Preventing Nighttime Mishaps for a Better Morning

Wouldn't the lubrication stop the flange from sticking? Have you tried the gels that lubricate the pouch? You squeeze the gel into the pouch (where you drain the poo from). When the pouch is stuck firmly on around the stoma, I 'sort of massage' the gel up to the stoma area and I can feel the stoma feels a little 'greasy'. Hope you can make sense of this. It helps me. I hope it will help you too.
Best of luck though.

Even though I have now been reversed, I had my problems early on in my ostomy career (when I was a fledgling ostomy star). I also had problems with leakages at night, which caused no end of grief. Coupled with an in-built awareness of the bag expanding (I am still not aware how) with the use of a far better product, these problems were eliminated. I do not know how, but after a period of time, I would wake at night and find my bag about ready to detonate, so it was not too late to salvage the situation.

The thing that I find intriguing is that I used to love to sleep on my stomach, but after programming myself not to do so while I had an ostomy, now I find myself very rarely doing so now and only when I awake from deep sleep in the mornings. And this still does not hold the same comfort and ease feel I used to have.

Ken.

Primeboy and Florie,
Well, I must say you gave me a big laugh. I could just picture it. It was like me the other night, woke up to the bag almost completely off but managed to salvage just a bit on the bathroom floor. But night clothes and hands not good. The next day, I was trying to figure out what was on the night switch for the bathroom and realized what it was after a bit. Thank God no one had come to visit that day. LOL
I'll never forget the first time I went for my pedicure. It wasn't long after I had the bag. While she was doing my feet, I could feel these gurgling sounds in my stomach and could feel myself filling up. What a complete mess I was in, with no change of clothes and 30 mins from home. Thank God she wasn't easily grossed out. I still go to her 12 years later. I stopped at my brother's on the way home and got him to bring me a towel to the car so I could manage the mess a bit.

Skyblue, I can relate to that because there are times when I have a little pinhole opening at the top of the bag and the odor reeks. I'm blessed that I don't live far from my work and I can go change when the time arises.

I can't think of being in a relationship because of all these mishaps, but I have made peace with that and it's okay.

It's so nice to get this feedback. Thanks, everyone.

Hi, what are flange extenders?

Hi Frenchie,
I think God has put us in this situation for a purpose. I plan to have some words with Him down the road; but, in the meantime, I am absolutely certain He has given us ostomates like you and many others to enjoy His greatest gift: a few hours of consciousness. Enjoy the ride, forget the bumps.
Prime

I totally understand and can say I frequently experience the nighttime "accidents". God bless you all for what you are going through! I guess I was hoping and praying that I was the only person that this happened to. Thank you for discussing this issue because now I feel more like a normal person. I have found that eating very early in the day and not close to my bedtime, not drinking or eating anything with a lot of sugar content, and going to bed somewhat "destressed" helped decrease accidents.
- Karen

This worked for me and worked well.

No eating 3 hours before bed. Learn how to swallow without swallowing air. The same goes for eating.

I went to an oversized bag.

Never eat fiber.

I was very nervous about lying in bed with another. Once I got a handle on the football bag, life was better.

I also had an advantage some of you may not have. I never and I mean never rolled onto my bag in my sleep. I am an active sleeper, I move around in my sleep to include some sleepwalking.
Something in my subconscious told me not to roll over in bed?

The few times I have slept with another. Beforehand, I explained what could happen with the appliance. It would be a terribly embarrassing situation, I would say. However, I also said not that unlike changing out a baby. So to put things into real perspective. Not a big deal!!!

Rick.....

Well said, Prime.

http://www.greatmedicalsupplies.com/supply~HYDROFRAME-FLEXIBLE-HYDROCOLLOID-STRIPS-WAFH33~HYDROFRAME-FLEXIBLE-HYDROCOLLOID-STRIPS-WAFH33.htm

Perhaps these....

Thanks

That is so true, Primeboy. I didn't go on this site very much but I will from now on. I guess living in an area where colostomies are not plentiful, you don't really have many people who can relate to what you're going through, having not gone through it themselves. It's hard to tell someone you woke up in poo and what a mess you were in. They can sympathize but that's about it.
I, too, plan on having a little chat with Him when the time comes. LOL

Scotiaman, you would've laughed at seeing me this morning at 3:30 trying to figure out why I had put the alarm clock on but all was good. LOL

Oh, Florrie, I loved your story even though I felt your pain. The only times I ever feel like crying for myself over this bag is when it brings me to overwhelming situations such as the night you described. Sleep is very precious to me and bathroom scrubbing is not. Thus the dilemma of 3am catastrophes and the fact that they damn near force me to tears.

