Incontinence(23)

Vicki-2022

I wanted to share the recent situation with my mother. For the past 3 weeks she does not get up to go to the bathroom. During the day I urge her to go but during the night she doesn't. Up until 3 weeks ago she would go at least once during the night and also change her pull-up diaper herself. Now I find her bedsheets, blanket, and gown full of urine each morning. I am at my wit's end with this. I noticed this right after I had purchased pampers that closed on the side as they are supposed to hold more urine, but she couldn't handle them. Now that I went back to the ones she was used to she still does not go to the bathroom to pee and change them during the night. To top it all off, in the morning she seems to not understand what happened. I would appreciate any input you might have.

M1

Hi Vicki.  No personal experience to offer, but there are lots of threads on this subject if you search the archives.  Several folks recommend a brandwebsite of nighttime diapers called dry direct as the most absorbent, and there are threads about how to layer her bed with waterproof pads and sheets for mattress protection and quick changes.  I'm sure others will provide links.  Good luck.

mommyandme (m&m)

Oh incontinence…

There comes a time that LOs just don’t feel it or know about it or what to do.  Maybe this is another sign of progression for your ma. My mother is always wet in the morning. I double chuck her bed and buy good ones through Amazon. I haven’t yet, but the CNA told me about pads to put inside the pull up that can also help.  I plan on changing her clothes and wiping her down every morning, end of stage 6 Alzheimer’s, it’s just a thing. My mom barely ever urinates when on the toilet, if it happens it’s a fluke.  We are at the stage where I have to get mom up every so often just to change her, she has no idea and often scoffs at the ritual. 

I’m sorry if this becomes your new normal.  Possibly rule out some other physical issue like a UTI etc… 

Welcome to the forum, though a bummer you find yourself here.  I find a lot of helpful information, even if just not feeling alone.  

Ed1937

HI Vicki. I don't normally post on this forum, but thought I might be able to give you an idea. Layer the bed. On our bed, I have a waterproof mattress cover on it. Then I put a waterproof pad down, then a fitted sheet and a flat sheet. This is followed by another waterproof pad, a fitted sheet and a flat sheet. Put as many layers as you like. I use three, but at times could have used four. If the bed gets wet in the middle of the night, I can literally tear off one layer, and have a dry bed in less than a minute or two at most. The wet bedding is put on the side till morning, when it goes in the washer. Hope that helps.

Here is a link to the pull ups we use. After trying several brands, these work best for us. You can order samples for $3.00, and I suggest you try different products to see which ones work best for you. https://www.parentgiving.com/shop/dry-direct-ultimate-protective-underwear-for-adults-9300/p/?onsite=ddspecial  

May flowers

This is our new normal as well. I’m still new to all this...

I have the overnight liners and they definitely work. I use very absorbent diapers at night with the liners and so far very few leaks. I also use a bed pad under and on top - to save sheets, blankets and such, and I fold his gown up, so if he has an accident it’s mainly the bed pads and diapers.

derry_hall

Hello vicki,

I understand your problem.  She could not get up and go to the bathroom, when she had an accident. my mom age is 75 years old.  After trying many brands I bought caress waterproof bedding. 

This is the link you can purchase according to your needs. https://www.essentialaids.com/toileting/bed-pads/caress-waterproof-bedding.html

spirit97x3

Hi Vickie. Some of it depends on what bran pull ups you use? Wife was using Depends until last year and I noticed they just didn't hold much of any amount of urine anymore. They kind of went down hill when the pandemic hit last year; poor quality. Had to try different brands and found that the Walgreen's brand was best. My wife is in late stage 6 Alzheimer's now and it's like when our kids were 2 years old for the bathroom stuff.

Vicki-2022

Thank you for your reply. I will look into what you recommended.

Vicki-2022

Thank you for your reply. I can totally relate to what you described. A UTI can cause this? I'm hoping that this is temporary and is due to her backpain that is recently acting out which makes it harder for her to easily move around. Perhaps I'm in denial.

Vicki-2022

Ed1937 wrote:

HI Vicki. I don't normally post on this forum, but thought I might be able to give you an idea. Layer the bed. On our bed, I have a waterproof mattress cover on it. Then I put a waterproof pad down, then a fitted sheet and a flat sheet. This is followed by another waterproof pad, a fitted sheet and a flat sheet. Put as many layers as you like. I use three, but at times could have used four. If the bed gets wet in the middle of the night, I can literally tear off one layer, and have a dry bed in less than a minute or two at most. The wet bedding is put on the side till morning, when it goes in the washer. Hope that helps.

Here is a link to the pull ups we use. After trying several brands, these work best for us. You can order samples for $3.00, and I suggest you try different products to see which ones work best for you. https://www.parentgiving.com/shop/dry-direct-ultimate-protective-underwear-for-adults-9300/p/?onsite=ddspecial  

Thank you for your reply and recommendations. I will check them out.

LicketyGlitz

It's a part of the progress, Vicki, and kind of shocking at the beginning but then I got used to it, and implemented pretty much everything people here have already suggested! If you aren't already prompting her to go potty before she hits the sheets that might be helpful too. And then as soon as I heard her up in the morning I would get her to the toilet, then see if I could get her back in my bed to snuggle, and let me get more sleep.

Good luck to you and your mom!

Vicki-2022

May flowers wrote:

This is our new normal as well. I’m still new to all this...

I have the overnight liners and they definitely work. I use very absorbent diapers at night with the liners and so far very few leaks. I also use a bed pad under and on top - to save sheets, blankets and such, and I fold his gown up, so if he has an accident it’s mainly the bed pads and diapers.

Thank you for your reply and suggestions.

Vicki-2022

Thank you for your suggestion.

Vicki-2022

Thank you for your suggestion.

Vicki-2022

Yes it is shocking and am still hoping it will get back to how it was before. It's only recently this has started and I am relating it to the diapers I had bought that she couldn't manage to change herself and also to her recent backpain. Maybe I'm just in denial. I will try the suggestions I've read here and hope that things improve.