Oh, I'm the opposite. No matter what my diet is like (and it is shamefully bad), i never have a formed stool. Regular as clockwork but never seems that I've got it right.

I have talked to many MS patients that swing the other way, and have diarrhea, or constant loose stools. A friend of mine has a quick trigger. By the time she says "uh oh, gotta go." she is dashing to the potty, and its running down her leg. She has taken to wearing depends on days that she knows she is gonna be gone long. She has told me how embarrassing it is to be perfectly comfy and then BOOM! she doesnt make the potty. Always has a spare pair of panties in her bag, and a box of baby wipes. I always wondered why her hand bag was the size of a satchel.

I was concerned about my own INability to push as if my intestine was paralyzed or simply forgot how to do its job. I thought I was plain old weird. Its been of great comfort to come and find out that I am not the only one who has had to go in and remove contents that may have shifted during transport.

This thread brought me great comfort and relief from some embarrassment that I had carried with me for a couple of years now. While I would certainly not like the quick trigger of my friend, and if I had to pick one side of the other, would pick this lane, I still long for the day that I make it through the day with something normal occuring.

Hey, how about I give you a list of what I eat, you try it, and see how you go???
Must admit I eat a lot of liquorice. and sweets, and junk.

and always seems worse the morning after a beta shot.

actually I have a pretty clean diet. I dont eat anything that is processed, or packaged if I can help it. I do have yummy things like mac and cheese, but not from a box, its home made. I try to eat as much local produce, meat, eggs, milks, and other stuff as possible, and feel better for it. Every now and again, we have something processed, and the husband goes nuts! I am not sure I would survive a sugar filled or processed life now that I have been weaned off of all the chemicals in most diets. No MSG or high frutose corn syrup, or soy.

The daughter has celiac and we led a gluten free existance until she left for college. We added whole wheat breads, and such back in after she left, and YUMMY! I did miss breads.

You always make me smile. thanks!

double post for me sorry.

I am going to try that massage thing on the spot between my thumb and forefinger.

I do admit that I have frequently used the prep H on my finger, and have gone hunting for the rocks. it is cause for a celebration in my house if I actually sit on the potty, and have a "normal" movement. I think one of the issues is that it stays inside so long, and turns into rocks, and dry hard stuff is harder to wiggle through. if I can get some normal movements going, they are soft, and slide on through. If its rocks, I tend to have to "help" it along.

I never thought in my wildest dream I would share that I have to go rescue the rocks. It saves me MUCH discomfort, and has saved me from having to go to the ER to have a pro do the exact same thing, only without as much privacy, and dignity that I can provide at home. IF you decide to rescue your own make sure you have some sort of lube on your fingers. hemmorhoid tissue is delicate, and you can injure it. you DONT want to create hemmorhoids or cause a clot in a hemmorhoid. Many things can be used. Prep H, KY, baby oil, or a wet baby wipe may provide enough lube to get the job done. The step stool at my feet, also helps place me in a good postion for the rescue as well. The step stool some times is enough, as it bends your body into a squat position, even though you are sitting.

I thought for a long time that it may have been from my old spinal fx, but when my MD told me its a common MS symptom, I knew I had to come here and take a poll.

Thank you for all that have chimed in, and spoke up, and thanks to those who voted, even if you didnt want to share your story. This has given me so much anxiety relief to know I am so not alone. Thanks!

Dejibo,
Re: cheese and mac - isn't cheese a binder? If not, pass me the cheese and mac!!!!!! (and whine to go with that cheese - shoot, just pass the wine)

I loved the book and rest of series (All Creatures, Great and Small". The vet/1st person/author when having a difficult calf delivery found pushing into cow made system push out and calf out. Found some success using this on my compacted "thing". Pushed out when I pushed in, helped peristaltic push out.. Could I deliver a calf? That I don't know. (not me personally, but helping a cow)

Could bowel incontinence be a beginning symptom of MS?

Hi Koala, I just checked my bottle. The brand is Bluebonnet. I take two capsules and it looks like each capsule is 200 mg. One thing I will also say (slightly off the topic of constipation) is that the magnesium has gotten rid of my twitching and calmed down the tremors in my hands. I was thinking of maybe going up to 600 mg.

I dont know if its the begining of MS, but it sure is a common theme. We tend to swing one way or the other.

I for years had IBS and would have to rush to a potty when the urge hit. As a paramedic on the streets, that wasnt always easy. As the years progressed, I swung too far in the other direction.

Its a good question to ask though.