Incontinence questions

darcytg

Hello everybody,

Inam to strung out to read and scroll, so please help me.

1. Does urinary incontinence always preceed bowels?

2. Can urinary incontinence appear to have dark brownish edges on the sheets?

My LO, who's terribly over extended and stressed out awoke this morning and greeted me with, " darcy, I pooped my bed. It must have been something I ate."

She was willing to check the black tights she is wearing for feces , but unwilling to shower. And is too tired to do anything and went back to bed after we changed the bedding.

She has complained of stomach issues since I've arrived and her dr. Suggested immdium is safe every day. We'd been using it a few days and her rumbling tummy, diarhea and gas disappated, to be replaced by constipation. So I stopped the immodium.

So I'm not 100 percent sure if this is a bowel or baldder situation. I am 100 percent sure I am naviagting health and sanitation issues ...lots of laundry and surface cleaning.

Any experience or ideas you can share are GREATLY appreciated. Will check back later.

jfkoc

I as well as many others, have a gut/stomach illness right now. Dr says she has had it too and to push fluids and a bit of broth.

I am better but this started a week ago.

M1

check her meds. You've been there quite a while, so if stomach issues are ongoing I'd be suspicious of a medication as oppiosed to an infection. Both memantine and donepezil (Aricept) can cause GI issues, as can a number of others. Urinary tract infection with blood in the urine could also cause the "brown edges" you are seeing. Put a waterproof mattress pad on the bed--and Chucks, which are disposable pads you can put on top of or under the sheets. And yes, urinary incontinence almost always precedes bowel incontinence.

harshedbuzz

In dementia, urinary incontinence typically precedes bowel. Dad was the other way around but I think that was a function of damage from radiation treatment for prostate cancer.

Another thought could be encopresis.

Sometimes a person can become chronically constipated which results in the involuntary passing of runny or liquid stool around the large mass of constipation. What you thought was diarrhea, could be leakage. Stomach pain and gas can be symptoms. Treating with Imodium might not be ideal.

I'd get her in to see a doctor.

HB

darcytg

HB, thank you.

So difficult to navigate. Dr appt will be made, again.

Recently went and was told many people live with daily intestinal distress and immodium is safe daily.

With this disease, my desire to support my LO's well being, her unreliability as a self reporter ( sometimes, ...) and all the myriad of stressors, I feel incapable of doing what's "right".

Will do my best in each moment...which varies greatly.

My increase in smoking is impacting my health..greatly...plus all the stress.

Ramble over

DCCEPEK

I'm so with you on the cleaning and washing is never done. One day at a time becomes one moment at a time. Just breathe

ButterflyWings

I don't know if this is helpful, but just found it for another poster asking about incontinence. Yes, a major part of my days is spent toileting, cleaning him up, changing clothes, chucks, etc., and doing laundry. Sigh.

https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/daily-care/incontinence

darcytg

Thanks for all the support

/STEVE

I have had daily intestinal distress all my life, I have found Metamucil, Fiber Supplement power does me a lot of good in controlling diarrhea. You mite want to run this by your Dr and see what they think.

ginateresa

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/192985#Comment_192985

I feel ya on the increase of smoking and stress......