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Having problems with bladder and bowels? |
To Go or Not To Go: Management of Bladder and Bowel symptoms in MS
By Patricia Kennedy, RN, CNP, MSCN
Many people with MS
have some problems with their bladders but are not aware that this is
commonly experienced. Approximately 85% of people living with MS have a
problem, at some point in their illness, with bladder function. Often
these symptoms go unreported or are not appropriately treated. There
are long term consequences to bladder dysfunction that involve
increased risk of urinary tract infections, kidney damage and social
isolation.
The urinary tract anatomy includes:
- Kidneys to filter liquid waste from the blood
- Ureters to drain the waste to the bladder
- Bladder to act as a reservoir for urine
- Sphincters to control holding or releasing urine
- Urethra to drain the urine out of the bladder
The function of the bladder and sphincters is under the control
of the nervous system including the brain and spinal cord. As long as
the nervous system is intact and the urinary tract is healthy, function
is normal. When MS lesions appear in the brain and cord, function can
be affected.
We see 2 basic problems in bladder function with MS: Failure
to fill or failure to empty. The causes are different and are managed
differently.
If the problem is failure to fill, the usual ability of the
brain to manage the filling of the bladder is lost causing the bladder
to empty frequently. Symptoms may include urgency, frequency, urge
incontinence and little or no history of bladder infections. One cannot
diagnose by symptoms alone. A careful history must be taken and a
measurement of the amount of urine voided and the amount left in the
bladder after voiding should be done, if possible.
....rest of article here.
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