It’s natural that you may feel down or anxious at times when using transanal irrigation (TAI). This is completely normal, but it is important to recognise these signs and try to better understand the cause. Then, you can start to deal with these issues and take action!
Managing anxiety
If you use TAI as a part of your bowel management, it may be that this causes some level of anxiety. This is only natural, and you are not alone. Always reach out to a Coloplast Care advisor if you would like to talk about your TAI routine and work together to overcome these concerns. Your doctor or nurse should also be able to offer support.
If you are anxious about TAI, try to establish what is the root of this worry. Are you perhaps worried about the setting in which you carry out your irrigations? Perhaps you are still concerned about leakage between irrigations? Whatever the source of your concern, take a moment to reflect on what the issue really is and why you feel that way. You are then one step closer to managing your worries.
Reducing stress when performing your irrigations
Always try to make your surroundings as comfortable as possible before starting your TAI routine. If you don’t feel like you have enough privacy or are worried about other people being in the house, talk to them and try and help them to understand your concerns. You can work together to make the environment easier for you.
To further create a relaxing environment when you perform your irrigations, you may want to try:
- Performing your irrigations when the house is empty
- Putting on background music or the TV for distraction
If you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of irrigations, use a checklist to ensure you have everything you need before you start the process. Ticking off that you have everything to hand before you begin will make you more relaxed and confident that you can do this.
Celebrate your success. When you have a good irrigation, celebrate this with a treat – you deserve it! You may also want to fill out an irrigation diary so you can look back on your journey and track your progress. This will help to give you an overview of your TAI routine and see how far you have come.
Gaining confidence in your continence!
If you live with bowel dysfunction, it is natural that your continence still plays on your mind. Transanal irrigation can allow you to stay continent for up to 2 days, but worries surrounding incontinence can remain. Therefore, take small steps at first. After performing an irrigation, you can try to leave the house for just a little while to prove to yourself that this is possible. You may then wish to increase how long you spend outside as you start to trust your bowel in public.
You may wish to discuss any worries you have with a close friend or relative, who can then offer you additional support if you are still anxious about going out. Even though a successful irrigation should help you achieve continence, having an ‘emergency plan’ in place anyway can also help you to feel safe. Consider taking a change of clothes with you, and work out where the nearest toilets are located before heading out. As you become more confident, you may discover you no longer feel the need to prepare to such a degree and TAI can help your sense of control.
In the event that you frequently find you do not remain continent after using TAI, talk to your nurse or doctor who may discuss adjustments to your TAI routine.
Support from others
Never feel like you have to go it alone. If you are struggling with TAI, reach out to a Coloplast Care Advisor on (phone, date, time) who can help you to overcome your concerns and answer any questions you may have about Peristeen Plus.
Also, don’t forget the value of talking to others like yourself. Have a look at local support groups [Link: URL unknown (7 – Local Support Groups)] in your area and meet other people who have gone through the same journey. They may have additional tips and tricks that you can implement to help manage your anxiety surrounding TAI. These groups may be the social support you need.
