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What Causes Bloating, Pressure On Bladder And Frequent Urination In A MS Patient?

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Posted on Sat, 9 Apr 2016
Twitter Sat, 9 Apr 2016 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 7 Jun 2016 Last reviewed on
Question : I am a 45 year old women with MS. In the past month I have gained 6 pounds and have been 120 lbs for 20 plus years. I work out and watch what I eat. I have a bloated belly, and pressure in my bladder and the urge to urinate all the time. I know the urinary issues can be MS related but have never had issues in the 11 years since being diagnosed. Starting to feel worried because of my symptoms and weight gain that won't budge even though have worked up more and watching my diet more closely. I have been more fatigued than normal. My MS causes me fatigue but it seems worse in the last month.
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Answered by Dr. Ishu Bishnoi (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Treatment of bladder complaint and weight gain

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for asking from HCM


I can understand your concern. MS can cause autonomic disturbances which manifest as urinary bladder and bowel complaints. If you have developed urgency, pressure in bladder, it means you are having "Upper motor neurone bladder". The urgency and pressure in bladder can be treated by

: Avoid water/fluids 2 hour before going to sleep
: Avoid diuretic (urine inducing) food or drink like caffeine, alcohol, juices
: You can decrease intake of water if you do not have kidney issues. Drink no more than 2 litre water in day
: Bladder training - It means your train your bladder by going toilet at particular set time and gradually increase time duration between set time. It will help you in controlling pressure while traveling.
: Bladder strengthening exercise or Kegel exercise - consult physiotherapist to learn about it. It will help you in controlling urge.

Coming to medical treatment of urgency and pressure
: you can take either of following drugs
- Oxybutinine
- Darifenacin
- Imipramine
- Solifenacin

All these drugs act by inhibiting bladder contracting muscle or tightening sphincter. Usual side effects of all these are dry mouth, constipation, dryness, allergy. You have to consult doctor before starting it. Usual therapy is to start one drug and if no relief, increase dose or add another.
You can also use "urethral insert" or "external urethral barrier (patch)' which are applied in urethra or at opening to stop dribbling. It usually prevent incontinence. However it increase chances of infection. So maintain hygiene.

Now coming to your weight gain
I don't know what drugs are you taking. It might be due to stress or drugs side effects. You have to consult it with your doctor or mention it. You are doing every bit to reduce weight, but still I will mention some tricks to reduce it
: Start drinking lemon water without sugar in morning.
: Avoid junk food/fatty food.
: You can increase uptake of high metabolic rate inducer food like chilly, apple, oats, XXXXXXX etc.
: Do exercise daily with more aerobics. Do it with the help of trainer
: Avoid mental stress.
: Avoid steroids if possible. Sometimes they are prescribed to treat MS.

Hope it will help you. Thanks. Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
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Answered by
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Dr. Ishu Bishnoi

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 894 Questions

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What Causes Bloating, Pressure On Bladder And Frequent Urination In A MS Patient?

Brief Answer: Treatment of bladder complaint and weight gain Detailed Answer: Hi, thanks for asking from HCM I can understand your concern. MS can cause autonomic disturbances which manifest as urinary bladder and bowel complaints. If you have developed urgency, pressure in bladder, it means you are having "Upper motor neurone bladder". The urgency and pressure in bladder can be treated by : Avoid water/fluids 2 hour before going to sleep : Avoid diuretic (urine inducing) food or drink like caffeine, alcohol, juices : You can decrease intake of water if you do not have kidney issues. Drink no more than 2 litre water in day : Bladder training - It means your train your bladder by going toilet at particular set time and gradually increase time duration between set time. It will help you in controlling pressure while traveling. : Bladder strengthening exercise or Kegel exercise - consult physiotherapist to learn about it. It will help you in controlling urge. Coming to medical treatment of urgency and pressure : you can take either of following drugs - Oxybutinine - Darifenacin - Imipramine - Solifenacin All these drugs act by inhibiting bladder contracting muscle or tightening sphincter. Usual side effects of all these are dry mouth, constipation, dryness, allergy. You have to consult doctor before starting it. Usual therapy is to start one drug and if no relief, increase dose or add another. You can also use "urethral insert" or "external urethral barrier (patch)' which are applied in urethra or at opening to stop dribbling. It usually prevent incontinence. However it increase chances of infection. So maintain hygiene. Now coming to your weight gain I don't know what drugs are you taking. It might be due to stress or drugs side effects. You have to consult it with your doctor or mention it. You are doing every bit to reduce weight, but still I will mention some tricks to reduce it : Start drinking lemon water without sugar in morning. : Avoid junk food/fatty food. : You can increase uptake of high metabolic rate inducer food like chilly, apple, oats, XXXXXXX etc. : Do exercise daily with more aerobics. Do it with the help of trainer : Avoid mental stress. : Avoid steroids if possible. Sometimes they are prescribed to treat MS. Hope it will help you. Thanks. Take care.