embarrased - please help

[grannyhotwheels]

Hi all,
Well, just when I thought I've had the worst of it something else happens to prove me wrong.  This is so embarrassing that if your a guy please don't gross out, okay?  

I've always had a lot of problems controlling my bladder and I have to wear the poise panties all the time, or else I would be doing laundry like 20 times a day.lol  Now though, it's even worse than that.  I don't seem to have bowel control.  The weird thing is I don't even know that I have done it until I go to the restroom..

Why can't I feel anything?  Even a little tummy cramp or the actual act of going potty.  I am so embarrassed that I refuse to leave the house.  I have a doctor's appointment on Jan. 3, but I'm freaking out now.

Also, can someone tell me what the withdraws are for Cymbalta.  I quit cold turkey.  It wasn't by choice either..

I'm really in a bind hear ya'll.  What can I do?  If anyone suggest crying then don't worry because that's all I've been doing since  Saturday.

I'm really scared here so any suggestions will help.  I love ya'll so much and  please have a very Merry Christmas and  a Happy New Year.

I'll be praying,
Carol

[T-lynn]

I can only relate to the walking and peeing,I have not experienced the bowels,I have close calls but do get a little for warning still.My sister experiences this and she's a nurse,she said its terrible.She's been using an anti-diahrea over the counter med.She calls it the shittin-shuffles.She advoids caffine,but has found that when she drinks a glass of wine at night before bed that it is reduced.She also said she takes a table spoon of apple cider vinagar each day and eating a fresh apple also helps.

She has had every test under the sun the last 2 years and they have not found anything wrong.

The wine ,the apple cider vinagar and eating a fresh apple came from her stomache DR.My sister says her heart brakes for you as she understands what your going through,she said cymbalta after long use can have this effect,she said she researched through a work computer,but it was dangerous to go cold turkey.

Congrats on the baby,a true Christmas Miracle.

Merry Christmas

T

[monotreme]

Carol,  this is Craig's wife.  Craig is in the middle of I guess what you would call a relapse event though he is not diagnosed.  he is having horrible MS hug spasms across from his back on both sides and across his stomach.  he is in very bad pain.  So I am answering your question or trying to.

I googled cymbalta withdrawal and found moodiness and general gastrointestinal symptoms along with blurred vision, balance problems.  it is apparently a very bad drug to go off of even in a controlled manner.,   I would try and get the prescription filled with cash and go off gradually.  Anything that acts on your brain would be hard to go off abruptly.  

I would call the drug manufacturer (Lilly I think) and ask them for prescription assistance.  I know they have that from when Craig was on one of their drugs.  They may be able to help with cost while you try to get off of it.  Don't tell them you want to go off of it though!!

About the bowel symptoms, as a nurse I would think that it is related either to your spine issues with the MS OR a form of impaction or severe constipation that causes leakage of stool.  You could try the apple cider vinegar.  You mentioned you only go once or twice a month so impaction /severe constipation comes to my nursing mind.  But the spine is a big factor too.  Hopefully Quix will chime in at some point from a physician perspective.

Personally I have had it with this horrible diseae as a spouse and our kids are horribly sad about thier father totally flat on his back in pain on Christmas day.  The fact that you consistently bounce back despite all of your many hardships is a true testament to your faith in God.  

I am hoping you get some relief and prayers are with you.
Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your family.
p.s.  I don't know what other meds you take, but Craig takes the natural supplement St John's Wort for his depressed state.  I buy the New Chapter Brand called Serofin.  It is organic and grown by the New Chapter company.

Elaine (Craig's wife)

[Akcowboy]

  You may call your Doctor and see if he/she may have some sample packs of cymbalta that they may give some as money is tight right now I know my doc has done this for me at times

[grannyhotwheels]

Thank you so much for letting me know that you care.  I am in some pretty bad pain today.  I'm not sure if it's the lack of cymbalta, which did help with the pain, or just the you've over done it the last couple of days type of pain.

Cowboy, I don't mean to laugh, and only people that have this happen to them are allowed to laugh, but you got me with the bad case of the wet farts thing.  I guess because I can relate.

The bad thing is mines not wet farts (lol) or walking farts, which by the way I have always had them.  My kids laugh because it makes them think of the comedy  thing of Larry the cable guy, when he's talking about his grandma, and they can't take her anywhere because of the walking farts.lol lol lol  Back to the subject, mine is not like diarrhea, it's well formed and is quite a mess to clean up.  Sorry to be so graphic but I'm trying to get it write so in case Quix jumps in she will know just where I am with all of this.

T - lynn,  hahaha  the shittin - shuffle.  You gotta be kidding me.  That is the funniest thing I've ever heard it called.  Thanks I needed to laugh.

Cowboy,  I did call my doctor for samples and then everyone got so busy because of Christmas that we forgot to pick them up.lol

Elaine,  Please tell Craig that I just want to cry knowing he is in so much pain on Christmas day.  He is such an inspiration to so many of us.  We have heard what a wonderful person you are and because you will post for him I can see what he means.  Tell him that I'm praying for him, and I just know that the Lord will hear my prayers.  Thank you for writing to me, that really means so very, very, much.

Thank you everyone and,

I'll be praying,
Carol

[mokibear]

Sorry I'm late in posting, but I was at my parents yesterday for xmas and didn't come home till today. I needed to grab an afternoon sleep as I have to work at midnight tonight.

I am sorry to hear that you are going through such a bad time. I don't have quite the problem that you do but I do have bowel problems. I was diagnosed with IBS quite a few years ago and although that seems a lot better, I now have a problem with any bowel movement in that when it starts to come, I need to find a bathroom ASAP!! I can not seem to hold it. I did find that when I have my morning coffee, it does get things moving, so if I need to go somewhere, I usually have a coffee first so I can go to the bathroom before I leave.

I had to kick my niece out of the bathroom this morning as I really had to go and knew that I would not be able to hold it. I felt bad for her but she did understand. I hope that you get this figured out and under control soon. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Please be careful going cold turkey with your meds. I read the other responses here and don't like the idea that they all think it is a bad idea. Can you get hold of your doc to get some soon? ( turkey is for eating by the way haha)

I hope you can enjoy the holidays without to much discomfort. Praying for you.

Moki

[Quixotic1]

Hi, Hon.  I have a whole bunch to say, but alas, it is late and I'm pooped.  Tomorrow I start my steroid infusions (my neuro is going to be so mad I delayed them so I could get my gifts finished!  Oh, well..)  After I get home I'll talk to you about what might be happening, (I may know).  And, as usual, there is no topic that is too embarassing for this forum to tackle.  Haven't you noticed.  The men even waded in (hmmm....poor choice of words).  This problem knows no boundaries and is as embarassing for men as for women.

But, the Cymbalta - going off cold turkey is a BAD (read that BAD) idea.  If money is tight you can always buy just a week's worth from the pharmacy and they will hold it, and then try the other options of seeing if there are samples at the doc's.  Have the doc's front desk call the drug rep to see if he/she will bring some samples, or contact the drug company.  There are ways to get some.

I, too, hit the bubble as soon as I started the Avonex last summer (Bummer - hey! It rhymes!)  In 2008, I enter the bubble in February and have to pay over $4000 just for drugs by the beginning of April before "catastrophic" coverage kicks in.  So, I know the problem.  But, get ahold of your doc.

I'll talk about the "other" problem tomorrow night.

Quix