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Lately mum's incontinence nappies have started to literally explode / disintegrate all over. I’ve never caught it, so not sure what is happening but I’ve now had the joy of cleaning up the urine-soaked gel-like substance from all over the carpet / floor / bed, etc. Like a literal explosion! It’s gross and it’s damn hard to clean! You have to wait for it to dry before you can vacuum and then follow with carpet cleaning / laundry.


I take it these incontinence pants are getting full, but we change them quite often and right before bed. Admittedly, it typically happens in the morning when she wakes up. Am I meant to be changing her incontinence nappy in the middle of the night?? I don’t really want to start waking her up as then it’s really hard to get her settled again.


Is there something I can put over the incontince pants to avoid this? I have a feeling it’s not happening completely on its own and that she is somehow fiddling around with it too. Today the explosion was all over her bedroom carpet, bed and part way through to the bathroom. It’s almost like she’s had it in her hand and started a pillow fight with it, banging it around (I’m sure she hasn’t, but best way to describe it).


I have heard of baby nappies exploding when too full...


These are the maximum absorbency and just wondering what I can do to protect this from happening? As I said, we change them often (and when I do they are honestly not that bad). But this is obviously happening at night! I allow her to sleep in (i.e., I don’t have a set time that I wake her up).


I’d prefer not to have to wake her up in the middle of the night for a change but is that what others do? Help! I’m sick of the urine smell!

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People usually put an incontinence pad inside a diaper for overnight. Have you tried that?

Also, cut Mom off from liquids after about 6 pm.
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Cappuccino42 May 2022
I haven’t tried that but I’ll keep it in mind. I was thinking if I should put normal underwear over top to at least avoid the explosion BUT I’d prefer not to as then I’ll be washing more urine items. She’s pretty good during the day but obviously middle of night she must be letting the whole thing out
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This happened to a relative.
Advised to try 3 things;
1. buy higher absorbent products, if not already. (My LO using pull-ups - thicker depends wrap around style was suggested).
2. Place booster pad inside. (Another pad/nappy without plastic backing is best). This can be removed in several hours to extend the life of the main item.
3. Dr checkup. To discuss this change of excess urine at night. (Look into fluid retention, possible heart issues, other medical issues).

If no cure is found - aim to contain. Thicker pads, extra pads, mid night pad change.
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Countrymouse May 2022
No double padding, please! Bad for skin integrity.

(A co-worker was so ferocious on this subject that she threatened a client's husband with an Adult Safeguarding referral if he persisted in doing it - I was standing behind her thinking "gosh, steady on..!" But she was right.)
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Where are you getting the incontinence pads, and what type are they?

It's possible you have a bad batch. Has the problem been going on long?
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Cappuccino42 May 2022
Could be a bad patch but I think it’s been a couple different brands now. Mind you,.. I do try buy them on special. They are just the chemist ones (Tena mainly). They are supposed to be the highest absorbency (ie one specifically mentions night). I haven’t tried the expensive ones because well,.. they cost a lot from her pension! I might really need to push her doctor to sign papers for discount. I know the gov offers discount for incontince if doctor suggests it.
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Assuming you're in England: ask your GP for a referral to your community Bladder & Bowel team. They will come and assess her, advise on continence care, and get you set up for deliveries (which I believe are free if clinically justified, and they probably will be). Be patient because they're likely to have a substantial Covid backlog to deal with.

Meanwhile I really wouldn't buy them from the chemist - if you're not happy to shop online, can you get to a decent sized supermarket or CostCo, somewhere like that?

Are these pads, or pull-ups, or what?

PS - for example, you can get a case of 64 size medium 800ml capacity (i.e. absorbs up to 800mls of urine) tearable pull-ups for £29.99 - I don't know how that compares with what you're paying?
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Cappuccino42 May 2022
I’m in Australia, the ones we buy are between $16-20 a pack of 8 pull ups usually. On discount have sometimes been $12. Pounds would be about double so most likely $60 for 64. That’s not bad!!! Think I will have to check online!! I’ve just always assumed I buy them from chemist.
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Don't put underwear over her continence product - the pants will restrict/compress it, making it less able to expand and absorb.
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Cappuccino42 May 2022
Didn’t think of that, thanks!
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I haven't shopped on this site so this is NOT an endorsement, but it is a good example of how to explain products so it gets a thumbs-up from me for that:

https://www.incontinencechoice.co.uk/female-incontinence-products/disposable-incontinence-pants-for-women.html

The information for each product includes how much it absorbs in liquid capacity, and that's what you should be looking at. Ignore blurb like Super, Night-Time Max, MegaWee or whatever else their marketing teams have come up with - what you need to know is how much that pad can mop up and hold.

This site also quotes price per item. So to repeat, I can't speak for their products or service but I am quite impressed with their clarity.

Ref the exploding puzzle - she's probably trying to take it off and tearing the lining. Have you watched how she's doing that, if not can you? Guide her through it and you might solve the problem.
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Cappuccino42 May 2022
Thank you. Will look into the website and didn’t think about the marketing aspect re names etc.
yes I suspect she’s somehow fiddling with it but have not caught her in action yet. It’s because as I said, I allow her to sleep in and wake up naturally. It’s literally the only time I have for myself and also she’s a bit slow to get started so I have found if she wakes up for a bit before I get the day rolling and start prompting her, she’s been better. Otherwise she can get a little startled. I’m thinking of motion activating the camera in her room to catch what happens/alert me to movement. The lengths you go to. I’ve put smart lights in her room as well so I can control them from wherever I am as well as her outlets. Wish I had a smart robot to clean up the exploded nappies!
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Well - you say fiddling with it, but I'd call it wanting to take it off, which is a perfectly reasonable thing for a person wearing wet underpants to want to do.

