It seems I am still on the mental mend. I realized the other day that once I get through the morning, the day always gets easier so I have been using that fact to psyche myself up. I am still having morning stomach troubles but I just emailed my doctor again. I usually first awake at 3:30 or 4:00 with insistent bowels and have to go at least 3 times before 10:30 (I know TMI). Unfortunately, things get so insistent I have to keep getting out of bed. This leaves me really tired. I also have been getting nauseated during these early morning hours and it takes a while for things to settle down so mornings are pretty rough. I guess the biggest change is that I have not been getting overly anxious about it even though it's hard. I also have been much less depressed.
Work is still a huge pain. New kids from Mexico keep enrolling. I have never had so many newcomers in my life. I have assistance at times with my awful sophomore class but so far it has been little help. I think the biggest change has been in my attitude. I keep trying my hardest and doing my best with the kids but I am owning fewer of the problems. I figure my best is all I can do. I can keep trying to be a better teacher but it is not all my fault that the kids are scattered and ill-behaved. I did call some parents tonight and put some of the ownership back on them. At least the kids will know I'm serious...
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May I just remind you to be gentle with yourself? I find I tell my clients again and yet again-treat yourself tenderly as you would any loved one. I do find such a strength in your words,and an honesty that almost seems to set too high a standard at times.Please treat yourself well too,OK? My best to you Nadja.
Have you asked your psych about switching anti-depressants? I think you mentioned that the gastro problems started when you began taking the one you're on. Are you taking anything else new (on a regular basis?)
Hi Nadja:
I want to first say how much I admire you, that you are able to still go to work to teach everyday with all the stress, medical issues/body dysfunctions and pressures you endure.
My first thought for early morning nauseau was -- Poof - pregnant.
So rule that out first thing. Get a pregnancy test from the store and follow the directions for time of the cycle to take the test. You can still have a period and be pregnant, so don't go by that.
Then check the contraindications of whatever meds you are taking. Diarrhea and Nausea are common side effects of many drugs and it may be that all you need is a few days of compazine to get over this.
Insistent bowels -- anxiety about work - anxiety about going into work, dealing with students etc. can play awful havoc on your body. For alot of people, it hits them in the gut. I am one of them. It looks like you may be too. This can be in addition to whatever foods you are eating from noon time onward to bedtime.
Do you take over the counter Immodium for the insistent bowel problem? If not, it might be worth looking into -- if not Immodium, then some Kaopectate (plain, not flavored no matter how drawn you are to the chocolate flavored!) You have to get some sleep and this may help you.
To get a handle on (THE WHY OF) your insistent bowels, examine your diet first and make sure you are not eating something (everyday or every other day) that aggravates the bowel. This is after you check your med labels to make sure it is not a med causing this.
Keep a food diary for about a week and you can get a better view. Just remembering what you ate is not enough. Writing it down makes it jump out at you more easily. Especially look to see what you are eating after noontime until bedtime....focus on that timeframe. Pay attention to wheat and products that contain gluten. Read labels for ingredients. These irritate bowels and cause IBS, Crohn's Disease, and/or Celiac's Disease (which is what I have) in addition to all the anxiety issues.
Secondly, start eliminating ONE of the foods that you eat every single day from dinnertime onward...but eliminate it from diet for three days. Three days is the rule of thumb for ridding you body of all remnants of a certain food.
If you are still running to the bathroom, you need to eliminate the next food on your list that is listed AFTER the one you eliminated. Again for three days.
After two food eliminations and still running to the bathroom, then stop the food diary and diet changes. Also, you should think about stopping all food and drink for about two to three hours before bedtime. Alcoholic beverages should be eliminated because it doesn't mix well with Multiple Sclerosis anyway.
IF you choose to not do a food diary at all, one or two tablespoonfuls of Kaopectate after dinner OR two Immodium after dinner every night for two to three days will make all the difference in the world.
You need to address this because your body can become dehydrated from the constant running to the bathroom, no matter how much you replenish your fluids.
And you NEED your sleep.
Please write again and let us know how you are doing.
Pregnancy was my first thought as well, definately get checked, because not only nausea, but emotional rollercoasters can occur from that as well.
If that is not whats going on, Definately listen to Anne's suggestion. I have removed Bread from my diet, because I have found a coorelation between eating it and some of my MS Symptoms flaring up. Same for Dairy.. Listen to you body, it will give you signs, its just really hard to decode them at first. Journaling may definately be the way to go.. Good Luck! Hope you feel better soon!
Hi DR,
Good to see you posting and putting some of the ownership back on to the kids and their parents. I'm surprised you can actually get a hold of parents. Most of our numbers are out of service, not current, no answering machine, blah, blah. I send home notes and they go unanswered.
I have been calling this one boy's house for several days including this morning at 7 a.m. and still no one answers and there is no answering machine. I've sent home two notes and it's nuts to go through this. It's easier to just let him not do the work and fail.
Today did not suck total butt for me either. I had some moments but tomorrow is Friday.
Keep breathing and doing that yoga,
Weebs
Thanks Pat. I will be gentle with myself. I do hold myself to a high standard but I'm learning to be human.
Jen, it turns out that the doctor who answered my email told me to take a complete break from the med and see if that helps. Then, if things clear up we can reevaluate meds. I am rather relieved.
Anne, thanks for all the great insights. I am almost 100% not pregnant. I just had my period and I have an IUD. Also, feeling nasty has left little room for activities that get a woman pregnant.
The doctor said to take a break form the meds so I'll start there.
As to the diet, I actually have not had diary for a month and I have essentially cut gluten this week so we'll see how that goes. I am still eating soy but I make take a hiatus on that in the future too.
I am not drinking. If cutting the Celexa doesn't settle me I'll try the over-the-counter meds you suggested and see if that works.
Gross as it sounds, the doctor wants a stool sample if this doesn't work. I'm keeping my fingers crossed (Lol).
Thanks for dropping in Serena. I think I addressed your comments in my other responses. Thanks for all the great support.
Weebs, thanks for dropping by. I'm glad you had a better day :)
are your stomach problems MS related or...related to medications. i have stomach problems in the morning too and...they seem to happen before an MS episode.
sorry for not being around so much lately...i am just now trying to catch up with everyone.
Merely, I thought they were med-related but now I'm not sure. i went off the med but I'm still stirred up in the stomach. I just had an exacerbation but who knows.
Well, big bummer...sucks to have the ol' bowel joining to readily in the "Movement". As a long-sufferer of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), I seriously DO feel your pain. I've got no real words of wisdom (Anne has covered the medical components nicely already), other than to say be kind to yourself and listen to your body talk...it speaks much more clearly than the mind.
Linda D. in Seattle
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