If you have multiple sclerosis (MS), your bathroom habits may not be what they used to be. You might have bowel movements a lot more, not as much, or it may be harder to go. Talk to your doctor about these troubles. They can suggest ways to make things regular.
While constipation is the most common pattern of bowel dysfunction in people with MS, the opposite can also be true and bowel function can actually “speed up”, causing loose stools, diarrhea, and incontinence.
Bowel problems in MS occur as a result of the disruption of messages between the brain and various parts of the digestive system. This causes problems with sensation in the back passage and control of the muscles at the bottom of the anus, resulting in problems such as constipation and incontinence.
Constipation is more common in MS than bowel incontinence. The two can be linked, but people who have constipation will not necessarily go on to develop a problem with incontinence, or vice versa.
Sluggish bowel occurs in some people with MS where waste travels through the colon more slowly.
Up to 30 percent of people with MS report having indigestion symptoms, compared to 8 percent of the general population. Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience gastroparesis, a feeling of fullness, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain shortly after consuming food.
Causes of anal discharge
Mucus-based discharge may be caused by: Infection due to food-poisoning, bacteria or parasites. An abscess due to infection or an anal fistula – a channel that can develop between the end of your bowel and anus after an abscess.
His team found that about two-thirds of MS patients experience at least one chronic gastrointestinal symptom, and that 20% of MS patients experience symptoms compatible with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This rate of IBS symptoms is a little more than twice the rate seen in the general population.
Constipation and Fecal Incontinence
The most prevalent chronic digestive symptom in those with MS is constipation, affecting about half of those with MS. Individuals who experience constipation have infrequent bowel movements that are difficult to pass, and often accompanied by significant bowel pain and bloating.
Many people with multiple sclerosis experience bowel problems. Some people find that they have no control over when their bowels open, resulting in bowel accidents. Your health professional may refer to this as faecal incontinence.
Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) struggle with intestinal issues. There is evidence of the link between gut health and MS. Bloating is a common result of these issues. It's super annoying and always happens at the worst time, such as when you're out and about or wearing something fitted to an event.
You might find you lose weight because of the way MS affects you. For example, problems with posture, swallowing, fatigue and tremor can all make shopping for, preparing or eating food more difficult. And your appetite can also be affected by stress, anxiety and depression, as well as certain drug treatments.
Postprandial Somnolence (PPS), or “Food Coma” in lay terms, is described as the drowsiness that follows a meal. A recent online survey by the Barts MS Blog found that the 84.9% of pwMS reported suffering from PPS.
Inflammatory bowel disease (a group of disorders, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, that cause irritation and swelling of the digestive tract) Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Sensory symptoms and MS
Changes in sensations such as numbness, pins and needles and tingling are common MS symptoms, related to damage to nerve covering in certain areas. These sensations can occur anywhere on the body such as the arms, legs and face.
The 'MS hug' is symptom of MS that feels like an uncomfortable, sometimes painful feeling of tightness or pressure, usually around your stomach or chest. The pain or tightness can stretch all around the chest or stomach, or it can be just on one side.
Medical professionals refer to this pain as neuropathic pain. It is one of the most common symptoms of MS that can dramatically reduce a person's quality of life. This type of pain can occur all over the body. If a person has neuropathic pain in their back, it can manifest as a sharp, stabbing, or shooting sensation.
Abnormal sensations can be a common initial symptom of MS. This often takes the form of numbness or tingling in different parts of your body, such as the arms, legs or trunk, which typically spreads out over a few days.
Bladder and bowel problems occur commonly in MS, and can range from mild incontinence or constipation to more severe problems. Bladder problems include the need to pass water frequently and/or urgently, incomplete emptying or emptying bladder at inappropriate times.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
People living with IBS may notice whitish mucus in their stool. Other common symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements, such as constipation and diarrhea.
The most common cause of diarrhea is the stomach flu (viral gastroenteritis). This mild viral infection most often goes away on its own within a few days. Eating or drinking food or water that contains certain types of bacteria or parasites can also lead to diarrhea. This problem may be called food poisoning.
Mucus produced by glands in the rectum also helps expel stool. So it's not unusual for your stool to contain mucus. But if you notice an unusual amount, it might be a sign of something else: infection, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), celiac disease, anal or rectal issues, or even cancer.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).