I change the depends often. Compared with what I lived with before, this is heaven. We must go through 10 depends a day. Then I use the moist wipes to clean his skin before putting on a new pair.
My DH can still use the bathroom(or should I say mostly the floor) so he doesn't smell like a sewer but ocassionally I go into the bathroom and it smells like that but I think so far anyway the bathroom would be easier to take care of. I know that the next step is going to be what you are dealing with but what stage do you think your DH's are in right now?
I use Medline liners that really work for us as it keeps the urine in the liner! My husband can really pee a great deal (prostate issues as well). I also found a no rinse cleaner that helps with smell and cleansing. Medline also has one with lotion for sensitive or dry skin. Unfortunately, I can only buy it on line (Walgreens on line). I go through a lot of wipes as I'm sure most people do. Changing often really makes a difference. Putting them in a plastic bag and disposing of it regualarly also helps (I use the vanilla fragrance). My dh usually has a bm in the morning and that plus the pee is a real smell. Cleaning is really important. Then lotion. Make sure the skin is really dry after bathing (use the cool part of your hair dryer) before using lotions. Don't want any bacteria to form.
We have a couple of discussions on this topic somewhere.......you need to keep Oust and Fabreeze around and spray their clothing and bedding with it, and use vinegar to wipe down floors and toilets. I also put the used Depends into kitchen trash bags and tie the straps once to keep the odor in until the bag gets full and then toss it. After he goes, I wipe him with a Cottonelle, then put Aquaphor on him. This has kept the odor out of the house for us.
You might also call a local nursing home and ask what they do to clear the air. I personally kept a Lampe Berger in my rooms (several) and burned the alcohol for several hours. They have a fragrance called LINEN that smells like clean starched linens..and it kills odors in the house. You can google Lampe Berger and read that it was used in hospitals a hundred years ago to kill bacteria and odors in hospitals. I know Marilyn in Maryland uses them as well. There are many fragrances you can purchase, but the ones called "Clean" or "Pure" or "Linen" are virtually odorless...with just a clean smell. I think you'd be very happy with that. Unfortunately, it will not make your LO smell better, but it clears the air in the room.
Lampe Berger History Lampe Berger Oil Lamps first began in Paris, France in 1898 in the dispensary of a Parisian pharmacist, Maurice Berger. Trying to find a process to purify the air, he discovered the Lampe Berger Oil Lamps by looking for the beneficial effect of the catalytic combustion of a specific product, ozoalcohol, and he filed the patent for a "new lamp system for purifying the air".
Thus the Lampe Berger was born, along with its unique and constantly improved process that has proven its efficacy over time.
Although initially it was used only by the medical world for its antibacterial powers, the Lampe Berger Lamp came to interest the greatest designers of the time: Lalique, Galle, the Daum crystal glass works and Baccarat . . . The Lampe Berger became a feature at the salons of the Belle Epoque, and the oil lamp developed a new function, adding fragrance – for scented oils that made Lampe Berge even more popular
I got a candle at my Vet that's for pet odors, but it seems to work. the most important thing to me, is getting the soiled depends out.... I put it in a trash bag in the Garage. when the bag is full It goes to the trash, but it doesn't stay inside the house. and in this cold, the garage doesn't smell. I do have a problem however, in getting him to let me change him. He just argues with me, and cant see why he needs to do this. And of course he doesn't bathe. I do get him to sit in a sitz bath i put over the toilet so at least I feel that area is clean, but what a great idea about the hair dryer. never would have thought of that.
Aquaphour is an ointment that you can find in the baby section and in the ointment section at the drug store. It resembles Vaseline, but it isn't. It is also used on burns (and the curling iron got my hand Monday, so I'm glad the ointment was handy!) If it is on the rear and where the depends rub the legs, it will help the skin and somehow the skin doesn't smell either...It works for us, anyway!
Not there yet. What stage is it when incontinence sets in? I have a taerrible time getting him to bathe. Also, doesn't change his underwear unless I'm right there to see that he changes them. Whaqt's with that, anyway?
I'm so happy with all of this information. And I know I'll be using the hair dryer when the time comes. I really do feel quite prepared--thanks to all you people.
Urine incontinence is stage 6 usually. My husband is gradually getting worse, wetter and messier. I do still get him in the bathtub almost every night and once in there he likes to stay in for a while so I feel he's soaking himself clean. Before AD he was often bothered by a rash but since he has been taking a bath every day there is no problem. Changing his depends is almost impossible. The day care staff asked me to get "figure-8 inlays". Our local stores don't carry them so I have to do mail order, which works fine for the Depends as well. They are big inlays made by Tina and then they just change the inlay several times a day rather than getting his pants off to change the depend. Seems to work for them, but he doesn't want to let me do it. When he is at home, he uses the toilet better than at day care. But by evening he is always pretty smelly. For the smell in the house, the big issue is indeed to get the messy depends and wet clothes and bedding out of the way as soon as possible. I have a stash of plastic bags in the bedroom so I can tie Depends up quickly at moments when I can't leave him to take them outdoors to the trash can.