Prime: Your wife is a saint! More stories about that woman and she will soon become a legend in her own time in the ostomy community. We should all be so lucky to find a spouse such as that. But I figure you've done your share of earning that love and care.

I decided after a few night accidents in my early days (ileo Dec '09) to just set the alarm. Yes, it disrupts my sleep and sometimes I end up reading for an hour or so before I can fall back asleep ... but no accidents! Just knowing that I will most probably not have any accidents during the night makes the sleep I do get much better.

Usual routine is to go to sleep about 11:30. The alarm rings about 2:45 for empty. Then the next alarm is my hubby about 6:15 when he gets up for work. Sometimes I stay up, but usually I read a bit and then snooze till 8:30 - 9 a.m.

What amazes me are the times when I wake during the night (without the alarm) ... I reach down and see my bag is pretty full. Is it the pressure against my skin that now triggers the 'wake' response?

Anywho ... for those who really are upset about the night messes (and the potential for them) I suggest the alarm.

All the best,
Beatrice

Hi Frenchie, I find that when I eat marshmallows this helps tremendously. Try a few before going to bed and yes, alarm clocks help but if you sleep with someone, they can be upsetting to your partner. My husband falls right back to sleep but I have set up my guest room so that I have everything prepared. I have had my colostomy since the 1990s but since my last surgery, it seems that my loose stools sometimes get the better of me. I am just seeing which foods I can tolerate that are different from before this past surgery. Keep a diary. It is helpful. Also, someone mentioned a Convatec appliance. See that your Ostomy nurse can set you up with a recast of your stoma so that you get a proper fit and see if you can also have a filter put into your appliance. I am unable to have that since my stools are so loose. Hope this helps.

Yes, it does get frustrating. I had a few times happen at work where I had to come home, but I learned since I don't live far from work, I come home, clean up, and get back on my feet! I still have trouble being with another man yet, but I am getting there! I am back out dating again, but I won't be with someone until I know I am sure! I am trying to get the right products!

Take care,

Bon

Hi, thanks for the advice. I may just start eating the marshmallow but that would be before I eat, right? I am separated so the alarm doesn't wake anybody up but me so I think I am going to start setting it. I like you, whenever I awake, the first instinct is to feel the bag to see if it's full.

Mamas Got a New Bag,

This is my first time in this part of this site. My question is, what is a recast of your stoma and what is it for? I had my ileostomy 1 year 9 months ago. I had to have it because I have what is called FAP, which is inherited from a parent. It causes the large intestine to get polyps and they turn cancerous. I had all but 6 inches of my large intestine taken out in 1975 and got by with yearly exams until July of 2009 when I was late for an exam. I also have had since 2001 a rare bladder disease called Interstitial Cystitis (it is like a permanent UTI). This makes me go to the bathroom at night at least every 2 1/2 to 3 hours during the night, so I haven't had any time where my pouch has gotten too full. I am on pain medications for it and will be for the rest of my life for the bladder problem.

I hope to hear back from you.

Redneck Cowgirl

(Sandy)

I have a jejunostomy, they are high output ostomies, on a good day it needs emptying every hour, luckily I'm a bad sleeper so don't have too many accidents at night. I always wear an ostomy support belt at night, it gives your flange a bit more support.

Hi Redneck Cowgirl, nice to see someone else on here with FAP, I had my ileo for FAP in 1989.

Hi Redneck,
Sorry, I can't help you with your question regarding a recast of a stoma. I have not heard of that but there may be some that can help you. I suppose it's not good that you have to be up so often but it does save you from a lot of grief regarding the bag filling up. Chat later.

Janice

Ps - just want to add - re the alarm --

I don't have Big Ben next to my hubby and me - LOL.

I found a small travel alarm (smaller than a cigarette package) that is meant to be close to one person. It's loud enough that I hear it but hubby doesn't move a muscle. Some are even meant to be tucked under the sleeper's pillow.

Now ... what did wake hubby up was me having to change the sheets.

It really has changed my whole feeling about the night. Suggest that anyone having regular mishaps at night give it a try.

Dating for two years, I haven't had any desire to date... wish I did!

Hello all! I am a new member to this site but have been reading posts for several months now. When I read Florrie's post, I just had to get in here and start participating.

