Since I have chronic migraines and MS--I've been on pain meds for what seems like forever....and that has definitely affected my "regularity". And of course, such a "sexy" topic for doctors right?

Anyway-I stick with Activia, Benefiber 3x a day, and lots of fiber rich foods. It sounds like overkill but at this point, I feel like it couldn't hurt to just jumpstart your system. 

Have you talked with your doc?

Hello Holly ... my name is Adrian ... your situation sounds all too familiar ... and to compound the situation is the fact you have either no insurance nor money tp pay for "outside" help , like the colonic ...

I have Taken the liberty and broke down your post so I can perhaps add my experience and if you find a use for any of it , great !

"I am having another exacerbation; but I don't know how long I've been here. We had some horrible days in Dallas with heat last month and it could have been pseudo or the real thing.  All I know is that I know for sure it is here now. If it started last month, I am officially over 30 days with symptoms again.   Yesterday, while on the phone and again while talking to my daughter; I started crying for no reason.  I have to say, I miss the uncontrollable laughter that I had last summer; much more fun than crying!"

Okay, first off, keep "cool" .. both inside and out .. I came to FL to help my mom monetarily while she tries to sell her place here , she and I have never been close and can easily end up in a bad scenerio ..

I close my eyes , take some deep breathes and calm myself down , ignoring her totally .. two years of therapy has taught me that I am not the cause , so why should I be adding her issues into my life .. after tuning out and allowing myself my space , I can then calmly get up and say what I need to ..

So, practicing "tuning out" , allowing yourself your own "time out" , to sit and not think , to sit and just be .. don't allow yourself to sweat the small stuff and believe , as long as your MIL doesn't smoke , finding food is not a huge issue to cope with .. your emotions are in high gear ..

So, again, deep long breaths in , hold 5 seconds and release .. calming down is the main issue for all your symtoms .. perhaps in your area there are places that offer therapy for free .. to help you learn "coping methods" .. as MS people we can certainly ties all of the issues and make a huge big ball of confusion that we don't need ...

"""I am buzzing and my brain fog is back; but I am keeping positive so that I don't add to my own misery.  The worse part this time is the constipation (going on 2 weeks and nothing helps-so advice is greatly appreciated). Laxatives and enemas did not work!  In addition I am having pain in my back; for the first time in many months I've had to resort to pain medication-this of course only worsens the constipation!  Right now, having a colonic looks like a great idea (if I could afford it)...  Maybe that is why my brain is fogged up?!  jk""""

I also have the constipation problems .. i also have learned to add Oilive Oil to my diet .. it helps , i use it with salt (low blood pressure) , pepper and garlic powder and make MY salad with the olive oil .. adding tomatoes , not soo much sauce but tomatoes to your diet help .. adding bran , adding certain fruits you enjoy , myself it I find the "dried" Apricots , though not dry, make a great laxative .. and excersize of any kind , walking if possible .. stretching especially helps .. massaging the intestines and , excuse me, but rectal area .. all relaxing methods ..

Having had a blockage for a week was the longest I could go .. the advice was "enema" .. yuck, yuck and yuck ... again, I did my relaxation session , all of 5 minutes to clear my head and adding a laxitive (Ex-Lax) the night before ,  using warm water and baby shampoo , I calmly let the fluid in .. but instead of satying in that God awful position on the floor , I stood up .. after a minute I stood up ..

and instead of sitting in a fetal position on the toilet , i prepped the bathroom with disposable towels and stood bracing myself in and upright position and just squeezed .. it was as if my hiney was going to bust open , but a huge mass plopped out and the rest came out easily and while on the toilet ..

Breaking down that Mass is the worst .. and the longer we wait , the worst .. now if i don't go in two days , I take my laxatives .. and ensure a nowel movement .. and believe me , you know when it is starting to block up ..

Recap ?  Laxatives , regularly at first symptoms of constipation , adding fiberous fruits (peaches, apricots, oranges) , adding Olive Oil to your diet in a salad .. and again, staying calm ... and like now ? I would be at an emergency room , and screw te bills .. it is hard to understand how or why a physician or whoever you see isn't doing anything about this life threatening issue .. and one important thing most people hate but is necessary is drinking plenty of WATER .. it flushes the kidneys , bladder .. WATER , we are comprised of it , our bodies need it .. so add WATER ..

