First major incontinence incident

Jeanne C.

Do I get a badge? I just spent the last hour scrubbing my bathroom because my DH dropped trou and went in the tub. I'm trying not to cry. Definitely feel like we turned a corner today.

Thanks for listening.

gampiano

Hello Jeanne,

Welcome to the club. This , to me , is one of the most exhausting and upsetting aspects of the disease, and there are many. I have mopped the bathroom floor more times than i could count, as well as other areas of the house. Its hard to remain calm, and i will admit that i "LOST IT" more than once.

Eventually the disease won, and i invested in a few swiffer wet mops, and had them strategically placed for quick cleanups. Nothing worse than that urine smell.

Even though my DH was wearing pull ups, he constantly peed free style any where he decided to.

Sometimes we would have a reprieve and I would exhale for awhile, but right up to stage 7 this continued.

We are now coming to the end of the journey, as my DH is under hospice care, and in stage 7. He lost his balance while attempting to get to the bathroom, fell, and that was the incident that landed him in a hospital bed.

I wish you patience and respite . I'm sad, but also have a very calm feeling about me at this moment.

All the best,

Maureen

Jeanne C.

Yeah, I wish it had been urine.

Hang in there Maureen. You and your husband are in my thoughts.

Ed1937

Jeanne, I'm sorry. That is the final straw for many caregivers. Although my wife was double incontinent, I was able to handle that OK. The final straw for me was aphasia and all the problems that came with it. But I know incontinence is no walk through a garden.

Kibbee

Just chiming in to say you have my complete sympathy. The first time DH had a bowel accident I remember feeling shock, (is this really happening?!), and an accompanying gut punch of fear for the future, realizing that it was probably a sign of things to come. Back then DH was mobile so there were a few accidents on the floor in his bedroom. Since then his mobility has decreased and he is in disposable underwear all the time. While that brings its own challenges it has made dealing with urinary and bowel incontinence easier in a way, since things are contained. For now I am coping, taking it in stride I guess. Had to figure out a method for cleaning him up, once I had that in place it got easier. I always have the supplies at hand and ready to go, and can get through a clean up pretty quickly. Luckily my two caregivers are also willing to cope with this situation, so I can still get an away break once in a while. If it weren't for that ... I don't know.

Ed1937

One thing I should have mentioned is that it would be beneficial for you to have incontinence supplies (wipes, pull-ups or diapers, and something to put soiled supplies in) in different locations through the house. It's not fun if you find yourself needing to take care of a mishap right away, and everything you need is at the other end of the house.

Howaboutnow

Yeah, the incontinence club blows. Bad. I’m sorry you’re a new member. hang in there.