Adult diapers are leaking. Is this normal? What can I do?
My grandmother, who lives with me, wears maximum protection/absorption adult diapers 24/7. But at least once a week, she wets the bed to the point of having to change the sheets and her clothes (I do use a plastic bed protector). She never mentions the bedwetting. She just changes out of the wet clothes when she wakes up and puts them in the hamper. Sometimes she can go 10-14 days without an incident, but this week she's wet the bed about four days in a row.
I'm trying to schedule her a doctor's appointment, but some of the doctors (gynecologist and urologist) I called either don't take Medicare (!?) or don't deal with her specific issues (she has a pessary). Plus, she's had other issues that needed to be dealt with first (possible cancer).
Anyway... the point of my post is that I don't understand why these "diapers" are leaking. They have good reviews and seem absorbent. She doesn't drink that much a day. I'd say she drinks a minimum of 20 oz. to maybe 28 oz. per day. Some of her food has liquid like milk in her cereal or the canned fruit she eats. She eats about one 14.5 oz. can of mixed fruit per day. She usually doesn't drink within three hours of bedtime other than the sip of water for her pill. She does usually have a small snack between 9:30 pm to 10 pm with bedtime being between 11:00 to 11:30 pm. So it would seem that these "diapers" shouldn't be leaking. I'm sure she's pulling them up far enough and I've even tried a different size on her.
I guess I could try a different brand, but most I've seen are considerably more expensive. She's wearing Walmart's brand now which costs about $22 for 60 diapers.
Any thoughts or suggestions?
And if anyone has any tips for removing urine smell from clothes, please share it with me. I was using a pet enzyme cleaner which works, but I don't like the smell. So now I'm using distilled vinegar. First I rinse the clothes with cold water, then I let them sit in a water and vinegar mix for at least an hour. Then I rinse them, and if they smell ok, I then wash as normal. I just don't like using vinegar as I'm slightly allergic to it.
#1 She needs to be seen by her physician asap, specifically for frequent urination.
#2 Google better products.
#3 Sign up for bargain price apps such as Ibotta, Walmart Savings Catcher and Hip2Save for starters.
#4 Change to an earlier time on liquid consumption cutoff for her.
#5 Ask her physician if she would be a candidate for a medication for frequent urination called Vesicare.
#6 This is not meant to be rude because it's going to sound like it. Make sure that she knows her diaper/pad is not a toilet. I only add that because my late mother once had a younger, diapered friend stay with her because the friend's apartment was under repair for a short time. This friend actually urinated ALL THE TIME in her diaper because she thought that's what it was for! Ugh! PLEASE do not take offense.
I cannot, or I am a danger on the hour plus commute to work which I will not risk because of my son; and my mom did get up for several months until she started having health/alertness/mental issues of her own caused by fatigue.
Given that even with her getting Dad up 1-2x a night, he was STILL wetting through, thanks to being very very restless despite his severe sleep apnea, she gave up.
She puts 3 overlapping washable sheet protectors, over a waterproof mattress pad.
So far, most BMs are occurring during the day, may or may not be in the toilet, regardless how often he's taken to the bathroom.
No other diapers worked, even during the day, unless we were extra-diligent about the hourly trips.
The rubberized sheeting that I purchased in lengths from a fabric store. Works alright to keep the mattress pad protected. And I did have a waterproof mattress pad but they take forever to dry.
I also got lengths of terry cloth that I found at a garage sale. These go on the bed over the sheet and absorbent pads go on top.
I check my husband every hour and if the brief (tab, diaper type) looks to be wet, light blue lines, I will change him. Because the next one will flood the brief, the padding and sometimes the terry cloth.
If there is a way to change at night I have gotten to the point where it is so easy to roll him that sometimes I can change him and he will not wake up! If he does wake he usually goes right back to sleep.
But about 1/4 the time I will get breakthrough leakage.
I have found 2 products that work well.
Clorox has a Urine Remover and it is great on hard surfaces as well as fabric.
The other product is OdoBan the one I have is eucalyptus scent and it works well for eliminating odors. It does not cover them up but eliminates the odor.
A good washing machine and dryer helps a lot!
X-O Odor Neutralizer & Cleaner. You can add it to laundry, make it into a cleaner, put in mop solution, or dilute it for a room spray. I have used X-O through 3 incontinent parents, & multiple elderly & ill pets. It is the only product I have found which doesn't harm what you put in the washer. It is a little expensive--$50/gallon jug but a little goes a long way. It is worth it to me as I absolutely hate odors from urine. If you can't find it in a med supply or hardware store, google it. I purchase it at Elliott's Hardware in Dallas.
The whole thing is odd though. Last week Grandma wet the bed approximately four nights in a row, but she hasn't wet it the past three nights. I still think it's related to constipation. She was constipated last week and was straining to have a bowel movement several days in a row. I've contacted the doctor about that and am waiting for a response before I do anything.
I also acquired one of those portable potty chairs and have placed it beside her bed. I haven't shown it to her yet, but hopefully that will cut down on the bedwetting.
With Mom I was stripping the bed and washing everything several times a week. And then I found Abri-Flex Premium by Abena and now we rarely have a leak.
People have given you excellent feedback on your question, especially the cautions about too little water. Best of luck with this challenge.