Bob* always wanted to be a professional freestyle skier. He was dreaming of triple somersaults, and mogul skiing. After working really long and hard, Bob rose up through the ranks and ended as one of the top U.S. freestyle skiers by the time he was 21. Bob was living the dream until he broke his back in a skiing accident at the age of 25.
Despite this life-changing set-back, Bob was determined to start over again. So he enrolled into college for the first time to reinvent himself and found a new passion for broadcasting and video production:
“I remember how devastating it was for me, ít was the worst thing that ever happened to me by far. But I wanted to have a great life after this. I was born pretty much an optimist. So, that first week it was just a fight to stay alive. Perspective is everything. So being paralyzed was secondary.”*
Moving on with his new life, Bob struggled with bowel management for years before discovering Peristeen. He often worried about bowel accidents and tried several solutions without success. He says the treatment helped remove a ‘giant burden’ from his shoulders and allows him to be spontaneous. His advice to new users is to be prepared to adjust their routine so they can achieve the best possible results.
For some people it's going to work perfect the first time, and for others it takes some time to fine tune the routine and get it to work. It took a while for Bob to achieve consistent results with Peristeen but then he consulted with his health care professional on possible improvements to his routine. With guidance from his nurse, he experimented with the amount of water he used. He also switched from using the treatment every day to every other day:
“Trial and error is key. I’ve been injured for some time now so I know a few tricks. In the early days there were times I’d have accidents and you’re thinking ‘how am I going to clean this up’. But I just rolled up some paper and you take care of it.”*
With Peristeen Plus, it may take some time to adjust and find what works for your body, but try to be patient. A positive attitude has contributed to Bob’s success:
“When you have a bowel accident, you have two options… you can give up or you can clean yourself and carry on. I always tell myself that tomorrow might be the best day of my life. Now my life is so much easier because the thought of having an accident is not constantly at the back of my mind.”*
"My biggest fear ever since I was a kid was being whatever age that I considered old then, it's changing every year. But say being 70 and thinking, "I didn't do anything, I didn't have any adventures. That scared me way more than going on adventures and having all these memories and everything.”*
*Coloplast has compensated this user to share his product experience. Each person's situation is unique so your experience may not be the same. Talk to your healthcare provide about whether this product is right for you.
Information from Coloplast Care is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted to contain treatment recommendations. Each person’s situation is unique and risks, outcomes, experience, and results may vary. Talk to your healthcare professional about what may be right for you. Prior to use, please refer to product ‘Instructions for Use’ for intended use and relevant safety information.
