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359574 tn?1328360424

Report from my follow-up visit with urogynecologist

It was just a talking visit.  She wanted to know if the medication was working, if the side effects were too troublesome, and whether there was anything else we needed to address.

I have had only a couple of accidents--probably just BECAUSE I am trying to lengthen my holding powers.  One was at work and my darling hubby brought me fresh jeans.  I think the medicine, oxybutynin chloride, has just started to be helpful in the last week or two.  It's not drying me out excessively.  I just wake up with cotton mouth, but when I'm up and about and can drink when I want, that's OK.  As long as I can sing.

It hasn't made the constipation worse.  She led me to try Citrucel instead of the psyllium fiber because the former doesn't make people gassy--and psyllium was just plain awful in that way.  That wasn't enough, so I added back in some Miralax.  I'm still trying to find the right dose.  1/2 dose every day is too much.  Full dose every other day is not enough.  I guess I'll try a spoonful every day and see what that does.

The end of the conversation was about the neurological connection.  Nothing big has changed since the first incident of transverse myelitis in 2007, just some slow worsening of things like the incontinence and the development of the sore eye from the atypical trigeminal neuralgia.  When I have my next appointment with the MS neurologist nurse practitioner, I will have them request her records ahead of time.  I don't need to see her again unless I want to try for 100% better instead of merely acceptable, or if things get worse.  She will authorize refills of medicine as long as I want.

The neurologist already has the reports from the neuro-opthalmalogist about the TN.  So I get to avoid doctors for a couple of months!  I need to save time off so I can begin the terrible process of extracting a tooth and getting an implant for a failed root canal.  (Actually two root canals, apicoectomy, and two crowns--all down the drain now.)  The periodontist did offer to give it another try, but only with a 50% chance of success, so I don't want to throw more money at those odds.  Heck, even the implant isn't a sure thing.
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Avatar universal
I happen to come across your comments as I was searching drugs for overactive bladder. I was taking enabled which I liked. Then I decided after a couple years to see how I did without it and for two years I had no urgency. Then it came back. I finished an unused bottle or enabled, but when I went to refill it, my newer insurance co. said no. So I HAD to try a generic drug, oxybutynin. I'm almost done with one months and it is just drying me out. I am a singer and it is not doing me any justice to be so dry. I was not as dry on Enablex as I am with this drug. Water isn't helping, so now I'm going to complain. I already sent an editorial to the paper about insurance companies practicing medicine. My urgency could be part of growing older or it could be the result of my MS.  I am glad you say you can sing, but the more the days go by and I am on this drug, the more difficult it is for me to even want to sing. So We all react differently to ddifferent drugs and I'm pretty sure this one is not for me.
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359574 tn?1328360424
Lulu:  The cotton mouth is only severe at night.  Maybe I'm a bit blessed by sleeping with a CPAP with a humidifier--I can crank that puppy way up and keep my nasal passages moist at least.  At first I thought I was opening my mouth and leaking air, but my hubby would poke me if that was the case.  It's noisy.

The dental stuff with the Tooth from He** has taken place over about 8 years, and the biggest problem with it has been money and time.  I barely have symptoms from it now, and it can wait several months before it needs to be removed.  The TN is not the horrible sharp pain most get--just feels like my face is exhausted from fighting the desire to squint all the time.  The trileptal is helping, and I'm not as sleepy with it as I was.  I think my biggest problem is light, because I wake up feeling OK in the eye.

Udkas, I have always empathised with you over the TN vs MS.  I see you're having new troubles and are seeking new answers.  I hope you get relief soon.
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Avatar universal
Hi there friend,
I haven't been on the forum much up until recently, to be honest I haven't even checked it, but when I have an issue or what some information I turn back to the forum.

I am glad your TM has not turned to MS but I am sorry to hear about your bladder issues, not much fun, I was on Vesicare and it made me so dry and constipated but it did help the situation heaps.  

Just wanted to say "hello"

Cheers,
Udkas.
Hope everything else is okay.
Helpful - 0
572651 tn?1530999357
The cotton mouth from these drugs for our bladders is horrible - I drink water all day long and also chew gum to produce saliva. Too bad I can't do that at night while I sleep.

The TN and all the dental problems sound painful - how have you coped?

I hope you feel better, and better soon.
Lulu
Helpful - 0
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