family excursions 
it enables have given me some of my favorite memories


 thank goodness for these products and technology. I hope they stay on the 
market forever.  so, now it's your turn. WHAT IS YOUR LIST OF 
CAN'T-LIVE-WITHOUT PRODUCTS?

 Ed Tessier

Re: [QUAD-L] New Bowel Management System - Peristeen Plus

[Edward Tessier]

I've been using Peristeen since it first came out. My traditional program of 
suppositories and fleets gradually become more and more time consuming until it 
lasted for hours, was painful, and   triggered dysreflexia. it was also leaving 
me with bowel accident so often I was afraid to leave the house. Peristeen has 
been a complete game changer.  It's not as messy so using it is easier on my 
attendants.  it does not trigger dysreflexia for me.  it's not painful, unless 
I have a hemorrhoid (regular hemorrhoid cream the night before is taking care 
of that).  it takes the predictable amount of time and is comparatively speedy 
(about 45 minutes beginning to end every other day), so I can add it to my 
morning routine without it messing up my busy schedule.

Perhaps most importantly, it is EFFECTIVE.  It actually cleans me out and I 
almost never have bowel mishaps, anymore.  this has been a humongous benefit to 
going out, making travel plans (It's very portable, fitting in a midsized 
purse), my love life ( it not only eliminated untimely accidents it removed the 
mood to killing anxiety of potential accidents), etc.   I hadn't really 
realized how my old bowel management program had compromised my quality of life 
until I saw the difference Peristeen made.   In fact, I would say it was at the 
very top of the list of the products that have made my quadriplegia manageable, 
along with a Sure Hands lift,  a Ride wheelchair cushion,  accessible minivan, 
and Alexa as a smart home controller.

The only downside I experienced with Peristeen was its cost.  Since it wasn't 
covered initially by my insurance, I had to pay out-of-pocket around $300 A 
MONTH.  This was rough to handle but since it dramatically increased the time I 
had for work, and allowed me to go to the office without racing home from bowel 
accidents, it was worth it financially.  it took a few years but eventually I 
found a doctor in my network (Kaiser Permanente) that believed in the benefits 
of Peristeen  to advocate for it internally. Late last year, my insurance 
decided to cover it completely.

If Peristeen had not come out when it did, I probably would've ended up with a 
colostomy bag.  I understand they can work wonders for some people, but I was 
dreading it. Peristeen  gave me options, and a huge boost to my quality of 
life.  I rave about it to every Quad and Para I meet. my wife jokes that I'm 
trying to get a job at Coloplast (the manufacturer).

 I've been happy to see that Peristeen is is being strongly supported by 
Coloplast.  they just came out with an upgraded design that makes the reusable 
pump last longer.

 if anybody has more questions about it, please reach out.

Ed Tessier




From: Don Price 
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2022 12:57 PM
To: Shala Silverstein ; Dana 
Cc: quad-list@eskimo.com 
Subject: [QUAD-L] New Bowel Management System - Peristeen Plus

Hi everyone!

I've been a c5 quad for 40 years now. Bowel programs are the most difficult 
thing for most of us. Grr
Recently I was at a conference and talked to the Coloplast rep regarding their 
new(ish) bowel product, Peristeen Plus. It's an enema system (nothing new 
there), but the design of it and the way it works seems like a real 
improvement. Check out the YouTube video.

Disclaimer: I have not tried this product. I don't work for Coloplast or have 
any affiliation with them.


Peristeen Plus is an effective alternative to conservative bowel management 
methods. It can be administered either on your own or with assistance, and 
enables you to decide when and where you want to empty your bowel. Used 
routinely, daily or every other day, it can help reduce the physical discomfort 
and worry that fecal incontinence and constipation bring.
When the recommended amount of water is introduced into the bowel, water and 
stool are emptied into the toilet.
Peristeen Plus can be used by a wide range of people with neurogenic bowel 
dysfunction (NBD), from children to adults. The patient must receive thorough 
instructions from a qualified healthcare professional before using this product.

How to Use Peristeen® Plus (Adult)


[https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/youtube.png]
How to Use Peristeen® Plus (Adult)


https://products.coloplast.us/coloplast/continence-care/peristeen/peristeen-plus-tai/peristeen-plus-transanal-irrigation-system/