Urinary Issues

lisarae

I am struggling with my husband who has Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia and hope someone might be facing the same thing. His urinary incontinence is so bad. He is not able to walk so I have to help with with an urinal. Daytimes are difficult, but we found ways to make it work to be able to do the few things that we do go out to do. Night times are awful. He is up some times 30 times. I am not able to get any sleep. We tried the external catheters with no positive outcome. I am thinking that we are going to have to go to the regular catheters, but I know that infections are a serious risk factor and that worries me with all that he is already facing. Anyone else facing this???

Salsam

We used to do the  self-catheters for my uncle...called it "The procedure" so not to embarrass him, and it was a huge help and cut down on the UTI's. I wasn't sure from reading this if you already did this.

It probably won't help with sleep problems, but if he wears depends, you would only need to do it two or 3 times a day...and on a schedule. 

Best of luck.  This is not easy...my father just died...(my uncle died in 2016--I have done a lot of caregiving) 

M1

Liserai, you might ask his docs if a drug like Flomax might help (for prostate issues/overflow incontinence in men).  They need to consider what else he's taking for possible interactions, but it might help.  As will watching his fluid intake (severely decrease after noon if necessary).  Almost everyone urinates more at night when supine....just a hydraulic thing.

Cobalt

I just wrote and replied in detail to another post about this problem here!  We just started Flomax and can really tell it is helping to reduce the number of calling out/toileting episodes during the night.  We've gone from 5-6 times to 1 or 2!  Makes a big difference.  My son has a LOT of other medications and this one has no negative interactions with them.