My hb won't change underwear or bathe either. I'm thinking if I hire home health care, 3rd party w/experience dealing w/such might get it done more easily than my badgering, arguing, etc. If I lay out clean clothes, he puts them in the trash or dirty clothes hamper. Bribes haven't worked. Strong sedative might; then I could strip him.
I have a home health aide once a week to give dh a shower in the morning. It works pretty well. Problem being that the agency was sending a different person every week (we didn't fit well into their scheduling) and the timing is not very regular. It seems to be settling down now into the same couple women who know that I like them to come about 10:30. I usually have to help get them started, but then it is great: and since he has gotten used to it I have even gotten him into the shower occasionally myself (which was impossible before) -- mostly when he wakes up with wet pajamas. When they are done showering and dressing the aide brings him into the kitchen where I am waiting with coffee; he is all neat and clean and I praise his good looks to high heaven. He smiles. As a reward I take him out for a pancake lunch.
I use those billions of small plastic shopping bags we accumulate for the depends. They are free and plentiful. Also we try to get them out of the house, store in the garage until a trip to the garbage can is warranted. After pulling up the last of the urine soaked carpet in the bedroom, and having wood laminate installed, the house smells urine free 99.9% of the time! Yeah! I learned of the vinegar trick here and that works wonders in mop-water, laundry etc. Thank God for this site..where else can we learn the tricks of the trade!
The person who suggested urinary tract infection is a genius. The doctor confirmed this and put him on Cipro. We are now down to "normal" measures to control odor with better success. I am following up the other suggestions too, but checking for infection was a brilliant idea. Thanks.
Just wanted you all to know how handy I am. I bought a gallon jug of vinegar for laundry, bathroom, etc. Would you believe I could not get the lid off the jug. In my frustration, I managed to break the lid and now I have to be very careful when I pour the vinegar. It works.
But, just in case you didn't know this--
I use a rubber mat in the bottom of the tub so neither DH nor I slip. Well, I didn't pull up the mat for a day or two and lo, and behold, when I pulled it up this morning there is mold underneith it. Yuk! I poured some vinegar in the tub and scrubbed both sides of the mat--clean as a whistle and all the mold was gone.
Is that a new phenomonem or am I just slow? Love that stuff!! Broken lid and all!
Speaking of odors (no problems here with urine) does anyone have problems with excessive BO? My dh showers but within hours I can smell BO when I am within 2 feet of him. Is this part of the AD??
Keyword 'Body Odor"... maybe you might try one of the new antibacterial liquid soaps...They were easy to rinse off and one product would work for their hair AND body. Zest made one..and then some men's brands, such as Old spice. Main thing is to rinse off the soap thoroughly after they bathe. Might be worth a try.
With my DH, it's not so much his BO as it is his breath. It is just horrible. He's always brushing his eeth. It is so bad that it actually makes the abedroom smell when he first gets up. I carry Altoids with me if we are out and have him suck on one or two of them when we are in putlic.
Mawzy, place a phone call to your dentist and ask about two mouthwashes. ONE is Breath Rx...and the other is CloSYS. Both are anti-bacterial and contain NO alcohol. The dry mouth created by the Alcohol in other mouthwashes... is another cause for bad breath. CloSYS can only be purchased at the dentist's office, but Walgreens carries Breath Rx. Both can be used after dental surgery - when brushing is out of the question. They worked for US, and I believe they will work for you, too. Nancy B*
My wife's dentist recommended "Peridex" (brand name for Chlorhexidine Gluconate) as a mouth rinse since she won't brush her teeth. I think this is only available by prescription.
Thanks so much. He just had a dentist's appointment last week and I didn't think to ask at that time. I really appreciate your help. I'll call the dentist tomorrow and let you know
Dh has refused to brush for about a year. The hygienist noted redness of the gums and is afraid of infection. She gave me a mouth wash for dh but it doesn't work because he swallows it after swishing. I still have to ask how serious that is. I have chosen a different location (at the kitchen table right after breakfast) for brushing dh's teeth and he now lets me do it (but he won't open very wide), then takes the toothbrush and works at it a little himself (mostly all in the same spot). Much better than nothing. It turns out it was standing at the bathroom sink that he was refusing, not the brushing itself. I give him a bowl to spit in and drape a tea towel around him to catch dripping. Once this has become routine I plan to try it after the evening meal as well.