[SeamsLikeStitches]

Here's the one I mentioned yesterday, and didn't ask it.
Has PN affected your BMs?
I've "always" had problems anyway. Especially if I eat anything with milk products in it. Cheese, milk, ice cream, etc. Gives me instant diahreah. (sp?) However, Now, don't know if it's the meds or the PN, but even if I don't eat milk products, I get no warning, (sometimes a little) and I'm off and running and with my lovely uncooperative feet, I don't always make it! I've started wearing protective pads to help me out a little just in case!

I'm feeling a LOT older than my 47 years!

Of course I've got the office that is the absolute furthest from every bathroom in the building!

[Ides]

...that you might have lactose intolerance? Either cut the dairy fro your diet or try a product like Lactaid.

[SeamsLikeStitches]

I know I have lactose intolerance, I've "always" been lactose intolerant... it's just that it happens now even if I "don't" eat milk products. Sorry if I wasn't clear about that. It's such an embarassing subject to begin with, not one I want to elaborate on!

[janster]

Hi~
Been there, done that--well, still do at times, so you're not alone. My Internist diagnosed IBS and suggested fiber capsules. I can go from constipated one day to diarrhea the next, but fiber capsules seem to help regulate me somewhat. It at least stopped most of the accidents.

I always wear a panty liner, and carry one in my purse too. I know what you're saying about being the furthest from the bathroom. It's something most people don't even think about. I think we always know where EVERY bathroom is before we go out of the house.

I don't think my PN has directly affected my BM's, but chronic pain and stress seem to. My bowels have always been sort of this way, but since I live with chronic pain and lead a stressful life, my bowels are affected more. Just one more thing to deal with..... hang in there!
Hugs,
Jan

[Aussie99]

who said that they had chronic diarrhea due to the PN. They even called it explosive at one stage,and told me that it was very difficult to deal with.

I don't know to what extent this information may help you, but if it is PN related, it may go away just as quick as it surfaced. If it is because of other medical reasons, than that needs to be examined. I would definately talk to your doctor about it though,as I am sure they can help with suggestions.

Sorry I could not be more help-

[dahlek]

onset and quite a whle after. I believe it IS one of the symptoms. Afterwards tho....you can certainly blame it on all the different pain-killers we all take. I'll bet if you do a search here or at other sites for 'painkillers+constipation', you will find MORE than you EVER wanted to know about possible solutions.

I find just 'upping' my Omega Oil will do the trick for me. With that, and lots of fluids I acquire the opposite problem. However, just dont' try to 'force' the issue, as you could hurt yourself.

Since I knew I would have this problem after two surgeries I had last spring, I decided to simply NOT worry about it. By doing so, my 'worry' levels were substantially reduced. I knew as the post-op med of choice was percocet. Worse yet, the pre-op preps had me stop the Omegas for 10 days prior.

It's NOT a silly question at all - some boards address it often, others simply take it as a given. Sort of comes with the territory.

Hope this all gets you on your way! - j

[glenntaj]

--as neuropathy, and central nervous system conditions such as MS, can affect autonomic systems in the body, from the temperature regulation systems, to blood pressure control, to digestion and elimination.

The autonomic functioning of the body is controlled primarily through small, lighly- or un-myelinated fibers, and, in fact, many people with predominantly small-fiber syndromes report problems with sweating, temeperature, digestion, elimination, blood pressure upon rising, and the like (though often the degree of disruption is mild or sublclinical). And many of the tests for small-fiber diagnosis, such as the Sudomotor axon reflex test or the other sweat tests such as Billye has described, and the Valsalva tilt-table tests, look for disruption in those autonomic functions.

Problem, of course, is that so many of the meds we take, and many of the supplements we use, can have effects on the elimination pathways independent of what our nerves may be doing (or not doing). Opiates are notoriously constipating. Magnesium formulations, and many anticonvulsants, are "stimulating". It may be hard to pull out the effects of these from those of dysfunctional nerves, but I wouldn't be surprised if those with small-fiber or mixed syndromes report these effects from time to time (they're common among diabetic neuropathic patients, for example).

And then, there are the effects one may have if one has celiac disease, or Crohn's, or hypertriglyceridemia, just to think of a few conditions that have primary gastric effects and may secondarily cause neuropathy, either through autoimmune or malabsorptive mechansims . . .it's very difficult to tease out.

[Yorkiemom]

To make matters even more interesting, I tore down into the sphincter during childbirth, which means it doesn't work as well as it could... Sometimes, this means little or no control, especially after eating fat or spicy foods... (Need to invest in a port-a-potty, I guess...)

I dread the colonoscopy I am due to have tomorrow for this reason. They give you all of this stuff to drink and make you go and go and go... Then you have to make it from the car to the hospital registration WITHOUT going...

Cathie

[Yorkiemom]

To make matters even more interesting, I tore down into the sphincter during childbirth, which means it doesn't work as well as it could... Sometimes, this means little or no control, especially after eating fat or spicy foods... (Maybe I should invest in a port-a-potty...)

I dread the colonoscopy I am due to have tomorrow for this reason. They give you all of this stuff to drink and make you go and go and go... Then you have to make it from the car to the hospital registration WITHOUT going...

Cathie

[SeamsLikeStitches]

Why do "Tampons" come to mind?