I pulled the damn bag part way off in my sleep

Kerry S
Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
OK, so I pulled the damn bag part way off in my sleep. Crap all over me and the bed. At least I was over the diarrhea stage. Not a fun thing to wake up to. Had to shower and put on a new bag before coffee time. Old guys can’t even think without coffee.

I sleep in boxers and cover the bag with a T-shirt. The bag was just hanging loose between the shirt and boxers.

What is the best way to protect the damned thing at night????? This can’t happen again even if I have to wrap my **** in plastic wrap. This sucks.

Kerry
«1

Comments

  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #2
    You need to get something
    You need to get something called a tube top, it is a women's clothing item. You wear it like a band around your waist and this would keep the bag from pulling off. I read this somewhere for men. I would think that a tighter athletic shirt would work too. keep it snug next to your body.
    Mine was lower below the belly button so my underwear was able to secure it so that it did not happen at night. Also get a leakprood mattress pad and put it under the sheets on your side of the bed.

    Kathy
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #3
    khl8 said:

    You need to get something
    You need to get something called a tube top, it is a women's clothing item. You wear it like a band around your waist and this would keep the bag from pulling off. I read this somewhere for men. I would think that a tighter athletic shirt would work too. keep it snug next to your body.
    Mine was lower below the belly button so my underwear was able to secure it so that it did not happen at night. Also get a leakprood mattress pad and put it under the sheets on your side of the bed.

    Kathy

    Soemthing like this
    http://www.sugarlipsapparel.com/sugarlips-seamless-tube-top.html
  • coolvdub
    coolvdub Member Posts: 408 Member
    #4
    khl8 said:

    Soemthing like this
    http://www.sugarlipsapparel.com/sugarlips-seamless-tube-top.html

    Been there, done that
    Kerry,

    Brother I know how you feel. Just had it happen the other night to me as well. I woke up at 2:30 am and knew something wasn't right, reached down to that area and came back up with a soiled hand. Had to wake the wife and tell her don't roll over just get out of bed. Sheri had to bring me baby wipes to clean up enough just to get out of bed without it getting on the carpet on the way to the bathroom to clean up. I even managed to get it on my back, I just wanted to climg in a dumpster and pull the lid closed. I am how ever over it and realise it's only poop and will wash off. It was one of the few nights I didn't wear a shirt to bed.

    I wear an ostomy belt made by a company called stealthbelt which keeps the bag from moving around and it still happens. So I'm not sure what advice to offer. I now set an alarm for about 4 hours after goung to bed, so I can just reach down and feel if I need to go empty the bag or burp it. I seem to get a lot of gas while sleeping and have actually had he pressure start lifting the flange off my body and causing leakage. I guess it's just something we have to get used to as ostomates.

    Don
  • VivianGB
    VivianGB Member Posts: 46
    #5
    Sorry no help, but......
    Hi Kerry, I'm new here and just read your message. Sorry I'm no help with that problem, but I have to say thank you for the morning chuckle, you crack me up! : ) I'll admit if it happened to me I'd be upset. I have an ostomy too, but have never pulled the bag off in my sleep. Do you use a 1 piese or a 2 piece system? Kathy's idea of a tube top sounds like a good idea. If you do that plastic wrap thing can we see a pic? I need all the chuckles I can get ; )

    Good Luck!
    Viv
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #6
    khl8 said:

    Soemthing like this
    http://www.sugarlipsapparel.com/sugarlips-seamless-tube-top.html

    she is highly motivated
    Kathy,
    I did think ahead about the mattress pad protection on my side. I also have an old blanket on my side. Mine is just above my belt line.

    Scary old woman is making me one from an old stretch type swim suit of hers. She will put Velcro tabs on it so I can adjust how tight it is up and down.

    I think she has a good plan. One has to recognize, she is highly motivated for this to work as she does not want my crap all over her.

    This is a prime example of how important this site is to all of us. Only here could I talk about getting crap all over myself and not be totally embarrassed/humiliated.

