Ask the Expert: Bowel Problems

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Featuring Barry A. Hendin, MD

MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer

Headshot of doctor Barry Hendin, chief medical officer for MSAA
Barry Hendin, MD

Question: Many individuals with MS experience bowel issues, most commonly constipation. How may this symptom be addressed through lifestyle and dietary changes?

Answer: Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in people with multiple sclerosis. These can range from upper gastrointestinal symptoms, such as trouble swallowing, abdominal discomfort, and acid reflux, to lower gastrointestinal symptoms, such as constipation, diarrhea, and fecal incontinence.

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My Inner Cheerleader

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By Stacie Prada

“The reward of a thing well done is having done it.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Sure, Ralph. Sometimes, having something done well is enough. It’s a relief to have it off the to-do list. It’s not nagging at me, and I’m not stressing about doing it anymore. But sometimes I still need acknowledgment for my hard work. A quiet nod or smile to myself in recognition: a star or smiley face drawn in my journal.

A lot of living with multiple sclerosis for me is invisible, and the effort it takes to prevent or delay physical decline is huge.

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Eres más de lo que logras

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Celebrar nuestros logros es algo maravilloso. Obtener un ascenso, alcanzar una meta o terminar un proyecto son motivos de celebración. Sin embargo, muchas personas aprendimos a relacionar nuestro valor personal con lo que logramos y aportamos. Porque si el valor propio se obtiene únicamente a través de los logros, también puede parecer que desaparece ante el fracaso, el descanso, o simplemente por el hecho de ser humanos.

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You Are More Than What You Achieve

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Celebrating our accomplishments is wonderful. Getting the promotion, reaching a milestone, and finishing a project are all worth celebrating, but somewhere along the way, many of us learned to connect our self-worth to what we accomplish and what we contribute. Because if worth is earned through achievement alone, it can also seem to disappear through failure, rest, or simply being human.

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Celebrating Without Making It All About Me

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By Samuel Fitch

I have no problem admitting that I enjoy recognition. I also know I can be a shameless self-promoter at times. But when it comes to the MS community, celebration feels different.

For me, celebration is not about pretending the hard days do not exist. It is about recognizing the small victories that often go unnoticed.

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Learning to Celebrate Myself

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By Dr. Eva Jackson

Like many people, I was raised to believe that pride and boasting were wrong. As an adult, however, I am learning that recognizing my accomplishments is not the same as bragging. No matter how big or small the achievement is, I am learning to celebrate doing a good job.

For me, being kind and doing good comes naturally, but I am realizing that it is also important to celebrate myself. Sometimes that means simply giving myself credit, patting myself on the back, or treating myself to something special just for being me. I am learning that self-celebration is not about putting myself above anyone else. It is about acknowledging my efforts and my growth and giving myself permission to feel good about the progress I have made.

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A Worthy Celebration

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By Angel Blair

You are good. You are worthy. You are more than enough. You are you and that is perfect. These are affirmations that everyone deserves to believe and live by. But I myself have always had a difficult time believing in my value as a person and trusting that I am enough and deserving of all that is good in this life. Why is it sometimes easier to judge and ridicule ourselves, rather than celebrate who we are and what we’ve accomplished? Because we’re too hard on ourselves and act as our own worst critics. Because we think we need to be perfect. Nonsense. What we need to do is recognize the wins; the big, the small, and the in-between that’s made us who we are. We need to celebrate us. 

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Be an Advocate 

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Being an advocate means making your voice heard and making it matter. Many people believe they cannot influence the world around them, but advocacy proves otherwise. It allows individuals to speak up about the common challenges people face and to call attention to issues that require change. Advocacy is about creating positive changes and improving lives every day. This is particularly powerful in the world of MS since advocacy can bring about major policy changes and individual empowerment. 

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Celebrating The Small Wins: A Letter to Myself in Motherhood

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Five months ago, I became a mom. Five months ago, my world shifted in ways I could never have fully prepared for. My days became measured in feedings, naps (if I’m lucky), diaper changes, and the sweet smile that lights my daughter’s face. My priorities have drastically changed and become rearranged, yet my heart somehow expanded beyond what I thought was possible.

Motherhood so far has been beautiful. But it has also been extremely difficult. And lately, I am realizing that both of those things can be true at the same time.

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