Bladder Dysfunction

There’s something about bodily functions dysfunctioning that strikes fear into all of us. Bladder and bowel control are one of the earliest things we learn as a toddler. They’re possibly one of the last things to go if we get very, very old or ill. In the middle of all that are people desperately hiding bladder or bowel problems while trying to look normal. Some are left with dodgy waterworks after a traumatic birth, or men can experience prostate problems as they get older. It’s estimated that over 300,000 Irish adults experience overactive bladder problems.

Unfortunately for us MS’er’s 80% of us are likely to develop bladder dysfunction. There’s a lucky 20% who don’t! This can be from the mild side of things like going too often (frequency) or having a very short time to make it to the toilet (urgency), needing to wee at night (nocturia), or it can mean needing to use a catheter to empty your bladder properly. If you do need to use a catheter it’s very practical and not as scary as the word sounds at all. Bladder issues can mean keeping an eye out for toilets everywhere you go, or getting frequent bladder infections, or getting up every hour, all night long, to go to the toilet.

Before you run away screaming, hands over your ears, let me tell you that there are solutions to most bladder problems. Thankfully it’s one of the more treatable symptoms of MS, although it can take some of us a bit of trial and error to find the right solution, the right medication or the right procedure for you. Nobody wants to know what goes on in my pants but I have to admit there have been long periods in my life when my bladder seemed to be getting more of my attention than anything else. It’s when it starts deciding you go 20 times a night that you know you have a major MS-bladder issue you need to sort out.

Like most MS symptoms I tried my normal approach of strong denial at first, determined that I could brave the problem out. All that happened was I ended up with severe sleep deprivation and a rising sense of burnout. I tried not drinking anything after 5pm and avoiding caffeine, but there was no change. I tried 4 different bladder medications in turn, but none worked. Eventually I was scheduled to get an injection of botox into the bladder to calm down the overactive signals of urgency. I didn’t care what happened at this stage, so desperate was I for a decent sleep! But by pure accident when I was put on a new medication for nerve pain, and noticed I was sleeping through the night, that I realised one of the negative side effects of the medication was actually a very positive side effect for me!

So if your bladder is holding you hostage and dictating what you can or can’t do, consider talking to your MS Nurse, GP or Neurologist. They have heard and seen it all before and may be able to help.

Bladder Dysfunction

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