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Avatar universal

ms and feeling sick to the stomach/irritable bowel/i.c.

hello. first time on this site so here goes. i was diagnosed with ms 2 years ago, but because of the amount of scaring they think i have had this for over ten years. my nuero said he was amazed that i was still walking and talking. (thats always good to hear)  so  i was wondering if any of you ms suffers also have irritable bowel and or i.c. (interstitial cystitis ?  i seem to have all three, but lately, about the last month, every morning  i have been having stomach aches (feels like morning sickness) and abdominal cramps along with diarrhea . this seems to go away after several hours, but the stomach ache comes back in the after noon and the diarrhea seems to come back at any given time of the time. i dont know if it is irritable bowel or the ms. as i have not had any problems like this (to this extent) with the ibs in the past, as a matter of fact the last time i really had any problems with the ibs was over 10 years ago. i take copaxone daily and that is the only medication i take. i dont like taking meds, so i try to deal with the pain, itching, numbness, mood swings, fatigue, bladder problems, lack of concentration , loss of balance, vertigo and all that good stuff on my on (with the help of the lord). i do get weekly treatment for the i.c. thou. i havent heard of any one else who has ms that suffers with stomach upset, kinda acidy feeling gut and the diarrhea like i have.  any one else going through this or heard of it? any feed back would be appreciated.  thanks so much .  
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Avatar universal
I have had IBS since the 70's.  Through the years it just gets progressively worse.  i was diagnosed with MS in April 2003, but they feel that I've had it sine the 70's because i was always sick with one weird virus after another.  It has been said that childbirth can reverse MS damage, which would explain why, after the birth of my third child, I felt like a teenager again for about 8 years and my IBS wasn't as bad, but then started again with weird illnesses.  
Since my diagnosis, my IBS has gotten to the point that I can't get out of the house in the morning.  I have IBS with diarrhea and it completely controlls my life.   I have noticed that when I am out in the sun, like on the beach, or if I'm on my feet too long or simply fatigue my body, my MS flares up, and the IBS kicks into high gear. I spend the next 6 to 12 hours running to the bathroom.  
I absolutely see a correlation between the MS and the IBS, in fact I am considering hypnosis to try to get it under control.
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Avatar universal
Does anyone that has IBS and IC have hypoglycemia?
Danni
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Avatar universal
what exactly is clinically isolated syndrome?  You have lesions on your spine and brain but it's not m.s.? i don't get it, they say you will probably have ms within the next couple years.  to me this just isn't making any sense.  i am actually starting to feel better, the first time in weeks, if not a month. abdominal area still real sore and achy but feeling a little better. i guess it's just all the misc **** that have, either the m.s is active or the bladder disorder is active or maybe both. whatever the case may be, i just hope they go into remission soon so i can get back to feeling good and playing with my dogs and working in my flower beds and stop sleeping to darn much.    
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494976 tn?1302710701
For about a year now i have had what i thought may be ibs.My mum has it and my dad did too.Mine isn't bad but there have been months of diarrhea then i'm fine then constipation for weeks.(Cramps with diarrhea).I am recently diagnosed with clinically isolated syndrome.I mentioned the IBS to my neuro but she said it was completely un related.
Suzie.
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Avatar universal
thank you for sharing with me.  i am beginning to think you are right, that is m.s. related. reading what several others have said and looking into the irritable bowel and the other (i.c.), it seems to all be related to m.s. i do have a large scar on the base of my spinal cord from my last m.s. attack that along with other back problems could be causing a lot of strange things to be going on in my stomach/bowel area. thanks to sllowe, who suggested the health page, i found some information regarding  m.s. and upset stomach and bowels. so i guess i should assume that this wonderful disease of ours has yet claimed another function of my body. i, like you, seem to go through periods when i feel fine, and then i will go through this stage of "morning sickness" for a while. and i know it's not diet related as well because i have not changed a thing. i do eat pretty healthy for the most part and try to avoid high fat foods and dairy. i do have a question for you thou, when you get this, do you also get diarrhea along with it?  because that is the big issue with me, some times it's so bad i don't want to leave home until i know it's safe.  
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Avatar universal
Hi, my name is Dave, I think I have the same type of problem. My stomach problems and sick feeling happens in the morning when I get up or .. try to. It usually goes away by the time I get going, shower and that sort of thing. I believe that, at least in my case it is MS related. I think this because the severety of this problem changes with the same frequency as the other problems I have that are defenitely MS. Perhaps this may help you link your problem to MS or not.  I may go two or three weeks with the morning sickness every day then I will leave me alone for a while.... maybe a week to a month, then come back. I don't think that this is related to diet because I have chosen to go on a very strict diet ( MS recovery Diet ) . This has helped me in all areas including the morning sickness. Maybe this helps you... Dave
Helpful - 0
338416 tn?1420045702
Whew!

