Bladder and Bowel Issues

[chezbug]

How common are issues with bladder and bowel in MS?  And, is this a symptom that comes on with the onset of MS or would you say it's further down the road?

Thanks for your input,
Chezbug

[deborah0904]

Welcome to the forum.  I'm not sure if I've seen you on here before.

Unfortunately, I deal with both issues and have dealt with them for many years.  I've gotten much worse in the last year.  It is the most depressing part of my life as it is becoming a debilitating symptom.  I can't go anywhere without having an accident.  I just received my diagnosis in November.  

I've had Urodynamic testing.  Have the Dr.'s talked with you about this?  

[essdipity]

MS is not a disease with a predictable course. It's not possible to say when a given symptom will strike, and even when data is collected after the fact, there can be 'averages' but the results vary widely. For a given indvidual it's just impossible to say.

Since both bowel and urinary functions are complex and depend on proper nerve functioning in multiple parts of the central nervous system, lesions in any of these areas can cause malfunctions. Although it seems pretty simple to us at the conscious level, if nerves and muscles go haywire or fail to function in the proper order, that means trouble.

By the way, welcome to the forum. If you haven't already(?), please tell us what brings you here.

ess

[chezbug]

Thanks.  I've been researching MS and its symptoms for a while (and been lurking here for a while, just recently joined though).  I see where bowel and bladder are on the symptoms list but I haven't read much detail as to when it onsets... since it seems to be varied maybe that's why it's not mentioned.

I'll check out the HP area and read the post there.

Thanks again,
Cheryl

[saveone]

You can also search any of the national MS sites and find info on this and other problems associated with MS.  Just look under the symptom section and follow the links.

Here is to Vesicare!
terry

[Lulu54]

Hi cheezer,
that's the million dollar question that gets asked here quite often - it is very common and I would say a majority of us suffer through, not necessarily in silence.  If you search the terms here you will find multiple posts.

Quix has also written Health pages on the subjects - you should also read those.

When it happens - early or midstream (ha, ha!) in our disease course is  varied.  

be well,
Lulu