For 30 days, I will share the
joys, pains, and dirty little secrets of my life with multiple sclerosis. My
goal is to find a reason to convince you to support/share my fight against MS.
Please donate today: http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/eleanor.
This is Effort Number 23…
This is a very easy blog post
to write. My debate, however, started immediately. I attempted to address well-formed
arguments by my Inside Voice.
[Do you really want to write
this, Kevin?]
That was one.
[What are you going to call
it?]
That was the other.
[Well, what did you come up
with?]
This…
Do I really want to write
this?
Not particularly. Certain
topics turn people off right away. It’s unfair to the purpose of my blog series,
however, if I’m going to completely ignore something referred to as a Constant
Noise. The unfiltered me may have unintended and unwanted consequences on
my “social life” tomorrow, but it’s a risk I’ll have to take.
The filtered me isn’t much
better, hence the “ ” addition.
What am I going to call it?
I settled on The Constant
Noise of the Loo, figuring I might have a problem sharing The Constant
Noise of Piss and Shit on social media. I think this sounds more dignified,
kind of, sort of.
On that note, another dirty
little secret:
My body is almost always
having some issues related to going to the bathroom. If on that rare occasion,
I don’t physically have an issue, I am surely thinking/worrying about it.
Can’t stop going = Incontinence.
Did you know there are seven types of incontinence?
1. Stress incontinence. Not
related to but rather pressure due to weight, pregnancy, sneezing, lifting,
exercise, and some medical conditions.
2. Overflow incontinence. This
usually involves difficulties emptying the urinary bladder.
3. Urge incontinence or
overactive bladder. This usually involves injury to nerves or muscles, caused
by injury or disease.
4. Functional incontinence. Urine
leaking caused by age, physical disability, or mental capacity.
5. Mixed incontinence. As it
states, accommodation of the above.
6. Total incontinence. As it
states….
7. Bedwetting. This refers
specifically to incontinence in children as a result of an immature bladder.
I am a 2, 3, and 4. That makes
me a 5. There is always the danger of one day I will be a 6.
[Well, you’re a 10 in my book,
Kevin!]
Not relevant or appropriate in
this case, but thank you.
Can’t go = Urinary
Retention/Obstructed Defecation.
Let’s just assume we all know
what these mean. You want to go, but you can’t — I’ll just leave it at that…
And, just to give everyone
another wonderful visual, I’ll throw in an additional issue. Rectal tenesmus –
this is that feeling of being unable to completely empty your bowels, even when
there is nothing left to expel.
I will leave the details of
how these affect me every day to your imagination. Suffice it to say, most of
the worst things you can probably imagine are accurate.
Yes, there are medications I
can take.
Yes, they do work sometimes.
Yes, I do take medications
sometimes.
No, they do not work all the
time/in all situations.
No, I do not like taking
additional medications. I much rather prefer to adjust my lifestyle and live
with the consequences.
This is a constant noise. Everything
I do is gauged upon when did I last go to the bathroom, when did I last drink,
what did I drink, when I last ate, what did I eat, where am I going and what is
there. I highlighted that sentence because it is the exact stream of
consciousness going through my head at any given point in time. On bad days, I
don’t want to leave the house or be social in any aspect. On good days, I am immensely
grateful – realizing the preparations I made beforehand and considerations
throughout were critical in my “success.”
Yesterday was a good day, and
I am immensely grateful.
So, if you see me out and I look
uncomfortable…
[You always look uncomfortable
when you’re out.]
Good point. So, when you see
me out and I look uncomfortable, try to imagine all the constant noise is going
through my head at once. I guarantee this is at the forefront.
I hope the stories will
inspire your donation to my fight.
Because it is a fight.
The fight is not over and it won’t be over until a cure is found.
It will never stop…nor will we
It will never quit…nor will we
This is why we ride!
100%
of the royalties earned from my books go to the National MS Society, to support
our fight: http://neverstopneverquit.com/books
Never Stop… Never Quit…®
Kevin
Byrne
Portland,
OR
Never Stop…
Never Quit…
Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.
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