If I were you I'd go in when you get up, gently wake her for a toilet transfer and pad change, then help her back into bed: you should still get your quiet time, only without the horrendous mess to clear up and without all the monitoring devices. Does she have a bedside commode?

As long as you go about it quietly, don't draw the curtains or turn on any bright lights, and give her full support she won't fully wake up and she should actually sleep better.
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Cappuccino42 May 2022
She will not do commode (not even at the hospital they or I could get her to do it). she sits really awkwardly on a commode and won’t go. However, her bathroom is right next to her bedroom. . I agree she’s fiddling with it to change it. I’ve always had spares next to her bed (it’s where we keep some) and in the past, she would have just removed and put new one on if I wasn’t there. Not because I don’t care but just saying that’s where couple spares sit (ready to go when I attend to her) and she wanted that control herself. She’d always ask where the spare is. So not sure what she’s doing to actually make it explode.
Anyhow, Ill try having the energy to go to her prior to my morning coffee ;) just been so burnt out,... as we all are,..

Thank you for your tips
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What an unpleasant, morning snow storm greeting. You have my sympathy. Brings back floating cotton fluff memories adrift in hallway. Sigh.

Top liners are different than the type of pad that has a waterproof bottom liner. Top liners allow the liquid to absorb slowly and filter through to the bottom pull up. The waterproof pad can keep the liquid against the skin but if that’s what you have you can slice the waterproof lining to allow for drainage.

When using either type of pad, if you first reduce the adhesive side it is easier to pull off. Or, rip OUT as the case maybe 🤔
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My mom has pretty bad incontinence and although not 100% foolproof all the time, 99% of the time they hold. I buy her Depends Night Defense. If you're using another absorbency it probably won't have sufficient retention of urine. Tena also makes them.
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BurntCaregiver Jul 2022
Depend brand products are the best ones.
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1800 33 00 66 | National Continence Helpline

The helpline can give good advice of product type, absorbancy & maybe brands.

Continence Clinics are attached to some public hospitals - depends where you live. The helpline can advice on this too.
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Beatty May 2022
This link is for Australia.
Did I read you were in Aus?
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If this is recent.
Is it the same box or bag of briefs (nappies)?
If so it might have been the fault of the manufacturer.
I would call the 800 number or whatever number is listed for Customer Service and explain the problem.

If you have to wake her at night changing her in bed would probably be easier and safer. It does take practice and she will most likely fall right back to sleep. And if the blow outs are only happening at night it sounds like you might have to start changing her at night. (I would change my Husband about 4 am) It does not sound like a "product failure". If there are more absorbent products you might want to try those at night.

You can try putting underwear over the brief (nappies) that would at least contain any blowout of gel like substance but if it is wet it will get wet. There are disposable liners intended to be placed in a brief that will absorb more. And there are washable ones as well.
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Vito8675309 May 2022
I have never seen a disposable liner. You mean like a Maxi Pad? Can you give me a link to what product exactly you're referring to? Thanks
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I feel for you! I too let mom sleep. She is usually up around 6am anyway. I've tried several brands. The only product that has worked overnight is the Tranquility Premium Overnight pullups plus a Top Liner inside. Never leaks. I've never had one disintegrate. Each size lists capacity. My mom wears a small size and the capacity is about 20oz/600ml. You may have to get larger size. They are available on Amazon. Hope this helps.
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lovingw1f3 May 2022
Natasana,
What is a Top Liner? I tried looking it up and just got a bunch of adds for diapers.
Thank you for a response.
Pam
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I have dealt with this issue as well! Out-of-the-blue product no longer holds the same
night-time urine. Upon call to supplier, the company admitted that a new "gel" was
being substituted due to supply chain issues. We now have added another "bladder pad"
to the original pull up, and are thankful for success. Such a sin to the landfill.
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Do an Internet search. There are new devices out there besides bags including one that is worn at night that has a gentle vacuum into a container. Film on YouTube. There are Botox shots and nerve stimulators that are implanted, even something you wear on your ankle. Check with a Uro-Gyn doctor or get your regular doctor to give you a referral.
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Lovingw1f3,

I sent you a message with info on the TopLiners. Here it is again if anyone else needs:

Here is better description and an Amazon link:
Tranquility TopLiner Disposable Booster Pads - Super (15" x 4.25") - 25 ct, Peach https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IOR5G6E/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apan_i_35WYXEF3N95VEZ0XNT5M
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Tranquility products seem sturdier than others in my opinion and we've tried a bunch of them.
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Cappuccino42: Perhaps you'll have to opt for a different brand or style.
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I agree with MJ1929 - have your mother stop drinking liquids at least 3 hours before going to bed. That way she can be changed before bed and there might be a better chance of going through the night with better results.

My mother used to wear two night time Adult Depends to bed for the just in case.
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You can start using liner pads in her diaper (nappy) at night. This will certainly help. Make sure you buy the ones that are maximum absorbency and use two (side by side) in her diaper.
You could try getting a waterproof, nylon brief to go over the diaper. If you're having a problem with mom getting into her diaper, try taping it on. I've had care clients with dementia who would get into their diapers and make a terrible mess. We would have to make a belt of duct tape around the diaper snug enough that they couldn't get a hand in. Then when it's time to take it off, use a pair of rounded-point safety bandage scissors to cut the tape.
Since the urine problem is only at night, you could try getting one of those PureWick systems. I've heard good things about those.
I would not discourage her from drinking though. That's healthy if she's eager to drink because it helps prevent UTI's.
Try the diaper with two incontinence pads in it. That might do it. If not check out one of those PureWick systems.
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