    Kerry
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #7
    VivianGB said:

    Sorry no help, but......
    Hi Kerry, I'm new here and just read your message. Sorry I'm no help with that problem, but I have to say thank you for the morning chuckle, you crack me up! : ) I'll admit if it happened to me I'd be upset. I have an ostomy too, but have never pulled the bag off in my sleep. Do you use a 1 piese or a 2 piece system? Kathy's idea of a tube top sounds like a good idea. If you do that plastic wrap thing can we see a pic? I need all the chuckles I can get ; )

    Good Luck!
    Viv

    Kerry, if you do use something to hold bag in place, make sure
    there is enough leeway for it to inflate if you fart while asleep. I don't sleep too well so I wake up often, giving me opportunity to release built up gas (as well as to dump out solid if it hasn't already stuck to sides of bag.) I try to cushion (like make a bed for) my bag with a crumpled old shirt so I also don't crush it as I sleep. It takes some getting use to, esp if you move around in your sleep and if your stoma is active when you're not. You'll adapt....I oftentimes forget its there and it gets caught under my legs when I get up from reading/watching TV in bed.I need to watch it when I exercise as well.....steve
  • khl8
    khl8 Member Posts: 807
    #8
    Kerry S said:

    she is highly motivated
    Kathy,
    I did think ahead about the mattress pad protection on my side. I also have an old blanket on my side. Mine is just above my belt line.

    Scary old woman is making me one from an old stretch type swim suit of hers. She will put Velcro tabs on it so I can adjust how tight it is up and down.

    I think she has a good plan. One has to recognize, she is highly motivated for this to work as she does not want my crap all over her.

    This is a prime example of how important this site is to all of us. Only here could I talk about getting crap all over myself and not be totally embarrassed/humiliated.

    Kerry

    Kerry,
    Scary old woman
    Kerry,
    Scary old woman sounds like a very smart woman!! I used to get up once in the night as well to empty the bag, I did not need an alarm, I kind of slept with my hand on it and when it filled I would wake up and go empty it. I got to the point that I think I did this in my sleep.
    Yes i agree on how important this site is, only we can understand as i think almost all of us who have had ostomies have had this happen at least once.

    Kathy
  • Kenny H.
    Kenny H. Member Posts: 502 Member
    #9
    coloCan said:

    Kerry, if you do use something to hold bag in place, make sure
    there is enough leeway for it to inflate if you fart while asleep. I don't sleep too well so I wake up often, giving me opportunity to release built up gas (as well as to dump out solid if it hasn't already stuck to sides of bag.) I try to cushion (like make a bed for) my bag with a crumpled old shirt so I also don't crush it as I sleep. It takes some getting use to, esp if you move around in your sleep and if your stoma is active when you're not. You'll adapt....I oftentimes forget its there and it gets caught under my legs when I get up from reading/watching TV in bed.I need to watch it when I exercise as well.....steve

    Thanks for the input,
    Thanks for the input, something I need to look forward to. Getting mine the 15th.
  • Nana b
    Nana b Member Posts: 3,030 Member
    #10
    Kenny H. said:

    Thanks for the input,
    Thanks for the input, something I need to look forward to. Getting mine the 15th.

    Kerry
    They sale waist bands at Sports Authority, they are used to sweat off some pounds....if you get a larger one the you would to lose inches, it may work. Just don't go too far south! Joke!
  • John23
    John23 Member Posts: 2,122 Member
    #11
    On you, it looks good!

    Didja' try duct tape?


    John
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #12
    Kenny H. said:

    Thanks for the input,
    Thanks for the input, something I need to look forward to. Getting mine the 15th.

    Pretty soon,Kenny
    you'll think "OUTPUT"
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #13
    John23 said:

    On you, it looks good!

    Didja' try duct tape?


    John

    surgery drain
    John,
    I still have the damn surgery drain to deal with down there. Did tape the hell out of that today. The suction ball at the end of it is a pain. Hurts when that gets snagged. Keep it hooked on a speaker wire necklace I made.