I have had gastric problems for a number of years.  Looking back, they started at the same time my other problems did, so I'm pretty sure it's MS related.  

In my case, I get acid reflux, which causes my esophagus to spasm.  I also have problems with constipation and diarrhea, but it's controllable with medication.  My bladder also acts up.  I get abdominal cramps at random through the day, but they're worst in the morning and at night.  However, as far as I know, I only have MS, not interstital cystitis or irritable bowel.  Fortunately!

It's possible for your internal muscles to start cramping and spasming, which will cause diarrhea.  
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Avatar universal
thanks to you all for posting. i have been down a rocky road trying figure out what was wrong. started after daughter was born 19 years ago. with vertigo and ithching. lots of dr. visits for different things as i am sure we all went through this stage. i had lost the feeling in my face and head in 2000 and they said it was bells palsey and would go away. which it did two months later.  i have been to dr's for itching so bad on my legs that i take the skin off, for bladder problems, mood swings, fatigue, vertigo,  you name it.  and of course they had an answer for it all, just wasnt the right answer and it always came back.   found myself being a single mom of two young teenagers  in 2002 and had to work three jobs to stay on top of it all. began getting the numbness in hands, then arms and by day three 90 percent of my body was numb. went to the local er and they did a ct.  the dr came back and said  we think you have ms.  so set up a neuro apt and apt with family dr and the rest so to say is history. i was taken off of work for two months in which time i went into remission. i still have the numb hands and fingers and was left with scarring on the base of my spine and lots of big lesions and lots of small ones on my brain. i dont seems to have alot of physical disability but cognitive is a lot.   in the past year i started having server abdominal pain and tenderness to where it hurts to even button my pants.  sex is extremley painful so it's just pretty much out of the question. (my boyfriend is great and really patient, thank god)  and more bladder problems then i get with the ms. besides the delay in going, i cant seem to empty bladder either. they did a bladder scope and discovered i had  interstitial cystitis which is an autoimmune of the bladder. the i.c. goes into remission like the m.s. but when it is active that is when i seem to have problems with the irritable bowel.  my urologist said the ibs is tied into the i.c. most people who have one have the other. and along with the ms, it all just gets really bad.  but the stomach aches and the acid feeling in the stomach and throat are all new and i was searching to see if it was the  ms or (god help me ) something else.   i have been on copaxone by the choice because although you have to give yourself a shot everyday, it didnt have the bad side effects like the others. so far it's been pretty good except the lumpy bumps or indents in the skin. but if thats the worst of it, ill take it.  so i hope sharing this information will help you all to get to know a little bit more about me.  i am really glad i found this site.  thanks guys!  
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195469 tn?1388322888
Welcome to the MS forum.  You have stumbled on a fantastic place with caring and knowledgeable people, always willing to help.  Glad you are here.

I have been dx with MS for over 13 years.  I had gastro-intestinal problems before I was diagnosed with MS, so dont know if the two are connected.  Sometimes when people with MS have lesions in the spinal cord, it can create all sorts of havoc in the areas below those lesions.  At least that's what my Neuro tells me.

I hope that you will tell us more of your story...about your journey to diagnosis.  It always helps the newcomers to the site, that are not diagnosed as yet and also helps those us that are dx to learn more.  Hope that you will share with us.  Again, welcome.

Best Wishes,
Heather
Helpful - 0
198419 tn?1360242356
Hi there!

Welcome to our group!  I'm so glad you joined us.

I'm not sure of the difference between what you experience w/MS, and now with this.

I get problems w/my stomach, but always thought it was too much food, not enough, etc.  Always trying to find the right balance for me is tough.  Have you had any changes in your diet that you can look into?  Hae you made your doctor aware?  I know he or she may just send you to a gastro, but at least it would be documented.

So, what brought you to the doc and subsequent MS dx? Share if you care too.  Glad you are here, you can help us out w/things that is for sure.  Hope we can help you too.  I'm sure many will chime in, and help sort out your current symptoms.  

Did you choose Copax on your own, or did your Dr recommend?

Again, welcome - think you find so much support and edcuation here.  Check out our health pages in the top right corner - they are amazing!

be well,
Shelly
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