I’m new to ms and what concerns me is the bowel and bladder issues as I can’t leave my flat without worrying or feeling incontinent. Also with the trouble in my eyes, what one does when one has these bothers?
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Hi @cosmicdreamerathena
Welcome. I think it’s a good idea if you can get referred by your GP, to your Community Continence Service, the NHS can then regularly supply you with incontinence pads.
Also, I’ve found out caffeine, alcohol and soft drinks are major bladder irritants, if you can cut them out or reduce consumption, it will help with the incontinence.
I would see an optician or get referred to an opthamologist, if eyes are giving you gyp, my local ophthalmic optician referred me to a neurologist when he suspected I had multiple sclerosis.
Best regards,
JP
For the bowel movements I have changed my diet which is helped and I have started drinking fluids more often when I’m home then I’m out. I’m 66 years old and these issues have just started occurring in the last year so I have been very fortunate. Your eye issue that’s a whole different issue. I don’t know what to think about my eyes. I have a harder time seeing today than I did yesterday. I’m seeing specialist next week.
I know the feeling - at least as far as my bladder is concerned. I don’t have any magic solutions! In general what I do is to empty my bladder before going out and then plan my journey to try and make sure I’m never too far from a toilet whether it’s on a train, at a railway station, in a shop, a pub or wherever. The other thing is to avoid caffeine in the hour or two before leaving the house.
It is all a real nuisance and worry and involves lots of ‘just in case’ trips to toilets but so far no ‘accidents’. I also find that in part the answer is to relax. Tensing up makes it difficult to pee even if I need to, and conversely, tensing make me feel I need to go even if I’ve only recently emptied my bladder.
Hi @cosmicdreamerathena . This could be a bit of a long shot or total red herring but the other day I was looking up Functional Electrical Stimulation devices to improve walking and noticed there are also such devices to improve bowel and badder control.
The ones for walking involve electrodes attached to the outside of the leg but the ones for bladder/ bowel control involve a vey small outpatient operation to position the electrode some where internally
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Hi
I’ve been researching the FES device. My PPMS manifests itself atm as drop foot.
Expensive piece of kit but would like to try it or speak to a user.
Found a company who want £125 for an hour long assessment (no doubt deciding I need one 
)
My OT team have no clue about this equipment.
Best regards WobblyMa
I found quite a lot of info on the website of the MS Trust - including a video of a discussion with a user of the device
Your GP can refer for assessment and it is possible to get FES on NHS.
Out in the sticks the assessment centres are quite far apart and some have very long waiting lists.
It may be worth identifying those which are in acceptable travelling distance and checking how long you would have to wait for an assessment.
You will be expected to return for check ups though some of these are done over the phone.
I find them time consuming to put on but cause less problems with my feet swelling in hot weather when using the elasticated Boxia foot raisers.
I choose depending on how long I will need support that day.
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