    Kerry
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    #14
    Yep
    Been there and done that. Also had a few explode at night too, Crap EVERYWHERE!!


    LOL
    Brooks
  • imagineit2010
    imagineit2010 Member Posts: 152 Member
    #15
    just4Brooks said:

    Yep
    Been there and done that. Also had a few explode at night too, Crap EVERYWHERE!!


    LOL
    Brooks

    You guys are not helping
    You guys are not helping with my dilemma to TAE or not. lol... Y'know the age old question over quality VS quantity. Just for future reference, which is better for clean up quality or quantity???? ROFL.....
  • Kerry S
    Kerry S Member Posts: 606 Member
    #16
    imagineit2010 said:

    You guys are not helping
    You guys are not helping with my dilemma to TAE or not. lol... Y'know the age old question over quality VS quantity. Just for future reference, which is better for clean up quality or quantity???? ROFL.....

    This is not a quality of life issue
    This is not a quality of life issue. It is just a learning experience. Sh$$ happens.
    Kerry
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #17
    ostomy undergarments
    Kerry
    you need to go to Ostomysecrets.com they have lots of undergarments, invest spend the money they are worth it.
    winnie
  • 462lt
    462lt Member Posts: 117
    #18
    WinneyPooh said:

    ostomy undergarments
    Kerry
    you need to go to Ostomysecrets.com they have lots of undergarments, invest spend the money they are worth it.
    winnie

    Poop Happens
    Ok you don't need An ostomsy to have poop happen. When I stopped taking pain pills after radiation and chemo I didn't realize how much it had helped with diarrhea. I stopped once on the way to work but when I got to work I really had to go unfornately the guard at the gate stopped me and wanted to talk (I'm a freindly sort) needless to say I made it to the bathroom but couldn't get my pants off in time and you guessed it poop happened. Again love all the info here. Thanks so much for sharing. 1cm away from a bag myself. Laura
  • karguy
    karguy Member Posts: 1,020 Member
    #19
    Bag
    I empty my bag before I go to bed,that helps.Mine is below the belt line,so I wear pajama bottoms,and that helps.I also use a product called osto-ez-vent,it sticks onto the bag,you put a hole in the center,and cap it off.That way when you get gas,you just pop open the vent,let the gas out,then close it.With the pajama bottoms if it happens to come off,it's only in your pajamas,and underwear.I always check to make sure that the bag is on secure also,and in 2 1/2 years it's only come off 3 times,with no mess in the bed.I wear mine over the underwear,under the pants.I hope this helps.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #20
    karguy said:

    Bag
    I empty my bag before I go to bed,that helps.Mine is below the belt line,so I wear pajama bottoms,and that helps.I also use a product called osto-ez-vent,it sticks onto the bag,you put a hole in the center,and cap it off.That way when you get gas,you just pop open the vent,let the gas out,then close it.With the pajama bottoms if it happens to come off,it's only in your pajamas,and underwear.I always check to make sure that the bag is on secure also,and in 2 1/2 years it's only come off 3 times,with no mess in the bed.I wear mine over the underwear,under the pants.I hope this helps.

    My Bag has a vent built in...........
    It does sometimes get plugged as I sleep but as it vents the charcoal filters out the smell so you get a 2fer...a vent and scent killer........
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #21
    Buzzard said:

    My Bag has a vent built in...........
    It does sometimes get plugged as I sleep but as it vents the charcoal filters out the smell so you get a 2fer...a vent and scent killer........

    Mine's got the removable clip closure at the end so I just
    unclip and squeeze out the fragrant air to share with those downwind. We were on a very crowded bus recently and due to heat,humidity, sweat,etc, adhesive loosened on side of wafer allowing air to seep out; it took about five seconds for the first comment of "what's that smell" as me and girlfriend continued talking as if nothing unusual was happening.For us, there was nothing unusual happening..For others......

Discussion Boards