Continence issues

[Helen82]

Hi everyone
I was wondering how those whose arms are affected manage to go to the toilet? Mum isn’t incontinent as such but can’t pull down her clothes anymore so she we need solutions to enable her to go to the toilet when nobody is there (she lives alone). Grateful for any ideas thank you

[Terry]

Hi Helen;

I'm not the best person to ask, especially with ladies issues. She should have connections to nurses that specialize with these things and I guess the options are limited.

Catheters of various types could be use and nappies. You can get loo's and loo seats that wash and dry your bum which I have used for seven years that give you a bit of dignity. I don't tend to wear many clothes in my home which makes things easier for me and my wife.

Love Terry

[Ellie]

Hi Helen,

I guess your mum hasn't been approved (yet) for CHC ?

It must be very difficult for her living alone and not having help to go the loo when she needs to, I'm sorry for the situation she's in.

Terry mentioned catheters - they are an option for sure, but don't solve the bowel needs. There are incontinence pants which would do the job for when she is on her own, but they probably wouldn't be her first choice, though I daresay better than sitting in wet clothes

Ideally she'd have carers come in several times a day to bring her to the loo (that's how I manage when I'm on my own during the day) and have help before bed and early morning.

You said recently she struggles to walk & transfer. Could she safely use the loo on her own if she, for example, wore a dress and no pants?

If she has a District / Community Nurse, they may have other solutions.

Take care.

Love Ellie.

[Helen82]

Thanks Terry and Ellie. No mum hasn’t been approved for funding yet. It’s still considered that her needs are social rather than medical but various professionals keep mentioning it so it’s in the pipeline I think (thankfully considering the care bills!). She is wearing incontinence pads/pants at the minute but there isn’t much dignity in having to just wee where you’re sat and she thinks she smells of it. It’s just such a frigging cruel disease. She’s suggested increasing the care visits so that she can either be helped to the toilet or help change pads regularly. When she was stuck the other day she just went with dress and no pants but it’s not ideal because of the little leaks us ladies can have!! Thank you again for taking the time to reply, it really helps 😊

[Ellie]

I wonder if your mum would be open to using a catheter then, even short-term?

The District Nurses usually do them (I think) Once she got her head around the idea of physically having one, it should be more dignified than incontinence pants and less stressful.

Love Ellie.

[Terry]

Hi Helen;

I normally ware, pants and no dress indoors unless we have royalty visiting. Don't think that this will help your mum but others might find it useful , if not then funny.

I can pull up pants OK but trousers are a different story.

Love Terry