Hi, my husband has had Parkinson’s for 13 years and was diagnosed with dementia 4 years ago. On the whole we have managed well, but he had a couple of falls last weekend and since then his confusion is worse and at night he now wets the bed. I have bought some inco pants and they do the job well, but he takes them off at some point during the night, throws them in the bath and goes back to bed with nothing on - result a wet bed. During the day no problem. He has been medically checked since his fall and there is no UTI to account for this. I guess it is something we have to live with. How do other Carers cope with this problem?
Hi @Kas
I am sorry to hear about your Husbands problems, here is a link to some information on incontinence and how to get the help required - How to manage bladder and bowel problems in Parkinson's | Parkinson's UK.
I hope this helps but if not please do get in touch with our help line on 0808 800 0303 or email [email protected].
Kind regards
Sue - moderation team
Hi @Kas
It is a tough and very wearing, unpleasant issue to deal with. My OH was referred to his GP to the incontinence clinic who then recommended an external catheter ( basically a condom with a small pipe) which attaches to a bag which collects the urine. Completely transformed that part of our lives. Obviously wouldn’t work if your OH h would take it off but could be worth a try.
Best wishes,
Thank you for this. Someone else, somewhere, mentioned this and I am planning to talk to GP/incontinence service. I am afraid he will pull it off in the middle of the night though, as he takes the pants off, but maybe not. It is part of the dementia I think, as he sometimes does not understand anything I say, however simple I make it. Just heartbreaking
Hi there,
You can also get an incontinence “bodysuit” which fastens with poppers between the legs. Prices seem to range from £10- £15 so could be worth a try, though I could also see it leading to frustration if someone is trying to get it off but can’t.
The whole business is a lot to get used to, emotionally as much as physically.
Regards,
Pippa
Hi Kas,
I totally sympathise because I’m in exactly the same position with my partner. Some days I just can’t keep up with the washing, despite him wearing incontinence pants. He has been seen by the urology department and has been on Mirabegron and Tamulosin for years. The tablet before that caused even more frequent hallucinations. Following a telephone consultation this morning they are now suggesting botox injections into the bladder. I hadn’t heard of this treatment before but apparently it is 70% successful
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I have not heard of this - sounds interesting. At the moment our problem seems to have eased a bit, no doubt it will return though. I feel for you, it is a horrible situation
I really feel for you. It’s a nightmare issue but in our experience, after a while, easily sorted. My husband can’t move at all without meds so there’s no chance he can get to the loo. We were referred to the local Incontinence Service who were brilliant. My husband was prescribed with the sheaths, disposable bags, barrier wipes and adhesive remover via Script-Easy. A nurse visits to assist initially. Products are ordered with them and are courier-delivered. The sheath fits over the penis. Urine is collected in a bag which you keep for a week. It’s saved our lives. There is a leak every now and then but on the whole the only thing that can work for us. My husband was diagnosed 14 years ago.
Thank you! I am looking into this, but services are still restricted at present. Typically the night time incontinence has stopped - for now, but I need to be prepared for it to happen again.
Yes, there’s a couple of months’ wait to be seen here.
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oh yes, also he’s on a drug called Trospium to reduce the frequency of visits to the loo.
Hi Kas,
OH was continent during the day, but, after being in hospital and having a catheter inserted on admission, ( I got that taken out PDQ), and then being put in nappies on another admission, (because they could not be bothered to take him to the toilet regularly), he came home dry during the day but wet overnight. The sheaths that have been mentioned were a godsend. Only one nurse on the ward mentioned them!!! Tried them and the result was around 90% successful.The odd failure, usually due to the carer who did not put the sheath on correctly so I usually did it myself, (some carers would not even do this).Please do try this avenue.
You can get day and night ones but thankfully we never needed the day ones.
If you go down the road of night time sheaths, (Conveen sheaths), then make sure that they are one use ones, not the ones that can be used for a week. That to me might result in a UTI.
All the best and PM/e mail me if you like.
Ro
With respect that does not address Kas’s problem. Shewees!!!