Constipation as a symptom of MS??
 

Sorry for the poopie thread, but I have questions.


I guess I have heard this as I have made my way through the treatment world, and the path of MS, but somehow it never sunk in. As I was being examined at my MS clinic check up, they asked if I was constipated. I said, well...its a normal state of being for me, so I assumed it was a normal thing in my world. The MD went on about how in MS patients the bowel wall can trigger just like the muscle for the leg, or the arm, or any other part of the body, and that greater than 50% of MS patients have constipation as a sx for them, either IN flare, or post flare.

It has been my normal to go from constipated to super constipated. It is like I simply cannot feel the urge to push the material out. I can tell that I need to go, and it seems like my intestines push things at a snails pace, so I make sure to be very well hydrated. The issue for me is that I simply am not able at times to push correctly. Like asking your leg to raise, and it wont, or asking your feet to stop tingling. I am stunned that I never actually tied this in as a true symptom of MS.

How many of you have constipation as one of your symptoms? is it a normal daily thing for you, or do you just have flares with it?

Thank you for tolerating yet another brown thread.

I go from constipated to super constipated, Once a week was hoped for, with Fiber One Cereal, Benefiber, Apricots, lots of water, now I go 2x a week being very diet aware. Once I was fast and regular, every day, same time. Now, sometimes takes awhile and if I get lazy about my diet, impacted and/or huge. I take Phillips Stool softeners a couple nights before I expect it to happen. DH knows when I start singing Johnny Cash "I feel that train a'coming" to get out of my way. Usually don't need to rush so, but I do. Miralax is gentle but taking it or anything makes the opposite happen all night long. Ick.

Agreed! when I take "interventions" I am hoping to come back to center, and its such a fine balance that can tip me in the other direction, and then I am running for the whole day. I just want to be able to go potty like the rest of the world.

I have tried miralax, and phillips, and well, about 3 dozen other things, and I find that its very difficult to just keep the peace.

Why cant this disease be about an itchy finger? or a finger nail problem? Does it have to be about such personal agendas?

I had an exacerbation 3 years ago that affected both my bladder and bowel. I had to start self catheterisation, and I was going over 2 weeks at a time between BMs.

Since then things have been "normal". For my bladder that means I only have to catheterise occassionally, but have gone from unable to go, to being incontinent at times.

During that exacerbation I had my first episode of fecal incontinence as well. I didn't even know it had happened until I felt wet, as I had no sensation at all.

I go between the two extremes. :rolleyes: At first thought it was due to my gall bladder surgery over ten years ago since some of the issues started then, until things came to a head last year. I was in major pain.

Had a CT scan, went to a gastro, had a couple of other tests - in the end all the could say was "hmmm." Put me on a couple of anti spasmatics for the digestive system, and some food suggestions. Helps with the pain, but not so much with the other stuff. :o

I have routines in place that keep things regular. One little misstep and I'm in trouble again. The over the counter stuff leaves me with the opposite problems, so I try to monitor diet and liquid intake to keep a good balance. I have added coconut oil to my diet and it seems to help when the going gets really rough. :p:rolleyes:;):o:)

I'm real good - Fiber One, apricots (Like better than prunes), diet and water then I get cocky and it's over and I get mad at myself for slipping up in a very important area.
I hate that MS is my body betraying me in so many ways. Some of this can have great impact on your plans,

I take generic metamucil at night in a large glass of water, and eat tons of fiber in the form of whole grains, fresh veggies and fruit, otherwise it would be a problem for me all the time. If I have a flare up, it can happen anyway, regardless of my diet.

lol, I just saw that. :D

I do plenty of fiber stuff, and have good results, but sometimes it is a matter of :o not being able to push the material out into the world. yes, softer is easier, but its not a matter of bulk, its a matter of my body seems to have forgotten how to push, or peristalsis has not been able to kick in. The longer stuff stays inside, the drier it becomes, and the harder it is to get rid of.

:o I am blushing just writing this! :o That is one of the reasons I didnt mention it to the MD was its just plain old weird, but I am being told its kinda normal for my crowd to be constipated. From the looks of the Poll, it looks like I am not alone.

What other remedies do you use?

