I was sitting here a half an hour ago enjoying my little bit if free time, reading the posts. Husband goes to bed at 8, I try to make it until 9. As I was reading, I looked up and there he stood, stark naked. I told him to return to the bedroom and I would get some underwear (Depend) on him. Couldn't imagine why he had taken it off as he had only been in bed a short while. When he turned around, one look at his bottom told me what was going on. Went to the bedroom. What I saw just broke my heart. It was not that he had made a mess, it was that he had tried to clean it up. I generally put a Chux on the floor and one on the bed. Rip off the dirty depend, drop it on the floor on the Chux and sit him on the other one on the bed until I get the "tools" to clean him up. He had put a Chux on the bed, on top of the messy sheets, got out a clean Depend (it was laying on the bed) and took off the dirty one leaving a trail down his legs and across the floor to the trash basket. Must have decided about then that it was more than he could handle and came for help. Divvi, I may have to challenge you for your position.
ehamilton......bless your heart. I know what you are going through. For me this part of AD was a very hard hill to climb. But as you have said here, when you know from experience how to handle it, you do what you have to do. The first few times are the worst and then you say to yourself.......it's just poop.....get a grip and clean it up. It makes it even harder though when they still know what they have done and then try to take care of it. Bless your heart and your dear husband.
We know that our husbands would have killed themselves before they would have pooped anywhere where their brides could see or smell or feel it. Yuk.........Yuk........Yuk!!!!!!
Anitalynn, I so agree with your last statement. This past week I have been imagining if the "old" Steve knew how the "new" Steve is acting. Aside from the disbelief, he would be incredibly upset and sad. What he had always feared is now happening (runs in his family). I guess that is the one "good" thing about dementia, they don't really know how far they have fallen.
Edis, i dont think your episode of DH mess is going to challenge my title just yet! i deal with the drizzle down the legs and over the floors way more than i like to admit. my DH has acid reflux and so takes meds that cant be reduced. it makes him quite messy too. i find if i give half an immodium after each BM it helps control how often hes going. half a pill he's going everyother day. i can then be on 'guard' and watch for signs before things get critical. the messes certainly arent something we enjoy having to contend with but reading here ther are alot of things that could be worse -i try to tell everyone you can get used to it, dont have to enjoy it. divvi
This is another of those I can sure relate things!! Some mornings I cannot stomach breakfast after cleaning up all the crap hes stepped in and walked here and there and smeared everywhere! Yes my DH would be very upset if he knew him now! When our oldest daughter was a baby, he couldnt even change a messy diaper told me it didnt smell like roses to him. I think about this so often now!!
decblu, i learned the hard way you have to get involved with the bathroom chores. its us who has to do the cleaning and i am one for doing everything i can to eliminate more work! see if he will allow you to be more hands=on and help him out. it will save you grief in the longrun. divvi
Divvi you are so right. I just have to follow to the door way and wait on him to do his business and then go do the cleanup. Also have to go and bathe him good or he would just stir the water and rub the bottom of the tub. Tonight I decided to get my bath before him and he got all out of sorts. He has to be FIRST in everything!
i find this to be one of the hard things about alz. Wife diag over 3 yrs ago and is doing some of things ive read on here. Now i guess ill lay awake at nighrt wondering if the beth=room problem is going to happen nad whern. One i read is this is one situation that determines when the care home is time to go. We are bothy 78
kacnk...Stop worring about what the future holds. It does not change anything. It is like hitting your head against a brick wall and that hurts no one but you. We may never reach that stage. My DH is 86 and is going into stage 6 and I am 81 and sometimes I wonder what stage I am in. I believe in living each day as it comes and hope I don't yell too much. We will know when the time comes to go to the care home and we will do what we have to do. Find something to smile about tomorrow.
I have always had a very weak stomach and at first when the bathroom problem started I would have to hold my breath when I changed the wet depends. Then the OTHER started. I thought I'd never make it through it. Especially the first time I found poop smeared on the floor and all over the bathroom. It seems to get easier, but I still have some problems with the smell. The first time with the poop was really the hardest. It was in the grocery store and about 20 miles from home. It was runny and even made it down into his shoe. Talk about embarassing!!!! Now I have to wait till after the mess and second shower before I can take him anywhere.
It's too bad we can't find human food that is totally digestible, similar to Science Diet Pet Foods. With Science Diet, our little dog has very little "waste" product! :-)