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curious to know how many have nausea, bladder and or bowel troubles...

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Posted 4/16/2007 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi All,

Since I've been dealing with these issues I thought I'd ask how many of you experience any or all of these on a regular basis and how many with definate diagnosis do?

 

 

I know autonomic neuropathy can cause the organ stuff and I feel most folks with ms have some form of autonomic neuropathy.

 

I'd love to hear from you all on this subject.

 

 

Posted 4/16/2007 4:45 AM (GMT 0)

Hey Shell,

I am new to MS and this forum.  I am still learning about MS and all its nuances.  I have a dx and I have chronic constipation.  I also have to work real hard to empty the bladder.  That is less of a problem then the constipation.  I don't have any nausea unless I am having a bad vertigo day.  No nausea just on its own.  I don't think this is a very helpful post to you.  I worry about you and you are on my daily prayer list.  You are a tough cookie and I really enjoy your posts.  Hang in there.

Love and prayers,

Posted 4/16/2007 7:37 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Michelle,

I've been keeping up with your posts, you sure have been through a lot with this stuff and I feel for you.

I get occassional nausea when I'm feeling dizzy.  My bladder has been ok except I think it may not be emptying fully as when I try to keep going after I think I'm done, I usually can.  It might have always been like that...not sure.

I've had constipation issues forever.  Lately it's been better for some reason, but a few months ago I couldn't go at all without tons of fibre cereal and stool softeners everyday.  An early relapse seems to have also affected my ability to control a muscle or something back there... sorry to be graphic!... I mean in a having trouble pushing sorta way, not a can't stop it kinda way, if that makes sense.  **red face alert**

I wish you relief from your issues,

Shar

Posted 4/16/2007 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Bladder problems are very common in folks with MS. Bowel problems are somewhat less common, but do occur. Generally if my bowels aren't functioning well, I can sometimes get the nausea. It's a matter of the muscles and nerves in the digestive system being affected by the MS, and not working in sync with each other, or not working at all, so stuff "sits" for a long time, then either expells unexpectedly and unplanned, or dries up and causes constipation.
Posted 4/16/2007 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Monday a.m.

 

 

Dear Shelly:

 

Just after MS dx, I have been having bowel frequency probs.

 

Went to see urologist, who wrote me a script for Detrol (..gotta go, gotta go...)

 

Not a pill to be taken every day, but if you must leave the house for any reason, it is very effective for me.

 

Anyone?  John

Posted 4/16/2007 5:47 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't been diagnosed yet, but I've been having problems with nausea (mainly when I'm dizzy.) I'm taking 1/2 a valium every morning for the dizziness and I have phenegrin for those times when I'm nauseous.

I've also had alternating constipation and diarrhea for over a year. The diarrhea has gotten more frequent, and I was diagnosed with IBS in December. (My PCP said that IBS is a generic diagnosis for when they don't really know what's going on.)

As for bladder problems, I've got urge and stress incontinence. I have an appointment to discuss a bladder sling operation next month to help with the stress incontinence.

Oh yeah, the fun never ends!
Posted 4/16/2007 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
I appreciate all of your responses.

 

Upitty-thanks for the explanation!

 

John-I'm assuming you mean you have bladder urgency and you take the detrol for that...is that right?  I didn't know it could be taken as needed.  Very interesting!

 

Shashi- ask your uro about the Interstim, I am amazed how well it works for both urgency and retention.  I realize some people have to have the sling, but it is worth asking.

 

Shar-no red faces here!  I've been thru too much to get embarrassed about what this stupid disease does to me!  The not pushing well problem could be a rectocele, like I have, or the muscles may not work correctly due to a number of things.  I do have some form of weakness in that area from the mS.

 

Gretchen-Be sure to mention those issues to your doc.  If you haven't already seen a urologist you need to see one and have the urodynamic studies done to see if you need to cath yourself.

 

I hope to have answers to my stuff soon. I will keep you all posted.  I am very tired of dealing with all this stuff. 

Posted 4/16/2007 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
John isn't the first person who has said he takes Detrol "as needed"....and I've always understood that it needed to be taken regularly, that it builds up in the system over time and needs to be taken at about the same time (or times) each day! I'll have to do some research about that.

Yes, I'd do whatever I could with meds or something before undergoing surgery!
Posted 4/16/2007 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Shelly,

You are a fountain of information and I (as a newbie to MS) really appreciate your post and knowledge.  Thanks so much for taking the time to be so open and helpful.  You are such a blessing to me.  Hang in there and know that I am praying for you.

Love and prayers,

 

Posted 4/18/2007 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
Tuesday p.m.

 

Shelly:  It is supposed to be taken as needed.  My first complaint about "urgency" was that I could not sleep the whole  night through without having to get up in the middle of the night...but....I was then instructed that it should only be taken when you, say, have to leave your house.

 

Now I just discontinue drinking anything post-dinner, and I have no problems.

 

Check off one of, what, about 20 MS symtoms that I've conquered.