Constipation is a big thing, a battle many of us fight and some fight the opposite battle with uncontrolled Diarrhea.Having done both, think I prefer Constipation as it is less visible and embarrassing, but really both suck.

Something is always around for many in Urine and Bowel control and I like when someone brings it up. Have I spoke to my neuro? Not really, not sure he's a good choice. But a neuro's female PA (?)( Nurse but really almost a doctor.), she was excellent, full of practical suggestions, etc. No longer see that neuro (Or her now) so hope I continue with no big sexual pronblems (except "Does this wheelchair make my butt look big?" to ask my poor neuro. (that question is for DH, not the Neuro)
My PA suggested a not so good concoction of Prune juice, bran and applesauce. When I'm desparate, I do it. ICK.

Urine incontinence is a whole other thread.

LOL, I must be a Mom. I just read that while finishing my eggs and toast. ;) Anyway, when I went for my first colonoscopy, the doctor suggested Miralax for occasional constipation. I think he said I could use it a few days in a row once a week with no problem. It's very gentle too but kind of pricey even though it's OTC.

This is a real problem and I hope you get it under control soon. :hug:

yes i do dej.
but some of that could be a side effect of some of my meds.
i used to take 1 pm stool softner and now i take 2 and still have to push.

i also take metamucil as needed.

I take 2 oxybutynin a day for bladder control. This med dries me out and I am sure it is the main reason for being constipated all the time.

But if I don't take it, l I can only go about 30 minutes without using the bathroom, so I will put up with the other issue so I can get out of the house more.

gmi

In my first couple of years after being dx w/MS I was getting monthly ear infections that required antibiotics. I was told by 2 or 3 different doctors to tell my neuro about my monthly ear infections because apparently it's tied into MS.

Why I bring this up is they did a culture on my throat and found I had/have an bacteria that belongs in my lower intestines in my ears and throat. Since, daily Acetic Acid 2% ear drops are put in my ears to prevent the monthly ear infections.

I've had problems with severe constipation since my MS was very active my first 4 years after dx. In time, I was sent to a protologist and told my intestinal muscles sometimes work in reverse and I have practically no sphincter muscles. I was prescribed MiraLax nightly. Now MiraLax is over the counter.

This was prescribed after I cut out processed meats, drink Citrucel nightly (doesn't produce gas like the other ones do), eat 'USA' black licorice nightly (which does not increase your bp), started with 2 softeners nightly, 2 stimulants when needed at night, eat a high fiber diet and drink plenty of water daily, eat shredded wheat cereal for breakfast along with a prune or two daily.

Bananas, white rice, applesauce and toast is the diet you are to follow when you have diarrhea (BRAT Diet).

My constipation has only gotten worse over the years and yes constipation is tied in with MS. Too, I now am prescribed Reglan with my meals for my stomach muscles digest food very slowly which too affects my intestinal muscles.

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/abo...ion/index.aspx
At the bottom of the article are additional articles and brochures.

0357 thanks! it sounds like you are my twin. I too have extreme little muscle reaction which is needed to push things along. I did that food test where they give you a breakfast after you have fasted, and it is EXTREMELY slow to even leave my tummy. They were amazed. everything is so slow in my gut.

I too have ear infection issues. I will have them swab for that bacteria. thanks!

I too would rather have the constipation vs the diarrhea. once upon a time pre MS I had IBS, and it seems like it was a pre cursor to this disease. I knew where every bathroom was in every part of the city. I was a medic on a rig out in the field all day, so its not like the potty was down the hall. I am sure the stress of my job added greatly to my IBS, but it wasnt fun to constantly be worried about quick shutter speed once you got that rumble in your tummy. I kept a change of clothes at work, and didnt make it to that far away potty several times. I had to be prepared no matter where I went, so I have lived that life, and know its hazards as well, so I am counting the blessing of being slow rather than fast, but its still such an issue.

its so easy to tip me the other way. I think I will try this miralax, but have heard others say it tipped them the other way. lets see what it does for me.

This could be written about me...I have no oomph :( I have to put power
behind my lack of oomph to get anything done:mad:.

