I’ve recently been experiencing what I think is the MS hug. I get a feeling of a band of pressure around my diaphragm area, not painful, but very uncomfortable after a few hours of this I then start bloating and get very burpy. It started about two weeks ago coming on every day late afternoon. Over this last weekend I did very little and did not get it at all, except when I used my core muscles on emptying the washing machine and loading the dryer, so bending and lifting.
I take Baclofen at bedtime for leg and feet spasms so I’ve tried taking it early a few times to see if it would help. It did once but not today. I’ve got my annual 5 minutes with my consultant in a couple of weeks so I’ll certainly tell him all about it.
Meanwhile can bloating and gas be related to the MS hug? I’m thinking that if the muscles around my stomach are spasming then that could well affect my digestion?
i had a nasty case of the hug last year and was taking loads of gabapentin. by loads i mean the maximum dose whereas i was only taking one a day before.
it got rid of the hug but left me looking and feeling like a pregnant hippo!
then followed severe constipation and other joys.
have you been taking more of your neuro painkillers?
I would get checked out by the Gp I had those kind of symptoms when I had Gall Bladder stones issue which was nothing to do with MS. Don’t want to scare you but think anything unusual to your previous symptoms with new issues should be checked.
Thanks for the reply. I don’t think it’s the baclofen making me bloat, I’m only on 20mg a day and usually take them at bedtime. The hug and subsequent bloating usually starts at some point during the day. I’ve taken the 20mg early on a few days but I’ve not increased the dose.
I’m glad to hear your hug went. I’m finding it a very unpleasant experience and was worrying it was with me for good.
Just thought I’d report back as I saw the Consultant today. (40 minute wait - 10 minute appt)
I explained all my symptoms and he said that the band of pressure and the other pulling feelings around my ribs is MS and that there is nothing that can stop it, but he did double my baclofen to 4 a day, which he said should help.
At first he said that the digestion issues were not MS, but then he said it could be. He advised more roughage and exercise.
With the above I’ve also been getting very anxious - raised heart beat etc. and he said that anxiety is caused by MS and he said I shouldn’t get anxious. I asked if these symptoms could be due to heart issues and he said no. (Well he said a bit more than that but I’m summing up). Again he recommended exercise.
Anyway I’m having mixed reactions - I’ve got another crummy symptom to try and assimilate into my life, one that probably won’t go away - but at least I now know what’s what so I can start dealing with it.
Thinking about it the anxiety is probably not helping my digestion so that might have contributed to the issues.
Glad you got answers, sorry it means the MS is giving you more grief but glad you don’t have another medical problem. Sorry if my suggestion added unnecessarily to your worry.
Have you a Physio? Cause that might be a good way to get the exercise incorporated.
Your suggestion didn’t add any unnecessary worry - I looked up the symptoms and they didn’t match mine. Main pain from gall bladder is on your right, my sensations are across my diaphragm and on my left side.
I don’t have a physio - but I do have an exercise bike - I just need to get on it instead of using it as an ugly place to hand stuff!
Just thought I’d write a follow-up. I’ve been to hell and back over the last few weeks. Hug is almost constant with various other symptoms. Racing heart, palpitations, loads of other weird feelings in my chest and ribs, high blood pressure. I was convinced I had a heart problem and was close to dialling 999 on several occasions.
I went to my GP who confirmed my blood pressure was high. I asked her to listen to my heart, which she did and she said that it was racing but no murmur. She ordered blood tests and a ECG and asked me to record my blood pressure twice a day for a week. She said she thought it was anxiety. I felt a bit better after this, but symptoms persisted. Including a period of about 5 minutes when I had pins and needles all over my head and shoulders.
I went back to see her last Thursday for results. ECG showed no problems just a fast heart beat, blood tests were all OK apart from a 6.1 cholesterol level. My blood pressure readings were various but averaged 138/90 so although a bit high not high enough to need medication. However she has put me on beta blockers, a low dose 25mg a day Atenolol to stop my heart racing. We also talked about changes to my diet, which I can do.
Since then my blood pressure and heart rate have come down to normal levels even before I took the first beta blocker. And came down even more after I took the first one.
Conclusion - I was having anxiety attacks and these are very scary.
I’m not advising people to assume if they have chest pain etc. that they are having an anxiety attack and I would advise anyone if they are worried to go to the GP as soon as or call 999 if a heart attack is suspected. I just wanted to share how horrible anxiety can be and I never realised how anxious I was.
I’m now going to get in touch with my MS nurse to up my baclofen again to see if I can get a bit of relief form this “hug”.
I am new to this site . I found this one because I have been suffering so long with I believe the ms hug (like who needs a hug like this ) around the my middle of my stomach with the bloating that can change on a daily basis with my need to keep different pant sizes on hand oh by the way I do have ms .
Hi my name is Jacqui am 59 and have had ms for about 12 years. I have relapsing ms and suffer from relapses every now and again,but every time I have a relapse something stays with me such as a pins and needles sensaition permantley in one arm .
In the last two years I have had bloating in my stomach ,even when I get up in the night for the toilet my stomach is big ,I am due for a holiday in May and want to get into my bikini but diets don’t seem to work, I have suffered with my bowels and bladder for a few years since being diagnosed with ms ,I could do with ideas to make it smaller .
Hi Jacqui. I posted about this recently. I’ll add the link to my thread and you might even post on it. I am abroad in less than three weeks and I too want to wear my bikini. I did have this bloating problem, on and off, on my last holiday last October. I’ll be watching to see if you get any helpful tips!
