overflowing bladder

mymarla

My dad wears pull-up briefs during the day and night. My mom has him use the bathroom before bed and has my dad put on 2 pull ups at night (one over the other). He continues to leak through them and my mom is often having to get up multiple times a night to change his briefs and t shirt and strip the bed. There are multiple layers of sheets and waterproof pads on the bed, but my mom is exhausted. Anyone else have this issue and find a good solution? My mom limits what he drinks during the day, especially in the afternoons. Thanks for any ideas you have!

sandwichone123

It sounds like your dad is sleeping through the night, or at least is not getting up to the bathroom at night. If he has some swelling in ankles or feet, that will return to circulation once he goes to bed, filling his bladder. It may be helpful to have him put his feet up in the evening before bedtime, perhaps in a recliner while watching TV or something like that, so some of the liquid can be excreted before bedtime.

Diane

mommyandme (m&m)

My mother takes Myrbetric (sp) for an over active bladder and has for years. Not sure if it helps.  I was going to take her off of it but the hospice nurse said “if it might give her any relief at all then keep it.”

star26

At least 1 member here had success with having her DH use an external "condom catheter" only at night. I can imagine that many PWD might remove this, but maybe something to consider?

lqadams

My husband has Lewy Body Dementia. I have been dealing with this issue for a year. I put an extra absorbent pad inside his Depends. The urine still leaks out. I put a disposable waterproof pad in the middle of a folded towel and pin them together. Put that under bottom sheet. I do laundry every day. I have tried several brands of adult diapers. Nothing helped. His urologist said that anti-incontinence meds can make LB symptoms worse. Luckily my husband doesnt move much when he sleeps, so urine is usually contained on the towel/pad and one area of sheet. I sleep in other bedroom.

Good luck. If you find a solution, please post.

JJAz

Not all disposable briefs are created equal.  We used Abena Abri-Flex (available online).  Expensive and worth it.

MN Chickadee

Seconding trying a different brand of brief if everything else you try doesn't help. We like the overnight ones from North Shore Care. They hold something like 38 ounces whereas a regular Depends holds about half that. You can also add a pad for more protection over night. Have you tried a chux pad under him? That may help with the laundry burden.

Jamaicabound

My DH would do the same thing.  I would be changing soaked clothes, sheets and he would often leak right thru the waterproof covers. His urologist suggested the use of a condom catheter which I knew would not work at the time because he was still aware enough to pull it off. He is now under hospice care and they again suggested it. We tried it and it has been a Godsend.  It keeps him clean and dry and makes things so much easier and less frustrating for me as his 24/7 caregiver.

Not sure if this would work for your dad but I would give it serious consideration.

Best to you and your family thru this journey.

Cobalt

We've recently had this very problem overnight with my son who has EO Alzheimer's.  Because he recently had gall bladder surgery, we saw a urologist a week later because he was retaining urine and when he would urinate only a little would come out.  Then 20 minutes later, again.  And then again.  During sleep he would flood the bed down through the pads and linens.

What we found out is that the bladder during the night often empties MORE during sleep.  We have started a mild medication called Flomax, taken once a day with food at supper.  We can already tell after 3 days it is helping with the overnight problems.  Instead of waking up 4-5 times during the night, he is waking only once and has a chance to use the toilet.  He may fill his adult diaper, but when he calls out, we do take him to the toilet.  Since he is now voiding more at a time, we are having less problems with flooding through the diaper.

We also are now using 2 large bed pads for incontinence.  One on top of the hospital bed mattress directly.  Then we have the fitted mattress cover and a fitted sheet.  On top of the fitted sheet we have another large bed pad.  Then comes an Angel transfer sheet across the middle of the bed tucked sided to side.  The Angel transfer sheet is used to help reposition and turn him if needed.

You may not believe this, but we are also laying a disposable paper pad on top of all this!  It really helps and when there is a leak-through we don't have to do all the bed linens, just the top transfer sheet and large bed pad.  Our bed pads are awesome - about 52" long and 34" wide.