KJ Lazarus, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Austin Health, and Brett Drummond, MS Translate, talk continence issues and MS.

They address the common but often unspoken challenges of bladder and bowel dysfunction in the MS community, offering practical advice on everything from identifying symptoms to exploring advanced medical treatments.

 

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Video Summary

  • Length – 60 minutes
  • Prevalence and Awareness: Explores how 70-80% of people with MS experience continence issues.
  • Identifying Symptoms: Breaks down the “FUNI” acronym for bladder issues (Frequency, Urgency, Nocturia, Incontinence) and explains why MS often leads to constipation due to slow nerve stimulus.
  • Self-Advocacy: Encourages viewers to be honest with healthcare teams, highlighting that “coping” doesn’t mean you have to live without support or management strategies.
  • Management Strategies: Discusses lifestyle adjustments like managing caffeine and carbonated drink intake, the importance of hydration for kidney health, and the role of pelvic floor physiotherapy.
  • Medical Interventions: Provides an overview of more advanced options such as Botox injections for the bladder, intermittent self-catheterisation, and the impact of urinary tract infections (UTIs) on MS symptoms.
  • Holistic Support: Highlights available tools like the MS Bladder Check and resources for managing intimacy and sexual health alongside continence issues.

Check out our bladder and bowel issue guide

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