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It's not bad but bad enough. He has heart issues and lung issues. He has copd, emphysemia, icd/defibrilator. He isn't doing much on the fitted sheet, but when he does, it is just very smelly and messy. Of course, I change them, but is there a way I can do this without having to change the sheets daily? He is 83 and able to dress, bathe, etc. by himself. He is on oxygen 24/7. I am retired, so I can be there for him.

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How about a flat sheet spread over his side of the bed, maybe a waterproof backed one? You could strip that off more easily than having to remake the whole bed. Flushable wipes?
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A mattress protective cover is helpful to protect the mattress and can also be washed with the sheets. Would your husband be open to wearing an adult undergarment to avoid messing the bed? This can be a touchy issue with men in particular who only have physical ailments and don't want to wear them. You sound very supportive, so you could probably approach him about it in a respectful and positive manner. I care for my mom and she uses a generic brand of Depends for women and has a mattress cover on top of the mattress pad. Both of these items have helped tremendously. Good luck.
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I owned several small mattress pads and placed them on top of the sheet. If it wasn't soiled (and most days it was not) I left it in place when I made the bed. If it was I replaced it with a fresh one, and washed the dirty one.

I now use these pads myself if I am sick. Washing a small pad is much easier than remaking the entire bed.

I got mine at Target. I think they are readily available where sheets and mattress pads are sold.
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Bed chucks to avoid having to wash sheets so often.
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Great tips from others for using placing pad not top. My mom, however, saturates the pad that is doubled, through the mattress pad, and through two towels I place under that. She'll do this regardless of how much water she drinks even though she's well hydrated obviously! Yes, remaking the bed is work to avoid if possible and it sounds like that's likely for you since you mentioned lesser quantity of soiling. Take care.
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I'm not quite sure what you mean by dirty sheets? Is he drooling or incontinent? Are you amenable to a twin bed next to the 'marital bed'? Perhaps he could sleep there. It's a lot easier to change twin sheets than double/queen/king! Also, the answers are good above.

How about (this is going to sound crazy) but what about putting three sheets on the bed, each one with a layer of heavy duty pads between them, then as he stains each sheet layer, you can just take that top sheet off, throw out the heavy duty pad, (or perhaps layer it with several pads) and you have the next sheet on. That way you make the bed once in several layers?

I'd also tell him (not ask him) to wear adult pants to bed. Don't call them diapers. Just buy then, show them they look like underwear, tell him how hard it is for you to change these sheets, and tell him he's going to wear them?

In 'homes' this is what they do. There is no choice. My mother, who has in the unit up north for five weeks was in adult underwear. I thought she was incontinent. She was not. For fourteen months she's been wearing underwear and just recently started to leak a bit. Now that she's in rehab again, they've got her in adult undergarments.

We have to look at the realty of the situation. Be practical. Taking care of someone is hard in and of itself. There should be no need to have to change sheets all the time if the problem can be solved by wearing adult underwear.

If he's cognizant, suggest to him that HE change the sheets because you're not doing it anymore and you're going to sleep on the couch. I guarantee he'll wear adult underwear to bed. BTW, if they are clean in the morning, you can use them again at night.
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BTW, just googled Bed Chucks because one person above suggested them. Looks like a great idea. Especially the washable kind. You could layer your sheets with these in between?
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I put the chuck on top of the sheet. The point is to avoid having to strip the bed to wash the sheets. Yes, I use the washable kind, and they are much more comfortable than the disposable ones. Check them out on Amazon, there are a variety of sizes available.
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My Mom has issues with my Dad making [ahem] messes when he can't get to the bathroom on time because he refuses to wear Depends.... since he refuses to wear them, she now makes him clean up the messes. I am hoping in the near future he will get tired of this cleaning and I will see Depends on their next grocery list.

Fancicoffee57, I don't know if your husband would wash the sheets himself, or would he consider that *woman's work* and refuse to do it?
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You can actually buy depends that are colored like regular underwear. Maybe if you can just produce those and not mention they are disposables he will be willing to wear them "just in case" My hubby wears them all the time after his prostatectomy made him incontinent of urine. he never missed a beat and takes care of everything himself. You would never know they are depends when he is wearing them they look so like underwear. He puts a Guards inside if he is having a particularly wet day.
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Thanks for all the input. I like the idea of layering the sheets! He is too weak to do any laundry and he doesn't like the Depends. So, I will just layer the sheets and see how that goes. It's not a big mess, but it does leave an odor in the house. Thanks alot you guys, this helps a lot.
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Hospitals used to take a second flat sheet, fold it in half and lay it crosswise on the bed to keep the middle clean. Try that.
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Fancicoffee57, because your hubby doesn't like wearing Depends, you are forced to do more laundry. That doesn't sound right, does it.

Since he is of sound mind, according to your post, tell him doing all this laundry is too exhausting for you. What does HE suggest? I know for myself I don't mind shoving the sheets into the washer/dryer, but how I dread putting them back on the bed, especially dealing with the bottom fitted sheet :P
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^ Yes. Think of a baby's crib, with a fitted sheet and a receiving blanket across the middle of it. My mother taught me that trick.
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Drop Your Pants Commercial for Depends...


youtu.be/rlQRy5lSbXU
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I'm laughing right now because that site for Depends has many of it's commercials on there. Make sure you click on the Depends sites only. .They are funny, they mention that those who wear depends are actually in the 50s, etc., etc. They are trying to change the perception of who wears adults diapers. Very funny, informative, and trying to take the embarrassment out of wearing adult diapers!
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i happily pull mine up at bedtime in case i don't make it and have to clean up after myself. Don't want the house to smell of pee. People would think an old lady lives her. (She does but I try and hide my age)
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If you take a twin sheet and fold in in half length wise , place a waterproof pad in between . Then you can tuck in the ends under the mattress ACROSS the bed. First this keeps the waterproof pad in place, then it feels like you are sleeping on sheets. It allows for a very quick bed change and you can do two layers like this. Much easier than changing the entire bed and keeps things as normal feeling as possible.
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My mother wears tranquility over night just like underwear pull up diapers .and she is dry everymorning .. ( The bed is dry except on rare occasion ) they are the best I have found . she has a dribble issue and at night looses continence all together.. so its saved our bed and her embarresment .. i just put one on her when i help her put her pajamas on .... it works great ..
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In my house, we use large quilted pads that can be placed over the fitted sheet. They are machine washable and save us from washing the sheets every time they got soiled with "bodily fluids." They can be ordered online through amazon - or purchased from a local medical supply company. I highly recommend them.
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Chucks YEAH ............Use Two Three if Need Be ...........simple easy

Is This Just A Spotlight The Truth Is Dealing With Probably an ornery hubby whose sick is causing you grief...You ARE Allowed To be SAD Frustrated Unhappy...........Accept That. YOU ARE In A Very Difficult Situation. Maybe ask your church to send visitors. The Local Ladies Hospital Aux... SAY, You Just Need Some Companionship of Your Own...A Friend Or two Who Understand
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what is a good way to clean "dirty" sheets (poop)---I can't get the stains out even with bleach---BJ
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For honeybj Try 20 Mule Team borax in with your wash. I use with a dry detergent, but that is just the way my washer is set up. Also, then use whatever soak cycle your washer has. Hope this helps!
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I bought a waterproof pad for our bed at Walmart for about $10, and it washes. It is large enough to cover the area where your husband lies. Try that (mine is for our youngest doggie who leaks). FYI - Emphysema is a type of COPD, and chronic bronchitis is the other.
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