My husband died from ALS which is another form of Muscular Neuron Disease and he also had a problem with bladder control. He did seek the advise of a urologist and was put on one of those pills to control the problem. It didn't work (just made his mouth dry) but did nothing for the frequent and hard to control release of urine. No one could explain to him what was causing the problem as the ALS wasn't supposed to bother the bladder but we came to the conclusion on our own that it had to be the bladder muscles. I know this is an annoying problem and hope you can find a solution for it.

Bladder issues are very common with MS and I suspect you will get a lot of hits on this subject to offer.

A few years ago I started out this way, a few 'dribbles here and there' would leak. Now, I'm wearing protection every day. I've been through a battery of tests to make sure that my kidney and bladder are properly working and found that it is simply my MS rearing it's ugly head in just another manner. My urologist finally told me that my bladder was autonomous (would do what it wants without any signals from brain).

Continue with your kegals, and think about seeing a doctor to see if you have a UTI or some other undisclosed problem. Don't ignore this symptom.

I self catheterize. It makes life so much more manageable.

I have had problems for a while. First, before I forget, keep in mind that people with MS do not experience that same pain with UTIs, so it is important to make sure you don't have one, you won't get the same waring that pain would normally give.

Okay, I have had this for q good while, sometimes worse, sometimes better. Coffee can make it worse...problem for me...coffee makes me able think! But ther have been many articles and such that suggest that reducing coffee will help with this. The acidity in your system.

I am past that stage...I mean, coffee can make it worse, but even on days when I have only one or two cups, I can really not see much diffrence, when it is bad, it is bad.

I wear pads all the time, one too many "Ooops," and that was it.

As to pumpkin, well, I give pumpkin to my cat who gets constipated, but it is also used for the opposite, it is sort fo a bladder/bowel area regulator. I know, cats? Well, it is really best known for use with dogs in the animal world...anyway, I have used pumpkin from time to time, and I think that it does help a little. For me, the thing is I am past "a little" making a big difference.

You should definitely talk to your doc about this...it is a progression of an MS symptom. There are drugs for this, I considered considering them, but once I did not have to work anymore, I prefer to just get to the bathroom when I have to.

There is an over the counter med called Prelief that did help me for a while, and I still take it before a long car ride, well, "long car ride" is now relative in length. Some people think that sustained use makes them a little constipated, but I really never take it day after day, just like a day or two before I need for it to work, and then that day. I would say that it gives some help, so again, wihile it is not as bad, this might also be something to try.

Self-cathing, well, I know that I considered it for a while, my docs were very against it, the infection part being their main concern.

This is a kind of disconcerting thing when it starts...it is very undignified, and it certainly can intially make you feel you are in some horrible decline, you know, this is one of the things people look at like, "Wow, things are really getting worse with her!" But really, it is jsut another part fo MS, and it is no worse in terms of what it mewans than anything else. But it is mentally, I think, one of the harder things to come to terms with. But just remember, there are a bunch of us out here trying desperately ( and usually not very successfully) to "hold it!" The problem is that it is not our muscles that are out of order, ti si the signal that comes way too late.

Sorry you are having this problem, read up and talk to your doc, you might even want to talk to a dietician and make sure that your diet is the best for this, fiber, balanced, etc. Good Luck!

This is one of my most hated symptoms. I have been told that my bladder symptoms are due to having had my children, but I only have 3 and my youngest one is 5 now. I have had to go to the bathroom so frequently at times that I've thought I might be pregnant again. Fortunately I'm currently staying at home with a bathroom close by. Even with it so close it's hard to make it on some days. I only recently found out that this is a possible MS symptom.
The National MS Society has some information about bladder dysfunction which says, "Treatment strategies for bladder management include dietary and fluid management, medications, and intermittent or continual catheterization (inserting a thin tube into the bladder to remove urine). Bladder dysfunction occurs when MS lesions block or delay transmission of nerve signals in areas of the central nervous system that control the bladder and urinary sphincter. ... These symptoms can be caused by a spastic bladder that is unable to hold the normal amount of urine, or by a bladder that does not empty properly and retains some urine in it." I'm not sure what dietary management would be helpful though.

The dietary component was explained to me, it sort of really made sense.

People who do not have a condition that would cause bladder/bowel issues can cause them by eating/drinking improperly. So the last thing we want to do is compound the situation with bad eating habits...say for instance that your MS is giving you break one day, but because you ate something really bad, you get the runs...then you have that and bad signals...not a pretty sight. Or if we are already getting bad signals, eating or drinking things that cause that system to not function properly just makes it that much worse. The otehr thing is that it can be more readily identiufied as a part of your MS if diet is ruled out. The system itself is not out of whack, but if any part of the problem is what you are eating/drinking, that can help to give you some relief.

I would say that it is like everything else we do to help our body to help us fight this.

I had specialist test dont remember name wire up electrode fill bladder I was told had zero signal pass urine but asked why then up all night he told me nerves hold urine night designed allow bladder hold max capacity as I have not emptied during the day hence the problem.
I now manually go to toilet every hour half day try empty if fail use catherter wish I could offer you more encouragement but find obvious helps keep bladder flushed out water, cranberry

Welcome to the MS world dear, i do hope that you may find a solution for this problem. As for me, I've been seeing a Urologist for over a yr. now. A Yr. ago i had Bladder suspension surgery. Prior to the surgery when i had the urge to go, but once i sat , nothing. The surgery did not help because it is a MS thing and my bladder is not getting the message till it's too late. The office uses ultrasound to ck. the amt. i am retaining. I am to go every hr.to empty, sometimes it works, sometimes not. I stay on antibiotics. I was really shocked my last visit, Had no inf. WOW. a 1st. for me in over a Yr. Maybe theres hope for me yet LOL
This is a great support site. No one else can possibly understand
our symptons, because they've not experienced it. Sometimes it's difficult to explain my symptoms, i visit this site and know that i am not alone with those feelings. I do hope that you find a solution.

I take oxybutrin, recommended by my MS doctor. It works really good.

I too have this problem and wear protection 24/7. If I am going on a long trip or to a theater, I take Sinus Tylenol a couple hours before hand. It seems to stop the urge to go for three or four hours Just a plain antihistimine would do. I also have no caffine that day. It's just a manner of remembering to plan ahead. When I come home, I rehydrate by drinking a glass of water or two.

BettyK- the antihistamine is an interesting idea. I used to take Benadryl at night for allergies. Inever considered it might have had the added benefit of drying me up. I stopped taking it when I read the main ingredient is an inhibitor for a particular neuro-transmitter and Alhimer's pateints don't do well with it. NOt sure if it does any damage at all but was more comfortable NOT taking anything that could disrupt brain stuff. I might look into a different drug. It was the diphenahydramine in the Benadryl. I'll look and see what is in the Tylenol sinus one. It would be nice to have something I could take just in case and only when I need it. Does it make you sleepy? The Benadry would for about an hour or so. Thanks for the tip.