QUIX - Incontinence - sensitive topic

[addicted2harleys]

Quix - In reference to the incontinence....first off I went back and read the Health Pages on sexuality and incontinence.  I am having some embarrassing issues and I thought maybe I could get some guidance from you.  And, no, I haven't really discussed the "whole" problem with my PCP.

My problem....here goes....

1.  I wet the bed twice.  Also I get the urge to go pee, it comes on out if nowhere very quickly and I cannot hold it, which makes me not get to toilet in time.

I did talk to PCP about this and he prescribed the Oxybutinin ER.  This seemed to do the trick.  But, it made me constipated, I think, so I now take stool softeners every night.  

2.  I can't seem to "push" when I have a bowel movement.  It is like that muscle is gone.  I have to wait until my body can release it on its own.  Does that make sense?  I do have a bowel movement most every morning.  Sometimes during the day time and the night time, I "leak" a little...most of the time I don't even know it happened.

I have not discussed this with my PCP.  Actually this is the first time I have mentioned it to anyone.

3.  Sexuality.  I have no sex life anymore.  But, I do know that for the last couple of years I have had problems with vaginal dryness, can't seem to achieve orgasm

Again, I have not discussed this with PCP or anyone else.

4.  New sensation.  Started yesterday afternoon.  A pressure-like very intense pain down in my vaginal/anus area.  This sensation put me in the fetal position and took me to the ER.  This pain is hard for me to explain.  I have never felt it before and I wasn't able to find relief for it myself.  It stayed at a level of 8, but would come in wave-like periods of level 10.  It seemed to provoke my "regular" nerve pain into action and made it increase.

Could all of these issues be tied together?  Can you explain to me what is possibly going on with me?  If so, can you guide me in the right direction to get help with this?

Wow.  I just looked at what they gave me in the ER.  Morphine in my IV.  I gram, it looks like.  I guess this is why my mom had to pull over twice on the way home so I could puke.  

And my neuro is pushing for me to have IV Ig.  Do you have an opinion on that?

Thanks for your help, Quix....and for anyone else who may help me understand this....

Addi - tired of the pain and the poking of needles

[rendean]

Addi,
Was your pain similar in nature?  Just wondering...

As for the party, thanks for saving me a hat. As for cake and ice cream, I saved you a piece of cheesecake. This pain party is a step up from the usual party it deserves a step-up in the menu. The ice cream is your choice of homemade hand churned vanilla or peach ice cream. Being that I'm from the peach state, it was the law that I add it to the menu ;-).

Are you supplying the party favors? I'd like a double dose of morphine next time it occurs :-0.

Ren

[johnnymutt]

Ohhhhh, that pain. Sorry, I wasn't putting things together on that. It just hit me as I was re-reading the post's.

I have had that deep in between pain many, many times. Sometimes it lasts for about 2 weeks, and is worse when I use the restroom or have sex. I have been to my GP many times over it, which often resulted in a prostate exam. Nothing has ever been found as to what is causing the pain.
To me, the pain feels like something is all twisted up in there, from the middle of my scrotum, all the way back to my anus. When I urinate or have a bowel movement, things really get flared up down there, and I find myself having to stand up and try to message the area to find some kind of relief. When I am not doing anything, I still find the pain noticeable, but not unbearable.

[addicted2harleys]

Wow, Ren.  First off, here is your party hat.  I was saving it for you.

Your dream sounds awful!  ;0(  I am so so sorry you have experienced something so traumatic...and repetitive.

I was quite embarrassed to explain what was going on, but that only set in AFTER the morphine.  Before that the pain was so strong I didn't care who the hell knew about it, as long as someone could make it go away....you know?

So, since this is a party, where is the cake?  Ice cream?

Addi

[rendean]

I'm late to the party, again, but Addi , and others, I have experienced the same pain that won Addi some morphine. It has occurred several times, including once in my 20's and I attributed to a GI virus.

Now, it usually occurs at night, often I awaken form the same dream. This iis graphic so  the squeamish need to stop here.

The dream is that I am being hit or raped anally with a baseball bat. I wake up in agony and unable to move. I never thought about seeking relief from the ER, guess too shy to describe in person to others. The duration is variable from 1-2 minutes to 30 minutes. If I stay frozen in one spot it is bearable but so was childbirth...the difference being in childbirth I went home with a prize...a newborn. No prize with this pain.

I do have problems with incontinence, both urine and fecal. The second one has pretty much stopped since I started all my meds including one for my blood pressure, verapamil which is infamous for constipation, throw in a handful of MS related drugs and muscle relaxants.

Glad this sensitive subject has been discussed once again. Thanks Addi for starting the thread and Quix and everyone else for adding their stories and advice as well.

Ren

[Quixotic1]

Someone just askewd me an important question.

Will everyone eventually need to self-catherterize?  Absolutely not.  Self-cathing is done for people who have significant urine retained in the bladder after emptying.  This usually means more than about 100cc's.  (a little less than half a cup).  Retainted urine likes to get infected and once retention starts, it sometimes progresses insidiously to become more than the bladder can easily hold and will reflux (or back up) the tube that drains the kidney.  This can cause kidney damage and eventually could cause kidney failure.

The most common problem with MSers is OverActive Bladder, OAB.  This is treated with a combination of Pelvic Floor strengthening, meds, and neuromodulation.  It doesn't need self-catheterization.

I seem to be dominating this discussion when I really want people to share their stories.  Sorry.

Quix

[Quixotic1]

U2 - I find it interesting that men also can have this deep ache in the "middle" region.  I have had it, but not as bad as you or Addi.  Much of the basic interior musculature is similar between men and women and the nerves come from the same place, so I guess it isn't surprising.  

I feel bad for you about the sexual aspect.  That can be a really devastating part of this disease and it surely can isolate us.  I would like to know more about what we can do and how our partners can help us.

Addi - Momma Quix talking here.  I do understand how deep modesty can run, But.....we all need to be mature and proactive enough to face our problems.  That may include desensitizing ourselves to examination and self-touching.  What a tragedy it would be to ignore a problem because of embarrassment and suffer life-threatening consequences.  Why don't you PM me.

Lois - This disease is soooo unpredictable.  Urinary and Bowel problems are so common in MS that something like 80% of people will have some kind of urinary problem and about 50% will have problems like constipation or trouble eliminating.  So that shows that a certain number will never have the problem.  On top of that it is safe to say that things that are intermittent now may stay that way, improve, or progress.  No, you are not doomed to the worst of things.

John - I, too, would like to hear from any men that self-cath.  In all honestly, I have heard from some women that being able to self-cath and solve the problem made life sooooo much simpler.  I'm not sure if it is that much more painful for men to do, but it sure is easier.

Quix