The word probably isnt spelled right but here goes. My wife who has AD is presently suffering from a virus which has attacked her breathing and she is full of congestion. When she cough she runs off at the bowel creating a mess of herself and the bed. I use the bed pads to help with the mess but because she has been sick for over two weeks she is very sore around her anus area. I keep her bathed as best I can but so far cannot find anything to coat the area that does not create more pain. I am open to suggestions.
The gal who comes in to help me with my H cared for her father (died of cancer) and mother ( died Alzheimers) and she told me that when her father couldn't keep any fluids and they just ran out his backside, he was so sore there that it was beet red and anytime they moved him he screamed in pain. The hospice people put Gold Bond Cream and powder on and she said he got immediate relief. I'll check with her today to make sure I'm remembering that correctly, but you might try it.
Desitin cream. It worked perfectly when my son was a baby, and it still works. After the area is washed and dried thoroughly, put it on thickly enough so that you can still see a good portion of the white cream. Don't rub it in so that it becomes invisible. It's kind of hard to wash off at the next cleaning, but that's the idea. Nothing gets through it. Keep that up until the area is healed, then continue with a thinner layer as basic protection.
Now I would like to officially welcome you to my website. You have come to a place of comfort for spouses who are trying to cope with the Alzheimer's/dementia of their husband/wife. The issues we face in dealing with a spouse with this disease are so different from the issues faced by children and grandchildren caregivers. We discuss all of those issues here - loss of intimacy; social contact; conversation; anger; resentment; stress; and pain of living with the stranger that Alzheimer's Disease has put in place of our beloved spouse.
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When I was in the hospital with pneumonia, what is happening to your wife happened to me. There IS something that the nurses at the hospital used on me. I don't know what it is called, but it WORKED. It came in a big tube and they got me clean and then just kept me clean and covered with this stuff. No more pain and the area started healing almost immediately.
Call your local pharmacy and ask them what you need to use. Talk to the pharmacist because you might need a prescription to get your hands on it.
I love desitin. As a nurse I learned to put a thin dusting of cornstarch or plain powder around the sore area first. That way you are not locking moisture in and the desitin sticks better
Bruce My husband's caregiver uses Calmoseptine and it seems to work very well. It is not a prescription, but I always have to pick it up at the pharmacy. It is specifically for problems you discussed and for rashes from using Depends and having little spills in the night that cause irritation. It seems to provide relief for John, so I hope it works for your wife.
My wife was having chronic loose stools, some of which ran down her leg onto carpeting, etc. She was not otherwise sick or bed-ridden. I started her on 1/2 an Immodium tablet each morning. Now her stools are formed, and even if she is incontinent (which she is frequently), it just stays in her Depend. You might consider this, but ask her doctor first to be sure it won't cause problems with her other meds. The suggestions above for skin care are very good. The thing Starling may be refering to could be "Bag Balm". I'd be interested to hear from the nurses about this. Our nurses used it for most skin problems.
my suggestion is to make sure the area is very clean and not to use soap or anything especially WIPES that has alcohol or perfumes in it. cetaphal soap is very good for sensitive skin and doesnt cause irritation to damaged skin. get it at any pharmacy. its about 3dol a bar but worth it. also comes in creme in a tub for rubbing over the area after cleansing-also free of irritants and great protective barrier to skin. if it doesnt heal soon ask the dr. she may need a cortisone creme of sorts to help it heal in moist areas.= divvi
I have read all your suggestions and comments and appreciate them.. Desitin cream is not a viable solution due to her reaction to its ingredients. I have tried diaper paint without any success. So I took your advice and called our pc DR and he said to try a prescription cream that they have success in the nursing homes and so far it is helping. my thanks to all. and amy GOD bless