Dealing with S**T (some tips)
Today I picked Martha up after a 5-night stint in respite. It is a funny space respite because on one hand, I feel relief from the day to day pressures of being on a caregiver, but that is quickly replaced by the anxiousness of the quality of care in her care home, by worrying if she is ok, if she is being treated well, the list is endless and all-consuming. Picking her up from respite brings about the relief of one anxiety and is replaced by the next. It is an endless cycle.
Back to my original point, today I picked her up. And within the space of about 3 hours, she has had 3 bowel movements. THREE BOWEL MOVEMENTS! Hence the title, dealing with S**T.
Dealing with an adults bowel movement is one of the most challenging experiences to date, there are many ick factors to it, a lot of disinfectants and many many showers. It is one of those things where just when you think life couldn’t get any harder, life literally shits on you. In everything there is always a learning moment, whether that is learning the limits on what you can handle, learning boundaries, patience, kindness in the worst moments, there is always a learning. Today I learnt that I am more resilient than I thought I was. Today I learnt that no matter what if shit happens you always keep cleaning it up – regardless of how tired, lost, grumpy you are. Today I learnt that having lots of gloves/plastic bags (biodegradable of course)/disinfectant and spares close is going to save your life. So here is a list of tips that will help you if you are in the same situation!
- Get yourself some disposable gloves and get lots of them. This was something my dear friend Hana told me many many moons ago, I will never ever forget the sense of relief at how practical this tip is.
- Keep plastic bags everywhere, you never know when you are going to need them, they are hand for so many things. Not only keeping soiled clothes/diapers but also as makeshift seat overs and protecting yourself from yuckies.
- Always keep candles/incense handy. Seriously, this has saved me countless times. I now burn incense every time we have a bowel situation. It keeps me from throwing up, it’s like an added layer of protection.
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you have to leave the person you’re caring for in the shower for a few minutes while you step out and get some fresh air. DO IT. This is a terrible situation and in all of this, you gotta do you.
- Treat yourself to some really good smelling hand soap and hand cream. After all this your hands are going to be wrecked, I wash my hands what feels like 100 times after one these times, so having nice smelling soap and hand creams have been a lifesaver.
and last but not least…
- Take care of yourself… be kind to yourself… because you are doing great!
Always with Love,
K xx
Me, Martha and Alzheimer's 
Beautifully written ..did you mean to write ‘our bowel motions”? because that sums it up ..the caring ..loving ..sharing ..being there.
You may often not realise it but there are people you hardly know out there rapping for you!