Hi All,

This question is actually for a friend of mine and not me.

I won't get into specific detail here but bottom line is that he can not go to the bathroom, THAT way.

He knows it is neurolgical that his muscles in that area are not working to PUSH OUT, they are doing the opposite and HOLDING it in......

I know a lot of us have the opposite issue with it just coming OUT but I have not ever saw anything posted on HIS issue.....

He has talked with his neuro and she prescribed supposatories(sp)..and she say's he has to basically "re-train" the muscle action but she won't tel lhim HOW to re-train them........I suggested asking her to refer him to a neurological doctor that is specific to THAT type of problem but I don't know what that doctor could be called or even if there is indeed a doctor that specializes IN that type of problem..

My question is, does anyone know where my friend can go for his problem?

He has extreme difficulty going to the bathroom and about every 3 days he just about has to perform a miracle to get things OUT....

Anyone have this issue going on or can point me in the right direction on any advice on what to tell him?

He loves to EAT and should be "going" regularly but can't.........any help here would be much appreciated by him..

Thanks in advance.

OH, it really isn't ME in case anyone thinks that......LOL

Joe

LOL Yeah, right.....

How about a proctologist or a gastroenterologist?

Proctologist might be better.

I'm sorry to hear about your friends problems and I really hope he can get it sorted out soon.

I don't have MS but I do have CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome), which is also neurological. I have the same problem has your friend and suffer from constipation a lot of the time, I can go days or weeks without going to the toilet!! My nanan also had MS and my mum says that she had the same problem ... oh, the joys of neurological illnesses!!

I haven't found anything that helps me at the moment but I second what Gazelle said and that it might be useful for your friend to pay a trip to the Gastroenterologist.

A lot of the meds that we take can cause constipation so it could be that that is making your friend have difficulties going to the toilet.

I hope whatever it is gets fixed soon has I know it's no fun!! please keep us updated when you can.

Alison

Thanks Alison and Gazelle, does the 2 doctors treat neurological issues too?

His issues are not normal constipation, he takes softeners and eats a bunch of good things and fiber, from what he is telling ME it is definately neurological...

Oh and Gazelle, it really is not me......LOL...LOL

Joe

Constipated here. If I go twice a week it's a wow, once a week is more like it. I get no pain, it just is big and hard and can be impacted. DH puts Benefiber in my coffee each morning, If it's just not happening eating an apple helps and if that doesn't, Miralax (a gentle Laxative). I also think I don't eat enough. On a cruise ship, eating big meals and food 24/7 I was mre regular. My nurse Practioner at neurologist's (MS specialized place)Said prune juice, applesauce and bran flakes mixed it. Yucky taste but does help, Retraining bowels is good, don't want to depend on drugs. Plum Smart (A drink can help. He should see a gastrologist also. My cleaning lady was a practical nurse once, reciommends putting vaseline in opening to help slip it out. Have never tried.
Fiber, bulk, water, see a gastrologist.

I have to run out right now, Joe, but what he means by bowel routine is:

http://www.csro.com/assets/pdf/afterandbeyond/35-42.pdf

I'll be back with more info cause I have gone through periods in my life (actually most of my life) with only going every 3 - 5 WEEKS. Yep, WEEKS. I've finally found a solution.

Cherie

Ok, I believe you.




They should be familiar with neurological issues that affect the bowel and digestive system, but they may not treat them as a neurologist would treat them. That's kind of like saying "maybe" to your question.

The Gastroenterologist deals more with the entire digestive system. The proctologist deals more with the rectum, colon, and **** (oh cripes.... it edited @nus!. That's why I suggested a proctologist.

Joe, constipation is a problem for many people with MS, as is incontinence, however, I had problems with this from when I was very young. My mom's "remedy" was to make me to sit on the toilet for hours at a time with a bag of raisins. Maybe it worked in the longer run, but certainly not while I sat there. Admittedly, I had a very poor diet.

When I was in my teens, and eating more healthy, I still had problems (and also what was probably the start of other MS symptoms). In my mid 20's I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. I would go up to 5 weeks without a bowel movement, and NOTHING worked; supositories, diet, exercise (very fit back then), water, daily routines, avoiding allergens, laxatives, etc. Once my body did decide to cooperate though, I wasn't able to leave the house/washroom for 1 - 2 days, and often bled uncontrollably. As you can well imagine, this "routine" was very dysfunctional.

It wasn't until about a year ago that a board buddy, Cricket, convinced me how much PERMANENT damage that I could do to my body, that I decided I had to find an answer. I went to my pharmacist, who is also into natural methods of medicine, and he recommended "Benefibre". I had tried other treatments like this, to no avail.

I started using it about 1 or 2 times a week, and although I am somewhat allergic to the ingredient(s), it WORKED!! I had to mess with the dosage a bit, and my routine is still not "perfect". I am not on a "daily" schedule for BM's, but once I realize that I have not gone in a while I will take it . . . and it WORKS every time.

Cherie

Hi Joe

I had a problem similar to that of your friend and obtained the requisite retraining (as well as an effective little gadget which helped me to see when I was doing things right - I'd rather not go into details) from a specialist physiotherapist. This physiotherapist deals with all sorts of neurological / muscular troubles arising in that general area of the body (including women in the aftermath of childbirth and other such traumas!)

I should mention that the device that she gave me had electrical leads that I did not have to use. However, I understood from her that these are used in some difficult cases for stimulating the muscles electrically to increase tone.

Hope this has not frightened you or your friend too much.

Merle

Thank you EVERYONE for all the insight, I will pass this info along to my buddy....He is currently on Medicare but does not have a supplemental insurance, (long story). His bills are piling up and cannot get to see a different doctor at this time but he will try some of the suggestions that don't require a different doctor for now.......

Thanks for all the great advice.......you guys are great.....


Joe