It's so easy to tip me from not to tooooooooo much. When I'ne taken Miralax (which is gentle and doesn't hurt) I do 3/4 to 1/2 dose, but sometimes that works and sometimes takes me over edge to opposite of constipation:eek::eek:

Crappy subject, but :rolleyes: ....

I have both Ulcerative Colitis and MS to contend with, so if it has not been one problem to the extreme, it is the other.

I have gone as long as 5 weeks without a b/m on one occasion. I tried EVERYTHING under the sun for about 35 yrs (even before I knew I had MS), and not one thing made a pinch of difference.

When it comes to the constipation, I think that when it gets "hung up" in transit for a period of time, like Dejibo mentioned ... the longer it takes, the 'harder' it becomes (yeah, I'm blushing too). It becomes like a ever-accumulating cork, and everything backs up behind it. When the dam finally breaks, the backed up 'stream' flows uncontrolably.

So, the trick is to not let the dam accumulate, of course.

Like I said, I tried EVERYTHING there was; exercise, water, fruit, fiber, laxitives, suppositories, metamucil .... nothing worked. :mad: My doc kept telling me to try BENEFIBER, but I was so fed up with "trying" things, I put it off for a couple of years.

BENEFIBER works for me though, at a much smaller dosage than is recommended. It calls for a tsp 3X a day, and I take a MAX of 3/4 tsp ONCE, and everything works within 24 hours, WITHOUT FAIL. It usually keeps me regular for about a week after that too.

I am still slack sometimes, and leave things too long ... I should use it a every week at least, but I am quite used to not worrying about it till I have to. The good news is BENEFIBRE works whenever I need it to.

Cherie

Wow, I am so relieved to know that so many of you understand what I am talking about. Normal folks hear about my problem and scratch their heads, and tell me to just eat more prunes, or take product XYX. It explained so much when the MD told me its an MS thing. just like not being able to raise or control the muscle in leg that causes the drop foot, I am not having much luck with muscle contractions in my gut. Its such a relief to know that I dont stand alone. I am sorry that anyone else has to endure it, but I felt plain old weird, and just backwards for so long.

Does anyone else use a stool, or something to put their feet up on when on the potty? I had a friend reccomend that I put my feet up on a lil step when on the potty, and it places the body in a more normal position for pooping. It has been an awesome tool. I know I am on the short side, and my feet dangle off the edge of most couches, and chairs, so having something to rest my feet on when I sit is a comfort.

Dang! I just got back from the store and forgot miralax! I do use benefiber. its good stuff. I dont get too gassy from it either.

Thanks for showing me I dont walk alone. :hug:

Thanks for starting this thread :) I too am glad I'm not alone.

A lot of great advice everyone! I'll add benefiber to my list. Miralax hasn't helped, so think I'll try that. Stubborn digestive track. :D

:grouphug::grouphug:

Took me a while to find this link again but . . .


Abdominal Massage Shown To Benefit Constipation In MS
Article Date: 14 Jul 2009 - 2:00 PDT

Trail results have highlighted the benefit of abdominal massage in the management of constipation - a common symptom in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). . . .

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/157369.php

*********
The day after sex (internal massage- like) I seem to have an easier BM. When messaging, what direction where looking. Me looking out of my stomach Say clockwise versus you looking in, saying counter-clockwise.

I am not sure. I googled "abdominal massage" and got all sorts of results, some with videos, but just read a quick one and thanks to MS cog fog I didn't understand what I read.:rolleyes::rolleyes: I'll read it again in the a.m. when I am more alert. LOL

My bowels just don't want to behave- it's like the whole process is totally uncoordinated now.

When things started to slow down, I started taking 200mg colace every morning... when that wasn't cutting it, I took miralax... then dulcolax... and an enema... and still ended up in the ER after 8 days with no action. They prescribed magnesium citrate, eventually resulting in 2 days of liquid diarrhea.

I started taking benefiber on the recommendation of my MS specialist and LE44, but I still can't move my bowels (4 days now) and now I've got abdominal pain.

I saw my PCP this afternoon, resulting in this combo of meds:
benefiber, 200mg colace, and a tbsp of lactulose up to 3 times a day

I just feel SO sexy.

