Personal but important
 

For many months I have been having problems with bowel urgency. I had little warning of having "to go" and could not hold it when I felt the urge. I figured it was an MS thing and I had to learn to live with it.

One day I had a break in my work so I looked up all my meds on medline to see if anything was new. Low and behold, copaxone listed fecal urgency as one of the side effects. I talked to my doctor and we decided that I would stop the injections and see what happened. My problem went away. Now I have the ordeal of finding an alternate therapy but I can feel comfortable leaving home and I don't need to know where all the bathrooms are wherever I am. It has made a huge difference in my life.

This is such good news for you and good info for the board! I'm glad that you investigated and educated you doc.

ANN

Good info. to know.

Good news. Was Copaxone keeping your MS at bay? I hope you will find a med that will do that for you.:hug:

another prime example of being you being your own best advocate.
thanks for the info.

Yes, Sal, the copaxone was keeping my symptoms well under control. I'm a little afraid of what will happen not taking it. My PCP says she will refer me to an MS specialist so I will probably have to go to Rochester. I'm a little afraid of breaking in a new doc. They repeat the same old tests that show the same thing year after year. I'm tired of the process. We'll see what happens.

im so glad you found the answer! congratulations! :hug:

The bowel urgency problem was the main reason I stopped taking Copaxone.

I tried to tell the neuro I thought that the bowel problems I was having were connected with the Copaxone, but he dismissed the idea. Like you, knittenkitten, I looked it up and found that bowel urgency is listed as a side effect that they had noted.

The whole problem got much better after I stopped Copaxone.

Hmmmmm, interesting. Bowel urgency with Copax eh? Who'dathunk it?
Ticked that box... But also stopped drinking lactose milk and dah dahhh! No more issues for me!

Good for you but what causes mine? I'm not on Copaxone