She has always had issues with being incontinent with her urine, but now for the past two weeks has started loosing control of her bowels during the night and sometimes during the day (mostly at night).
I just don't know if this is another stage of the disease or something else that we need to be concerned with.
She was on Hospice a year ago, but they really and truly almost let her die. I kept telling them that she had a UTI and they would not test her, I had to really show myself and they did. By that time she was septic and could not walk, sit, or stand. By the grace of God we got through that and she is still with us today. Needless to say, it wasn't her time for Hospice. They were the nicest people, but they are really only there to make someone comfortable and my mother needed medical attention to treat and prevent future UTI's, which they were not doing. God bless you all for the responses to my questions, this forum is wonderful and is such a blessing to us.
My Mom does not have dementia but she has been dealing with UTIs for years due to cystocele and rectocele so she has urinary retention. For many years I would have her void in a brief so she wouldn't hold it and hopefully empty her bladder, but this year has been especially difficult. She developed sepsis and was in the hospital for a week. Every time she finished her antibiotics in 2 days another UTI! After visiting with 3 different urologists I found a winner. Mom has had a foley in for about 3 months now and I know this is controversial because of UTIs! I keep her as clean as I possibly can and use a product called Sensi Care it is suppose to help kill ecoli. I also give her a drink by the company "NOW" it is Cranberry Mannose + Probiotics, she drinks this as many as 3 times a day. I also give her Primadolphilus Optima Womens probiotics,it is refrigerated. She also has a difficult time with her bowells and I wish I could help more with that but I give her Metamucil because it is natural and also helps with cholesterol.
I hope this might help as I deal with this everyday and it is so difficult! Antibiotics can cause C diff and that can be another disaster. So far an entire month has gone by and no UTI. It's a tough road and I am so thankful for this site to learn and share. Oh one last note Mom is diabetic and takes Warfarin and the drink is OK for these patients.
God bless you and her!