A Delicate Function Question...
 

I seem to recall that some MSers experience constipation...

I've suddenly developed this problem since Oct. 23rd...fiber powder and stool softener aren't doing anything...I'm trying to keep well hydrated too...

Is this something I need to tell the neuro about when I see him in 8 days?:confused:

Debbie.....I've found that eating "ACTIVIA" seems to help my digestive system in keeping things regular. Don't know if it helps everyone. Just a suggestion........Good luck! :)

Activia did not help me. I had the UTI from hell (It would not go away), neurologist referred me to a urologist, we talked constipation too. He had me experiment with Miralax a little more each morning (I take it in my coffee) until it was just right for me, about every 4-5 days, fudgies told me I was taking too much. Got a well-formed, easily exited product that flushed easily.

The urinary problem got better too. I was retaining a little, so a little sat and stewed, now it empties better. Doing OK now almost a year later.

YES, constipation can be a sign of a relapse, but there are some things you can do to move it along.

After much trial and error I have found a happy balance. Activia did nothing for me, and I HATE yogurt. Miralax swung me too far in the other direction, and it takes 2 or 3 days to work. Harsh laxatives and enemas were too harsh and only compounded the issues.

I take a colace that has a senna laxative mixed in the same pill. its 100 mg. then I take 2 phillips milk of magnesia tablets at night. This has kept me on the regular track. if I start to slow up, I add one MOM tab. if I get too soft, I take one away for a few days. its been a miracle! When I first started I took 4 tabs of MOM and 2 tabs of colace for 3 days, and then back off to the above routine.

many things can cause constipation, from dehydration to medications and lack of exercise. please bring it up to your MD and know that you dont have to live like that. its miserable to be backed up.

I also hear folks love warm prune juice, but I simply cant stomach it.

Thanks everyone...unfortunately, my body found a way to take care of the problem in the form of a gastrointestinal virus...it wasn't a good night, to say the least.
On the bright side, DH said, "Bet you lost a lot of weight overnight...":rolleyes:

I've been taking magnesium 250 mg, which helps a lot, sometimes I have to skip a day, because it can upset my stomach and missing a day helps that problem. It's helped me more than anything else.

Hope you're feeling better, Debbie. :hug:

Debbie,
 

Glad you are doing some better...hope it continues! :)

Me too, Deb...love the stuff. It helps where nothing else has, and I'm a poster child for constipation.:eek::D

I take Cesamet which dries the mouth on listed side effects, but I'm certain it's drying out EVERYTHING. I knew it was bad when I reach the week mark and no movement.

My coworker with MS went 3 weeks once :eek:. That's not healthy!

I asked my doctor today about this. I eat yogurt almost daily. I eat prunes every night. I read labels and find things with higher fibre content to consume. That alone doesn't help.

I tried stool softener, which I think is most beneficial when it's been a long time since you've passed. Metamucil seems to be the money shot for me, it keeps me going regularly. I take 5 capsules daily and drink a litre of water after them.

I actually just asked my doctor today, again (different doc than last time) if a dependency could happen (warning labels indicate this). She assured me that both softener and Metamucil are okay to take long term (as the other doc did), however my doc stressed that Metamucil, problems or not, is an excellent product to take regularly (I didn't tell her the product that had the most benefit, I wanted to hear her opinion).