You Can…Get Control of Bladder & Bowel Issues
Gotta go! gotta go!
Bladder and bowel accidents are embarrassing. About 85% of people with MS are likely to experience these problems. It can happen early in the disease or late. Whenever it does, the fear of accidents can make people with MS stay at home and give up their outside activities.
The good news is You CAN manage MS related bladder and bowel issues.
First step
Consult with your healthcare provider for a comprehensive evaluation at the first sign of a problem. These can include:
- Bladder urgency
- Frequency of urination
- Leaking urine
- Constipation
- Loss of bowel control
As with other symptoms of MS, these can vary greatly from person to person. Depending on the cause, a management plan can include a combination of self-help strategies and medications. It may take some time working with your healthcare provider to identify the most effective techniques.
Bladder
You might think that cutting back on fluids is a good strategy. Don’t do it. It can lead to serious bladder and kidney problems. You need 6-8 cups of water a day.
- Plan your fluid intake. To drink 6-8 cups of water, divide this amount into portions. Drink fluids in larger amounts at 3 or 4 designated times a day. You can then plan a bathroom stop about 1 to 2 hours later. Sipping fluids throughout the day is a bad idea. It encourages more frequent bathroom visits.
- Establish a schedule of urinating every 2 to 4 hours, whether you feel the need or not. This behavioral technique is called bladder training or timed voiding. You can coordinate this with your drinking schedule.
- Reduce or eliminate caffeinated drinks (coffee, soda, tea, and alcohol) in your diet. These are bladder irritants. Avoid them altogether if you are traveling or going out.
- Discuss prescription medications for frequency and urgency with your health-care provider.
If the above approaches aren’t enough, Intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) may be recommended.
Bowel
click here, to continue reading from The National MS Society website
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