""I got my blood work back and found out that I now have a problem with cholesterol and potential kidney damage.  I guess that is from the bladder issues associated with this?  Any advice on that would be appreciated too.  My  heart rate is down again and I feel like I'm 80.  But! I have my sense of humor and am determined NOT to feel sorry for myself!""

Having a sense of humor is wonderful .. I do also, but use it in times of trouble as a defense system because I am scared to say, "I need help" ... learning to ask for help from strangers is the worst .. and I consider doctors , friends , family strangers as they aren't in my alternative universe ..

What WE do is act like it is no big deal , when in fact it is ... so I now wait until I am done asking the advice, learned to speak up and to whom and then I show my satisfaction with my humor .. i no longer make a joke of things as I am 53 and it worked whne I was younger to diffuse a situation , but this is no ordinary situation .. showing humor is always great , but let it wait until you get through the situation with positive results ..

Having high cholesterol , again, diet , excersize and not much can be done except finding a good cholstral medication .. sometimes it is genetic , most times it is genetic and while you were at the physician's office , what was their advice ? As all these issues, so far, all doctors should be able to correct .. money or not .. and ADD water .. drinking up to 4-5 16oz. bottles a day is my thing .. when I was told my kidney was lacking water and after the confusing talk , WATER is now a part of my routine .. for bowels, bladder, kidneys ... flush out the toxins , flush out the bad fat ...

""""Why does the crawling sensation has to happen on my scalp instead of on my legs?  I am constantly thinking I've got lice (I don't lice) because I can "feel them crawling around!"  Anyone else have this symptom on their head?  I guess it could be worse and be in the pubic region!  Ha! Ha!  I'd hate to feel like I had crabs and try to scratch that itch!  LOL!  Come on; it's funny!  Well, maybe it would be good to feel something crawling around there-that would mean it wasn't numb as usual!  LOL again!  (I'm on a roll; even if I am the only one laughing!)"""

I had written a few years back about the "burning, tingling " on my scalp .. yes, it is just like the legs or face or hips or arms or any other area that has receptors .. it will happen .. and what do you normally do when it happens in your feet or legs ??

Do you just wait through it ? Do you rub/massage them ? Do what you would normally do for , what is the term, neuralgia ? That may be one thing that not much can be done , except making time to just sit and rest ..

Rest ! which I am getting to now .. is THE most important action we can do as MS people .. rest , even if grandma is hiding half eaten foo, rest , and get others involved to help you to be able to do that .. rest , the body needs needs needs it .. as a person fo faith , I pronounced Sunday as my "NO thinking day" .. meaning I go to Church if able, I reflect on the POSITIVE things in my life and make a point of forgiving myself for "over-doing" it whether physically, mentally or emotionally ..

Setting time aside for YOU is not an act of tyranny .. and if your husband gets it , he can surely for one day , allow you that time .. do not be afraid to ask for what you need !

Diet !  for your body's sake .. using a combination of GERD do' and don'ts AND

""I am so glad that I've found this place; you guys have really kept me sane through all of this!  I hope that you were able to get a chuckle or two out of this asinine post; but I seriously would like suggestions on the constipation thing.""

I also was grateful to stumble across this place years ago .. when i was in "denial" , when i was angry, when i was scared .. i made a few friends here that have stuck with me now .. one is a fellow MS'er , the other is a great guy from the Chronic Pain site .. yeah, 4 years now , I guess ..  but who counts the time .. they are freinds that have stayed with me, and I with them .. we cut through the wah-wah parrt of our issues and focus on what each of us gleens from doctors .. we have taught each other valuable life lessons .. and Karen Richards is the best ..

I hope you can find something in all the mess I wrote .. that will help you in some way .. please remember we must first learn to crawl before we can walk .. so ask questions, turn to an emergency room , especially with the blockage .. and don't be afraid of saying you need .. the people in your life who really love you and care about you will step up .. God bless you and I will keep only good thoughts for you .. AGSerra 

Hollyk

9/16/10 11:44am

Thank you so much for your kind words and help.  I will try some of your suggestions; I am already doing some of them, like the water.  The hardest thing is exercise; trying to fight through the exhaustion and pain.

 

I will keep you in my prayers as well.  Thanks again!