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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.

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At bed time I used 2 diapers on Mother and at the end,when she carried so much extra fluid on her back and the diaper cut into her poor little back,I put a king size kotex where the elastic was and this worked for us.I hope you find something that works well for you too.Take care~
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We found that to prevent leaking, you can use an additional diaper over it. Another solution is to use a maxipad inside a diaper. Sounds crazy but it helps. Don't forget to use the plastic backed sheets under him/her.
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My motherinlaw is 90 yrs.old. She has a hearing problem, is on oxygen, and has incontinence especially at night. I found a mattress cover and use the blue disposable sheets under and over the bottom sheet. I found that if you use a pull up diaper and a regular diaper over it, you will save a whole lot of laundry! My other concern is that she lives in her room without going out for meals only for her shower (every other day). She has her bed, a recliner, and a new TV. She lived alone up to the time she went into the hospital so she wishes to be alone most of the time. I don't want her to feel neglected. I do love her, but this caregiving is a tough job!
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A few thoughts:
#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.
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NorthShore Care Supply's AirSupreme adult diapers are super absorbent and if they fit properly, don't leak. it is all about the fit in the waste and the legs-both should be snug, but not so tight as to make indentations on the skin. If your mom has an unusual body type, like thinner legs and thicker waste, or vice versa, the folks at NorthShore always help you to find the best fit
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We've had to go to Tranquility Overnight diapers even for daytime. While we try to get him up every hour, that's sometimes difficult to to, and my household cannot get up in the middle of the night to toilet my dad.
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.
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I was given some diapers for my husband that were for women but I used him and I found that they seemed to be a bit better than the men's. Has anyone noticed this? It seemed they come up higher on his back. I still have had leakage with him though.
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Linda, I'm glad you find the overnight Depends helpful. I had high hopes for them but they were not as absorbent as I wished... they are pretty good for daytime though!
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WalMart has just begun carrying a new Depends that is made to last all night -- it's been working for us, as long as I do as Oyveyreally suggests and get her to the bathroom first thing on waking up.
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Sam's Club is most economical and very good quality. I also add an overnight pad at bedtime. Make sure she goes to the bathroom before bed. Know her usual wake-up time and get her up to go to the bathroom. My mom's usually wake up time is 7 am. If she oversleeps she's likely to wet the bed because the already saturated underwear can't absorb her morning urination. So it's not at night that she's wetting the bed, but in the morning. You might also have your mom checked for UTI and diabetes.
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I have tried...
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!
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The BEST product for completely eradicating odors (urine or stool) is
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.
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Removing urine from clothes there is a product that I used for my children something like pee be gone or close to that I found it at wal mart for about 10 bucks. I did use borax a few times and it helped.
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Would like to say also that the cloth pads are more absorbant than the disposable bed protectors.
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Try poise pads on the adult briefs. If you use the pull up type they are less absorbant than the type that have tabs. Use the tabed depends with a poise pad inside like a period pad. The urine will be soaked up and there will still be plenty of room for the brief to soak up more. Also use the cloth bed pads they are somewhat more expensive however you would only need three or four and they will last if they are not set in a hot dryer to dry after washing. Also you may have to set a toilet routine at night. Nursing facilities usually take people to restroom every two hours to prevent this. In home that would be almost imposible but one time in the night you may want to take her to the bathroom to prevent the soaking.
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My company works with a lot of seniors in their homes. One client told me about Wellness Briefs, which astronauts use? This family said they've tried them all, and these work the best.
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i found someplace called incontinent support dot org that had so so so many first person tips to list here. someone who has dealt with all kinds of issues.
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My mom has used 4 Tena Overnight pads in her XL Adjustable Depends at night and it helps her not feel like she is "floating" in pee. She lines 2 side by side in the crotch area and one across the back and front.