-Kay

As part of a routine, every morning when DH gives me coffee, he has stirred 1 tsp. Benefiber in, Everyday. Tasteless? I can taste it, but coffee so strong flavored I don't notice it. After nap I take my Amantadine with Pomagranite,Cranberry juice, cold from frig, stir another tsp Benefiber in. Every three days at least eat Fiber One (Which DH calls Fire One!). When I get lazy and have a hard time scare (like other day) I eat Apricots constantly through day. Hope to be on track next time. 2x a week is my goal (sure beats 1x a week), am lucky, abdominal never bad, like getting a period or easier. Sometimes it'd hard and huge, sometimes softer and almost normal. Never know what will happen.
Redid our bathroom, bought nice attractive toilet but it was way to big for me, only my toes could touch floor. I'm really short, DH built me little stool to elevate legs, you can even buy, plastic and much lighter!. Mine was beautiful but way too heavy for me as I have lost mobility and strength. Despite cost of having already bought this toilet, bought one I researched (I now know more about short people and toilets than I care to discuss) got a new one 2 1/2 inches lower and paid again but it's worth it!!. It's the one they put in grade schools!!! I am short. Last time DD and I shared shoes she was in 2nd grade, I'm small, she's big. We bought this house from a coupld with a Tall husband. Bathrooms were tailored to his height, all Toilets over our 9 years here have been replaced now.

OMG!!! Dejibo! Thanks to your thread I've been hyper vigilant and for the 2nd time this week this week sang about that freight train coming and in less than 15 minutes it pulled in!!!!! Going to eat an apricot again right now to help next time!!!

I'm so excited about this. I really need a life, don't I?

I am just so thrilled to know that I dont sit and wait alone. its horrible to know that the poopies are right there!!! its right there! cant push it out. Then spend the next 2 or 3 days obsessing about it, and loading up on prunes, or fiber one or other such stuff, and get hucked into the other lane of traffic. As a nurse (yes, its gonna be gross) when I get desperate, I will lube up a finger with prep H, and reach in and wiggle it out with my finger. (make sure to cut your nails!) its right there!!! I try not to resort to this measure, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I would prefer to feel the urge, walk to the potty, sit down, and wait a second, then...a nice C or S shaped deposit. not this dump truck full of rocks.

All of you have made me feel so much better about this dysfunction. I really had no idea how not alone I really am.

:hug: fer all.

OK, maybe (Maybe!!!!) I've done that. I advocate carefulness and I use baby wipes as a barrier (They are not flush able but put in a plastic bag, tie, and throw out.)Try Apricots, not prunes!

My cleaning lady, a former practical nurse with experience, offered to do it. But after seeing how she cleaned, well no. Have new cleaning service now and putting up a shower curtain is all the extra I expect.

Horray for lactulose!!! :D

You need to moisten those buggers up with Benefiber and lots of salads, Dejibo.

Cherie

oh how silly I felt when I decided to put this in writing in public on this forum. I am surprised to see how many sit beside me in the waiting line.

I tried miralax, but at half dose, I went too far the other way.

headed for apricots next week. :o

When I did Miralax I would do 1/2 dose, etc.

I tried to manually disimpact when the enema failed me. I didn't have any gloves, so the best I could come up with was one of those condom-look-a-like bandaid covers with KY. But, alas, there was nothing in the vault...
and it was all for nothing- still ended up having to go to the ER.:(

Dejibo, I think you mentioned about using a stool to prop your feet, and I have done the same thing. Another helpful tip is to lean forward and massage your lower back.

I have a trick that I've never shared ... but since we are getting graphic here, I'll go for it. Once it "engages", but is very compacted (several weeks for me), I use my tissued hand to press in the flat area between the vj and rectum. This assists the movement, which seems to get hung up in some channel down there.

Ok, I can't embarass myself more than that, so did I ever tell you the story about ........... :p

Cherie

I will give those things a try. thanks! Since I went too far on 1/2 a dose of miralax it will be days now, and I will be uncomfortable till it happens, but this is a normal part of my life now. sheesh! the games we play. :cool:

Thanks for the benefiber advice. Still having some issues, but the pain has definitely lessened by adding it to my morning coffee. :yahoo: