About Dementia Help with Dementia Help for Relatives Society DementiaNet Community My Universe

Read diary

3am and all is NOT well

A page in the diary ""
Written by suew 28. Oct 2007 05:28 AM

If I am up at 3am chances are all is NOT well. It has come to mean lately that Ray has had another episode of his sudden incontinence and I have had a big clean-up to do. Then I am too over-wrought to go back to sleep.

It seems to happen after we go to a party or a BBQ. He sits too long, eats all the wrong foods and then comes home. He sleeps for a while, eats again and goes to bed. Come 3am and whoosh! it is emergency stations and the BIg clean-up. All at a time when I am least able to cope with it.

I know I am complaining here. It is okay to complain when there is just cause...right?

So I am faced with some new choices. Do I decide he goes into night pads and then he sleeps through the night and come morning is dry as a bone? Do I buy night pads and put them on him only after parties or days of unusual eating patterns? Or do I just keep my fingers crossed and hope it doesn't happen again?

This is the silly season, the lead-up to Christmas and we are all going to be faced weith unusual events, late nights, interrupted afternoon naps, episodes of incontinence, confusion and general mayhem to our precious schedule. Any advice on how to cope with all of this would be most welcome. It may save me going out of my mind!

We as younger (early sixties) survivor of strokes, now with some dementia etc and carer do need to still have a life that is comparable to our peers so I hate to pull the plug on the party season and stay home. I just need to get some idea of how to cope with the new situation.

« Prev page | Next page »
 

Comments from the community:

Dear Sue,

Night pads sound like a good idea. Saves some mess, and stress as well.

Its fantastic that your social calendar is active Sue. A credit to you that Ray leads a quality life with normal routines and sees others.

I often wonder what the carers need to deal with when I have taken dad salted herring!

I admire you greatly Sue


Kandi

Written by kandi, 29. Oct 2007 12:03 AM

Dear Sue,
For sure use night pads, If they are dry so be it but for the convienience of a dry bed etc it is well worth it both in cost and time. Your rest is very precious when you need to care for someone else and the time spent changing and washing sheets, clothes and people as a result of just one accident can be enormous. Not to mention the emotional aspect which is also draining. Take care of yourself and it cany do any harm.
Regards Elaine

Written by paddington, 10. Dec 2007 11:15 AM