Pull-Ups all the time?
Beth

Evelyn,
I have no real words of encouragement about this situation.  I can
only tell you what we went through.  Bertie began to forget how to use
the bathroom.  She started going everywhere else.  The toilet became
her LAST choice.  I caught her trying to go in a new easy chair I had
bought for her when she first came here, and it progressed to the
point where she forgot what that urge meant and she just went
anywhere.  The last time was all over the kitchen floor. We had her in
depends by this point, but at this stage everything was diarrhea, and
she would instinctly pull the depends off.  When it got to that point
one of us just had to be with her constantly.  This was definately not
an easy stage.  But then AD isnt an easy disease.
Kay

:  Dear friends,
:
:  Yesterday we had a nice christmas dinner and a couple hours afterwards Ida
:  had her first serious potty "accident."    Had to get her changed and washed
:  up, and everything else all cleaned up too.    Till now it has just been
:  pee.   I hope this is not an indication that this is going to be happening
:  on a regular basis.
:
:  For those of you who have dealt with incontinence issues with your loved
:  one, any suggestions on how to deal with this?   Today all has been OK.
:

The adult diapers are better than nothing but they don't make them in
a design the wearer cannot take off, and of course the person takes it
off which is a big problem at night.  Other things we do with dubious
results:

1. The disposable pads to go underneath the sheets (takes 3 of the
ones I get in the drugstore to cover a single full bed).  Almost saved
the mattress with these.  

2. We've found a portable toilet (really more a chamber pot with a
seat) is easier to guide the person towards than were the cramped
bathrooms.  Alas, even if it's within two steps it sometimes isn't
gotten to in time.  In our case the person's autonomous use of any
toilet is no longer happening :(

Like you I seek other suggestions but fear we've passed the point in
the AD trajectory at which there are no solutions other than
observation and cleansing.
.

Hi Evelyn,
I know you are diabetic so might have some of those sugar free
Jell-O/pudding cups or some such around the house. The sweetener
used to...ummm.... clean my Mom out if she had one to many. Might
keep an eye on that. Also lactose intolerance comes to mind as a
maybe cause. If it isn't one of those try the routine thing. I
would take Mom to the bathroom every couple of hours to make sure
she was empty (except at night since that was close to
impossible). She was pretty regular so I would also sit with her
in the bathroom and chat so she would have time to do whatever
she needed to. Sometimes I would give her a warm drink of water
to help the process;~) There is also a regiment to try to get
someone to go at the same time daily or at least right after the
laxative is given. Check the Washington U list archives. Geri
describes it very well. Of course it would have to be approved by
a Dr. I never needed those jumpsuits but they might be something
to look into. Would Ida wear them to bed?

I think that it just might be time that Ida is not left alone at
all. The clean up process just isn't worth it. We did lots of
showers when it first started happening. Not even to just watch
TV by herself. For the last few years Mom was at home she was
never alone except while sleeping and even then I had a baby
monitor to hear her moving around. That way we could keep her
from falling, leaving, getting into things etc and pretty much
pick up on any forewarning of things happening. She also needed
the comfort of having someone within her sight at all times. I
don't think 1 person can do it but you and Peter would probably
be able to manage it.
--

Mare
mfcoleman@THEOLEmindspring.com
http://www.muggsmulcher.com/kstuff/a.s.a/intro.htm
alt.support.alzheimers' FAQs and Stuff Pages

I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off

Evelyn, for your sake and hers put the diapers on her,,,they don't stop
everything but help.I used the tabe type,easy on easy off. spoke softly
and just said were going to try these......some times he tore them up
but they were helpful [put underwear over them.] Ialso tried to have a
potty schedule,not always 100% BUT BETTER THEN THE CLEANING messes.[they
don't always go,but it does work some of the time.[this was when rob was
at his most violent]...however having to shower him was even worse,guess
you just pick the easiest.[you just get so darn tired.]
sandra