Explosive Diarrhea - Oh My!

FTDCaregiver1

Hello All - Just commiserating here with fellow spousal caregivers who've battled the awful specter of explosive diarrhea with you LOs. Just finished up my latest battle tonight and have to report it wasn't too bad. Last time was over a year ago and I was an awful mess, and I was mad, cussing and really didn't handle it well at all, fecal material all over the floor and DW stomping through it, it was a cattle barn. Tonight was different though. I put her to bed around 10 pm, went to check on her at 1030, as I approached the room, I could smell a pungent acrid smell and my caregiver superpowers kicked in immediately POOP...but how bad, seems much worse..oh nooOOooo! As I rounded the corner, there it was, DW walking around and tracking fecal matter across the carpet. The adult diapers, tapered pants all failed. Surprisingly though I was already prepared to do battle, cleaning supplies and my handy carpet cleaner ready at hand in the nearby closet. Off came the clothes, into the shower, clean, towel dry, lotion and reclothed in minutes, next I attacked the floor, spraying extra cleaner on the hot spots and cleaned the floor in minutes all the time DW walking next to me saying..."I can help"...bless her heart, I guess her way of saying sorry? Finished, next a 2 mg. dose of Loperamide, back in bed, sit for 10 minutes until she closed her eyes and out of the room I stole. Total time elapse 1 hour since entering the cattle barn. It was then I realized that though the situation was the same, I was somehow different, still grumbling, but nowhere near as angry and no cussing. Don't know, must be battle fatigue or could I be getting another caregiver superpower?? You know we all have them, don't you?

northernlady

YEP! Having clear procedures, with tools and cleaning materials close by - it makes us fast!

My DH is somewhere between stage 4-6 depending on issue. One thing that stays certain, is when he looks in my eyes, I remember who HE is to me, and it gets done. I have been more patient (not great, and not 100%) and then begin to clean him, clean the floor, process kicks in and we are done in record time. ;)

concerned_sister

Well done to both of you: keeping your cool, and being compassionate in a challeging situation.

ButterflyWings

Congrats! The things we do for love

harshedbuzz

That's real growth on your part.

jsps139_

Keeping your cool during that mess is quite amazing. I know there is nothing funny about the situation AT ALL, however, your words gave me a chuckle nonetheless! You have quite a way with story telling! I’m not there yet with the diapers, but God Bless all of you who are dealing with it now! That is my biggest fear - I hope I have the stomach for it!

Marta

It’s a super power for sure 🏅

Denise1847

Congrats to you! You do have superpowers! I am so dreading this as I have such a strong sense of smell and not a good tolerance for bad smells. I have already prepared for the eventual by having gloves, a mask and Vick's vapor rub to put under my nose. I am hoping it gets me through.

Carmen M

This is such an important conversation. My LO is currently in rehab after a UTI and attempting to gain strength back in legs. At the rehab, they have him wrapped in a tab diaper for those pee and poop incidents. its easy for them to change him when he is lying down. So when I get home, I don't know if I should continue to change him when he is lying in the bed or wait until that explosive diarrhea when he is walking to the bathroom or might have to put him in wheelchair to roll to bathroom. Also, what cleaning supply is recommended for the carpet?

JDancer

Shaving cream to clean carpet

FTDCaregiver1

cleaningcarpets.jpg

What I use. Spray for tough spots, solution and Bissell cleaner with hand held wand for sofas as well.