IBS

[candy158]

Hi guys, just wondering if it is common to be diagnosed with IBS or bowel disease with or when you have MS ??  I have been having such difficulty the last year, and my colonography was ok., but am going to see my GI specialist on the 26th of July to see where we go from here, as things are getting worse..  

Hope you are all having a nice summer, sure do wish we could warm up a little though, it feels like September.....LOL

take care, Cheers,
Candy

[Sparkysarah]

Yes I can join the IBS gang and am sure that it is fairly common in people with MS. I have had it for several years and can definitely link it to stress and diet. When I work hard at eating a really healthy diet with lots of fruit and veg, not so much meat and dried fruit and nuts things seem to go along much better. When things slow down and cramping kicks in I take the meds my doctor gives me but this has not happened so much since I have been watching what I eat.

Sarah

[HVAC]

My gut started going down hill a few years ago. I was too embarrassed to say anything. Finally it got so bad I was dropping weight like crazy so my Doctors noticed. Turns out for me the MS has stopped nerves working in my lower intestine and everything works on gravity now. I got really bloated and finally could not eat and started dropping weight like crazy a few months back. A year ago they thought it was my gall bladder ( it was really bad but they found that by accident )  because of the pain I kept having on my left side. A year after my gallbladder removal same problems. I got really sick around my birthday every year. It turned out it was the cake and rich foods.

Long story short I am now on a special diet.  I am regular and usually not bloated. If I get bloated I eat fruit smoothies for a day or two and that moves things along. I not only have to watch what I eat but I have to eat lots of small meals to keep things moving. I also had to train my bowels. I feel urgency but can't go. So I have to sit with a book every day  at the same time and think of myself going.

I was taking Amitiza and laxatives, fiber, etc. Now I am able to do it all with diet alone. I am also keeping the weight off which is a plus.

Alex

[grannyhotwheels]

Pfurs,

What miligram and how many of the Amitiza do you take a day... Mine says 8MCG and I was taking 2 per day but he told me to go to 3 and see if that helps any... I'm excited to hear you are having success with it... That means there is still hope for me after all... lol...

I'll be praying,
Carol

[Pfurs]

I too have problems. Was to embarassed to talk to my male neuro (have no idea why) but I did go to my family dr and she gave me Amitiza which has actually helped. I've been taking it for 10 days and have had success.

[candy158]

Hi Carol, nice to meet you !!!  though this is just an odd way of doing so...LOL

I have been having so much mucous passing, and little to know stool, and pain too, and that is what I am concerned about.  I do have alot of bloating too, and feeling like I need to go but can`t , or just mucous falls out.  I hope they can find out what it wrong, and we are wondering if it is the MS...... I have secondary progressive MS.... and am ready to turn 53 this August, so am not getting any younger.

Thanks for your concern,
I will be praying for you too,
Candy

[grannyhotwheels]

Hi Candy,

I really don't know how common it is but I also have IBS that just keeps getting worse... I only have bowel movements once maybe twice a month... I know it's hard to believe but it's the truth.. Also, I used to never have bloating and pain in between those movements... But, in the last few months my stomach stays distended, I cramp until I double over, and nothing seems to help...

My doctor said it's a combination of the MS and the medication... That sure doesn't help much... He put me on Amitiza which is for IBS but I can't tell that it's helped much... He did tell me today to up my dose so we will see how that goes...

I'm sure I didn't give you any comfort in your question and for that I am sorry...What are some of the things you do for it?  I take stool softeners, laxatives, enemas, and what ever else I can find but it doesn't seem to matter... I hope you get relief soon...

I'll be praying,
Carol