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I work in a carehome and there are different levels of absorbency ie: most pull ups are only absorbent to 300 mls and taped pads are 1200mls. they may seem more expensive initially but they actually save you in the long run. Can I also say i understand trying not to give your loved one fluids for three hours before bedtime but please bear in mind how long it is until morning as people who are elderly/infirm etc can become dehydrated quite easily. (a tip I received from a family member of one of my clients for at home care was to use puppy training pads under the sheets (highly irregular I know but they are highly absorbent and are usually available in £/$ stores). We also toilet our residents once or twice at night if they are severely incontinent, it means they are not lying in urine soaked garments or bedding and in most circumstances saves on laundry pads etc.
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Mejjy11: Go to/call National Incontinence @ 1-800-998-1745. They should be able to provide the best answer to your question.
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I feel everybody's pain. My mom is completely urine incontinent, and leaks through most nights. She apologizes for making so much laundry, but won't consider sleeping without pajama pants, so I do a lot of laundry. I've been using Depends underwear and Tena overnight pads inside, but it still leaks, so I may consider trying a different brand. I also use disposable bed pads underneath, so I don't have to do the sheets every day. For laundry, I use vinegar, like a lot of people, but I heard from a friend that the laundry detergent Persil takes out urine smell very well. Might be worth a try if the vinegar is problematic. Good luck!
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I'm still working on this for my husband. I have tried several types of diapers and so far Walgeens Certainity brand and a pad in the diaper that is extra absorbent is the best, but I still have a wet bed at times. Look for sales which they have often. I have gotten from Miles Kimball magazine the bed protector that is tucked under the bed and bottom mattress to secure it, on top of that the smaller pad (2 of them) which are great. Very absorbable. I have not had to wash the bottom sheet in a long time. I get him up during the night to use the toilet....every 4 hrs, limiting fluids after 5PM also. The top sheet may get wet if he gets wrapped around him. I ordered an extra absorbent diaper from amazon and I am not impressed. I have not tried a diaper from Sams club yet, but have a package of them. The wet items I put into a soln with PineSol which has taken care of the urine smell pretty good then washed them well. I have a vinyl mattress cover from Walmart also. Good luck and hang in there.
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I put a medium pullup inside a large pullup and then put it on my husband at night. He hasn't wet through since I started doing this.
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My husband is also diabetic with a lot of urination at night and has the loose bowels, for the odor I use All Powerforce pacs for laundry, no odor left.
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Mejjy11, I agree that urination can be tied to bowel function. When my mom hasn't had a BM for a while the urine output goes down as well, I think because the over inflated colon blocks the bladder from emptying properly. And when I give a dose of an osmotic type laxative that pulls water into the bowels that decreases urine output as well.
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Sams club brand is less costly and are as effective as the brand name ones. I order online and they deliver right to the door. Also I line the diaper at night with one of the button side disposibles and then put in 2 super absorbants pads. Most nights this works. Also put the cloth type of bed pad down just in case. Oh what fun it is to get old! I can hardly wait! I wonder who will do this for me.
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When I took care of my mom she leaked every night.....the meds made her "dead to the world" so no getting her up to go to the bathroom. I washed sheets and Jammie's everyday. To get the urine smell out I added a cup of ammonia to the wash cycle. I know it sounds counter intuative but it worked every time.
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what you spend in time and laundry supplies isnt worth it. On amazon I bought Tena Tab diapers overnights and 32 ox Booster flow thru pads to go into it. If you need more info let me know. Good Luck, I know the aggravation and did it 8 years, argh.
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Thanks everyone. It sounds like I need to try a variety of pullup diapers. I've been wondering about whether she was wearing the right size. She started out with large, but we had her try a small/medium and that fits her too. But she has so much loose, flabby skin in the crotch area from all the weight she lost several years ago. She must've lost 100 lbs. within a year by cutting back on her food. Grandpa was in charge of that and many of us felt she lost the weight too quickly. Anyway, because of that skin, it's hard to tell if the diapers/pullups fit correctly.

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.
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Consider yourself fortunate if the overflows happen only every 10-14 days.

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.
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