Alzheimer's Disease Support Group

I am so, so sorry. I truly want to cry for you. I,m scared! Will I be able to do it?

Yes, you will be able to do it.

Two years ago I would have thought I couldn't do this either.

When people say " I don't know how you do it"... the answer is -
you don't start out from here. It starts with leaking urine.. pads take care of that. Then on to Depends when the pads aren't enough. The
first poopy mess is gawd-awful. But after I armed myself with the proper tools it got more and more doable. This is not to say I still don't freak out. I just take things one step at a time. I'm getting better and faster. I don't know how long I can continue to do this. It is upsetting and very disturbing to a person who likes things clean. I worry constantly that I missed a spot..

And, some Alz patients never lose fecal control. So this may be a long way off for you.. or never. Several of us are dealing with this now. Deb, Georgia for sure and Glenda (rockymtgmb) has wet
problems every day. I'm sure there are others as well.

I'm scared, too. Every morning I pray for the strength to get through today.

That's it, you start off slow and then develop a coping skill with each new event.

I keep forgetting to ask, what is a BRAT diet?

Ha ! Banana's, Rice, Applesauce and Toast or Tea.

It is supposed to slow down a digestive system that is in high gear.

Oh -and I guess my answer to "I don't know how long I can do this" is

I will do it until I can't do it anymore.

I am so sorry . It is tough. I remember one day I had my baby granddaughter my special needs son and my mother al in nappies and all in my house. I spent all day changing nappies/diapers and honestly the baby was the worst of all three. I don't know how long I can continue to change my son , he is now 10 and shows no signs of ever being potty trained . I suppose the upshot is if I don't do it who will ??? ( the answer is no one ) also when my mum was alive she was such a private person and I know that she would have hated anyone else changing her , your right about the BRAT diet it does work , especially the bananas , Katie xx

What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

A friend sent this from a Women on the Clock . I thought of all of us when I read it.
Dibbie we are all scared of something. We' ll do what we need to and when it gets too much we get on this web site and share ,cry and cuss. Or start buying wine by the galllon.
Believe me I never thought I could get through the poop mess the first time it happened but, I thought of Judy and no matter how bad it is she will make a funny out of it. It wasn't easy but it helped.
We can change a depend clean up poop do laundry all day , Do BRAT diets and make sure they are fed. You don't like it but you will do it.
Hang in there.

I'm wondering if you would share some of your "tools" for dealing with this. You have some great coping skills and I like the idea of the bedding in the yard to clean the bigger mess.

When my mom peed the bed I realized I need to think of how to get easier bedding and a way to clean than the heavy comforter she had.

I was evern thinking maybe I could take one of the newer softer bed mattress pads (one on the bottom now) and use it as a top sheet so when she has an accident it won't soak all the bedding. She wears pads but sometimes gets up and takes it off.

I think I read a good sense of humor underlinig your post - while I'm sure you were frustrated at the time- your post was very honest. I hope you are feeling better about life now. I am like you, with each problem comes a better understanding and a way to move forward for the next problem.
Thanks for your post.