A New Stage Emerging

CindyBum

I've been feeling it coming on for a few weeks now, thinking I'm seeing changes that portend a step forward in the progression. I wasn't wrong.

My DWs first instance of incontinence. She went right to bowel incontinence. Only happened once so far and according to Tam Cummings, it looks like it'll be monthly, then weekly, then daily. Dang.

We don't even have a diagnosis yet. Isn't that just something? She may be even further along than I allowed myself to believe. That's likely because she is still so pleasant and loving, is present quite a lot and engaging. Certainly her memory and confusion is much increased, but I thought that would go further before we got to the incontinence.

I am so sad.

Hope5757

@CindyBum

My MIL was diagnosed at the middle stage a year ago. I think that roughly correlates to stage 4 on the Tam Cummings chart but I’m not totally sure. The characteristics pretty much fit.

In one year, she’s progressed to stage 5 and at her age (91), I think she’ll be at stage 6 within the next year.

About six months ago, she had one incident of urinary incontinence. This wasn’t bed wetting but a literal pool of urine in a chair. I don’t know exactly what happened as she wouldn’t discuss it. I too thought this would be the start of routine incontinence and purchased a number of products. But, that has been her only incident.

Maybe, like us - this is as an isolated incident

CindyBum

I sure hope so! Thank you for the hope, Hope. :-)

Jeanne C.

I'm sorry CindyBum. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. My husband went from one accident (bowel) in October, to once in a while, to daily urinary/occasional bowel now. Prep the bed (good mattress protectors, chucks where she sleeps, etc.).

Ed1937

Cindy, I'm sorry. Hopefully this doesn't turn into more than an accident.

ghphotog

This is such a sad disease. Nobody will ever know just how freaking sad this disease is. . . . . exept us.

My DW had occasional incedents with FI, thought it was over and about two years later, it was overnight. She immediatly had to start wearing "Depends" but fought it tooth and nail, figuratively speaking, but she did it, she would cry everytime I put them on.

I've cleaned her up plenty of times and you know what? . . . . . that didn't change one iota how I felt about her, it only increased my empathy and compassion for her but sooner than later I had to place her in MC.

It's a sad heartbreaking disease.

LaneyG

My DH was hospitalized for a med evaluation/change. Prior to med changes, he was having accidents. I think he was sleeping so deeply and just wasn’t waking up on time and when he did wake he was unsteady. I slept with an eye open and when I noticed his rustling around made a mad dash to try to get him there on time. There have been no more accidents since the med changes. Maybe Just an explanation to rule out.

SSHarkey

Gh, you’re so right. This is a mean, stinking disease. Every new symptom brings to me the reality of it. It’s like a stab in the heart.