 

Now, on to that fatigue thing....John

Posted 4/18/2007 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
John,

Have you ever considered something such as Desmopresson (DDAVP). I have a few people in my homes that have been put on it for nighttime incontinence with rather good success. Instead of working on spasms it works on the kidneys, concentrating your urine and causing less to be produced. It does have it's down sides, such as needing to be taken regularly for best results and you can build a tolerance to it.

Justin
Posted 4/18/2007 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
I'm confused about the Detrol thing. I take detrol La every night as prescribed. I am kind of of the school that I don't want to take any drugs that I don't have to take (being sick and taking a ton of meds is so annoying and expensive) Furthermore, I plan on trying to get pregnant again in the near future and I am pretty sure Detrol is class"c" so I can't take it while preggers. before detrol la I had to get up like 12 times a night to pee and now it is down to 1 and sometimes none! My doc said that my brain is not communicating with my bladder appropriately anymore and that is why it always thinks it is full.... Any info any you have on Detrol is appreciated. Michelle I have had a lot of issues with constipation and loss of feeling in that general area. Right after I had my baby the loss of feeling was a godsend I had some.....(stop reading if you are grossed out easily) hemmorhoids and not feeling them was nice. But after a while I recovered all sensation in that area again. I can't believe I am typing this!! sorry for the TMI! Another bit of info is that right after having my baby (I was yet to be diagnosed) and in the middle of the worst relapse I did not feel my stitches tear (from having the baby) I am certain they tore b/c of my lack of feeling I was pushing to hard, then one day out of the blue I was in sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much pain I went ot the ER and the doc had to re-stitch me and give me morphine for the pain and was shocked I had lasted so long in such pain. I told them it did not feel bad and I was having loss of sensastion and they told me that that was b/c the muscle had tore a bit. Now I know differently.
oh and I have almost constant nausea and have been told it is not an MS symptom. I just don't know though it is either MS or all the meds I am on from MS.
In closing, Michelle, you are not ALONE! I know I can't know the frustration you are feeling (b/c every case of MS is sooooooooo different) but you are not ALONE!!!
Posted 4/18/2007 10:11 PM (GMT 0)

According to the DETROL drug page, which can be found here:

http://www.detrolla.com/cwpb/appmanager/detrolLA/detrolLADesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=detrolLA_howToTakeDetrolLA

...it is intended to be taken once a day, at the same time every day "or as your doctor prescribes", so perhaps John has some issues that his doctor is aware of, that he takes it "as needed", rather than as it is intended to be taken.

I use a generic form of detrol, NOT a time release version (the LA), so I take it twice a day, upon rising in the morning, and at night before bed.

Posted 4/18/2007 10:18 PM (GMT 0)

I just checked another half-dozen sites. All say the drug should be taken daily, "or as prescribed by the physician". The reasons someone would NOT take it daily are people who are elderly, and/or have prostate problems, and/or who are pregnant (although it's more an issue of having given birth, and not breastfeeding your baby).

So ask your doctor if you're still uncertain, but if he prescribed it as a daily med, that is what is commonly done, and you should take it as prescribed.

Posted 4/18/2007 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
uppitycats- Thank you so much! It is so nice that you help weed through all the internet mumbojumbo and get the info!! Thank you!! Is there a reason you don't take the La is the other one better or less side effects??
Posted 4/19/2007 12:02 AM (GMT 0)

tkelly3287 said...
uppitycats- Thank you so much! It is so nice that you help weed through all the internet mumbojumbo and get the info!! Thank you!! Is there a reason you don't take the La is the other one better or less side effects??

I actually take a generic version of Ditropan...a drug similar to Detrol.  All of these meds work well -- for some people. Some people do better on one, some better on another.  I started out years ago on oxybutanin -- which is the generic form, and did fine.  When the time-release versions came available, my doctor suggested I try it..and it didn't work nearly as well for me, so I went back to the generic. Generics are cheaper, anyway, and my HMO was happy!  :)

If one doesn't work well for you, then ask about one of the others, or one that's not a time-release version. YOu might have to take it more often (like I do, twice a day), but it's better than being incontinent, or having to worry about being incontinent!

You mentioned you were on a bunch of other drugs. At the same time you're asking your doctor about Detrol, you might ask about all those others too (I don't know what you're on) and see if indeed you need all of them. I'm on Betaseron and oxybutanin (Ditropan)..and ibuprofen for side effects of the Betaseron, and that's all.  I don't take spasticity meds, or anti-depressants, or pain meds. (I've had MS for 24 years; use a wheelchair full time.)

Posted 4/19/2007 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Uppritycats... we are on the same page. I have just recently come off of some of my meds (in the last 4 months). I have come off of everything but lunesta and detrol la. I take vicodin and tramadol for pain (like once a week). I can't wait to get off of all pain meds! That is the ultimate goal for me. I will ask about maybe taking something more often though I hate the peeing every five seconds!! Thanks again for the input! MS for 24 years! You definitely have the experience!! Thank you for sharing!
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