Thanks for the tips Jane. Currently constipation issues are much improved but will definitely keep in mind should it come up again:)

I quit taking Tefidera a few weeks ago. I had a bunch of things happening that began with Tecfidera… shhh, many of them have never been reported to Tecfidera/Biogen as side-effects. I let them know that “I AM REPORTING THEM”… pft.

I didn’t have constipation issues, maybe. I have always had constipation problems, as well as the other end of that spectrum… water poop.

So why did I quit?

My teeth HURT. Bad. Like they had no enamel on them. It was awful. About a week after I stopped Tecfidera, my teeth are fine.

I had lumps of adipose (fat) across my belly… they too have gone away.

Acid reflux – gone.

From this point forward there will be no DMDs for me. No more. Niet. Nada. None.

Since the beginning of time, people with MS lived full lives and managed just fine. When I read around the web and do the research, comparing new data to old… there’s not much difference at all. Richard Pryor’s MS (for instance) progressed in the same manner without meds as many people today progress with meds.

I can’t reconcile putting a load of toxic man-made medication into my already compromised body when I see no real evidence of increased quality of life. Speaking of quality of life, I can’t remember the last time I read a post, article, blip or blurb from someone on any DMD that was positive with no complaints of side-effects or concerns.

So I’m done with it all. Give me my Adderall and Verapamil and I’ll manage the rest 🙂

All done rambling now

I am on Tecfidera too and I’m pretty sure it’s making me constipated. Are you taking any magnesium supplements? I’ve found that NOW brand Nervous System Support Mag Caps 400mg, have been doing a great job of keeping things moving since I switched to them a week or so ago. I had to use an enema to get things broken loose but after that I’ve been having shit happen regularly. And I read your post about the shit explosion… I would recommend an enema over a pill because you KNOW when that shit is gonna happen. I had to break down and ask my hubby to help me because I can’t get my hand around back there anymore lol. Good luck and I hope shit happens for you soon!

Oh, I forgot… I drink coffee too like Matt mentions but don’t know if that’s what’s helping:)

http://oddparent.blogspot.dk/

Going into a book store always makes me have to poop. You could also try eating McDonald’s… Love ya sista <3

Hmmm….. You listed….. everything I was going to suggest. So logically speaking (process of elimination) something in your diet/medication must be causing it because all that should do it…. I guess going the “blame the meds” rout leads me to say this; Just because they have not identified it as a possible symptom doesn’t mean it isn’t possible. Tecfidera is so new that they are bound to have not discovered something! Wish I had better advice but I am barely figuring this out myself haha… Hope you enjoy your birthday!

HHHHmmmmm,
I drink coffee…every day. I actually STOPPED drinking after giving birth to my third child because for SOME reason it all of a sudden gave me really bad acid reflux, but I started drinking it again about 3 years ago (the acid reflux thing was NO longer.) SO grabbing a cup of joe isn’t going to cut it. Between your suggestion and others (some here on the blog and more via private messages on FB and a few emails) I feel like I am being Debbie Downer, just saying nope, nope and nope. BUT let me be clear. I SO appreciate ANY and ALL suggestions, public or private. Although I have obviously TRIED different things and have gone to the nurses and doctors I have available to me, I am open to trying anything and do NOT want my saying “tried that” to be construed as “I have tried EVERYTHING and NOTHING works.” Something WILL work, just have to find THAT thing, so PLEASE keep the suggestions coming. Perhaps I should do a quick list of what I HAVE tried:
**increase fiber – tend to eat a ton anyway but tried MORE
**prunes, prune juice
**more exercise- certainly NOT where I was at three yrs ago when I worked out 2hrs/7days a week, I DO walk the dog at least an hour every day and started doing strength and weight work again about 2 months ago
**Metamucil for more fiber – nothing
**Miralax – have tried even bumped to 2xs a day (but that MAY have been what led to Shawn’s house shit issue)I actually DID continue the 2xs daily after that, in the hopes that was the start of cleaning out the pipes, but nothing significant since….and that was ALMOST a month ago.
**laxatives in pill form; actually nothing happened but NOT something I want to continue on a regular basis anyway.
**already drink coffee (and diet coke with caffeine)
There may be other things that I have tried, but I am actually headed off to enjoy a little bit of birthday with Shawn, so will write more later if I think of something else.

Cheers, and take care!

Second of all, I have one simple word for the constipation subject; COFFEE. Constipation is a very common (but not talked about) issue for people with MS. It MAY be the Tecfidera, I am not at all defending it as I have voiced my issues with that drug before, but maybe it was just a coincidence that your bowl problems started when you started taking the drug? Maybe you would have started dealing with that issue whether you took Tecfidera or not? ANYways, I was dealing with bowl issues for almost a year, I had no idea what to do, laxatives barely did anything and its bad to take them often anyways because your body can become dependent on them to have a bowl movement. I finally made a discovery; COFFEE.

I stopped drinking coffee when I was diagnosed, the caffeine was giving me really bad restless leg syndrome, but I knew that coffee is said to produce bowl activity (though they are not sure why) so I decided to try. Two scoops of instant Folgers, 2 brown sugars, and a little milk/cream and 30 minutes later it’s like I never had any kind of constipation in my life! The caffeine might be bad but this works better for me than laxatives and stool softeners! Would decaf work the same? I am not sure and maybe later when I have a little more cash I will experiment!

Try it out and keep up that positive attitude!