I had my one-year anniversary of my ileostomy on March 8th. I almost made it to the one-year mark without a nighttime mishap.....almost. On March 3rd, I woke up to the alarm at 4:30 a.m. I couldn't quite understand why my whole right side of my jammies were wet and sticky. My output had been a little more liquidy than usual for the past week or so. As I'm standing in the bathroom looking in the mirror, I finally realize that my bag had come off and I had "output" literally dropping to my bathroom floor (like cow piles!). I keep puppy pads on hand for when I change my bag. I began grabbing those and throwing them on the bathroom floor, layer upon layer upon layer (you get the idea) as I'm still standing there trying to figure out what to do and that output is really putting out. It's not that I didn't know this would eventually happen, but I wasn't quite awake and hadn't really thought through how I would handle it when this accident did happen. I'm sure if there had been a video camera on me, it would have been hilarious to watch. My brain finally kicked in, and I grabbed a trash bag, stepped into the shower, stripped down, and threw everything in the trash bag. I got cleaned up and put a new bag on. I don't know how long I stood there trying to figure out what to do, but it was now 6:00 a.m. Then I had to start cleaning up everything else besides me: the bathroom floor, sink counter, cabinets, shower, etc. Of course, all the bedding had to be washed, and I had to throw away a pillow. I don't care what they say, you can't wash pillows - they just don't come out the same. Thank God for waterproof mattress pads or I would have been out buying a new bed that day.

I can laugh at it now. I'm sure it was a sight to see. Hopefully, I will be better prepared for the next time (and I'm sure there will be a next time) and not stand there looking at my silly self in the mirror trying to figure out what to do.

Thank you, Florrie, for sharing your story and letting me know I wasn't the only one experiencing an accident that week.

I know this website will be of great help to me, and hopefully, I will be able to help others as well.

You have helped someone I'm sure just by describing that night.
Socalileo! And with humor -- which is so important.

I remember a few nights like that myself.

And once at night -- when the alarm went off -- and yes, I had to empty. So I got up, sat on the toilet ... and emptied the contents onto the floor in front of me. Obviously not quite awake - LOL.

But in the end ... it's just poo. I've been feeling down lately ... now seeing what's happening in Japan ... a little poo on the floor ... not really an issue.

All the best,

Bea

Bea,
You are so right. With all of the things going on in Japan, a little poo to clean up is nothing. Even if you do have to take all day cleaning/sanitizing and washing bedding. At least I have hot and cold running water, electricity, bedding to wash and a washer and dryer to do it in. I thank God for that. Those poor people have none of the above for who knows how long. Very sad. I do live in "earthquake land" so it could be me in that situation some day.

But, for now, it's not and I take one day at a time (sometimes one hour at a time) and get through. It's hard not to have those times of feeling down. Actually, I think it's quite normal and take those times as they come. I wallow for a little while and then pull myself out of it whichever way I can.

As a final thought, I have learned in my 50-something years that you HAVE to have humor to get through life. Sometimes that humor is hard to find and I have to really dig far to find it. But, eventually I get there and life goes on.

I hope you are feeling better.

socalileo

I've had a few night mishaps that have caused me to change and wash the sheets right then and there, but for whatever reason, I've had the experience that others have described of waking on my own when my colostomy bag is full.

Also, I wear one of those belly bands that pregnant women wear. They keep the outlines of the bag hidden under your clothes, and for me, they eliminate about 90% of the farting noises. They also act as a barrier between your appliance system and your clothes/bedding. I own about four of these now and they've been a game changer for me.

Doug

We all deal with nighttime accidents/messes from time to time. However, I've found a few tricks that are very helpful! First and most importantly, grab a couple of those hospital butt pads to take home and sleep on top of them (luckily I snagged a few during my last stay). This saves you from changing all of the sheets, just simply remove the pad and change your bag and back to bed! Secondly, I take a few pills of Imodium before bed every night which helps the liquid stools and/or if I've eaten a bit much, slows everything down. Best of luck!

It would be helpful to know what type of ostomy you have when talking about problems.

Ileostomies and urostomies are notorious for these nighttime accidents, but urostomates can use overnight drainage.

IMHO, anyone with an ileostomy should be using a convex appliance and a belt.

If you wear a two-piece unit you could try a bigger bag at night, or one with a gas outlet. I know these can get clogged with stool, though, and don't always work. But might be worth a try. Someone makes a valve similar to the ones on inflatable swim toys, that can be put on any pouch and used to empty gas during the night -- easier than opening a flange if it is only gas.

And eating a few marshmallows can thicken ileostomy output without causing a blockage. Don't ask how this works -- I have been told by many an ileostomate that it just does!

Forgot to say, use of a deodorant in your pouch can make you much more confident about what happens if an accident occurs. M9 drops are great, and there are others. Well worth the trouble, but you have to put a few drops in every time you empty your pouch. Also, a couple of drops of baby oil in your pouch can help with "caking" if your output is thick and hard to empty.

I must have been very lucky, only had two in three years (probably have one tonight after saying that), but I always change the bag last thing before bed. But somehow, I naturally wake up about 5am and empty it. Guess I have been lucky.