Night Time Awakenings

• By tjane
• Reply 3362524
• September 10, 2012 at 1:37 am
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guess I am lucky because I usualy wake up on my own usualy to an air filled bag. Usualy I don't have alot of output at night. I have never woken to a full bag. But I am some what of an night owl so I empty my bag before going to sleep aroud 1 or so in the morning. Hopefully someone else will have better advice for you.

• By HappyS (Inactive)
• Reply 3362613
• September 10, 2012 at 5:01 am
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Like Jane I just wake up. I do try not to snack after dinner and to eat early both of which help. What is strange is that before I had a stoma if I woke up at night it would take for ever to go back to sleep - now it's almost instantaneous. The body is fantastic so don't worry about your sleep pattern everything will adjust as it should. Just take a ten minute nap whenever you can and feel you have to. Giving yourself that permission will be a major tonic.

• By alan41241
• Reply 3362749
• September 10, 2012 at 7:42 am
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I don't have to worry about waking up in the night to empty my pouch. I'm awake several times a night to go to the bathroom anyway. Usually, in one of those trips, I empty my pouch. It doesn't need emptying every night just some nights. Last night, for example, I was up six times and in the bathroom. That's the most I have ever awakened in the night. I'm on Vesicare and it doesn't seem to be doing much good. I'm calling my urologist today to make another appointment because I think I have a kidney infection.
I don't know how any of this related to you. I guess I just needed to get it off my chest.
Blessings,
Alan

• By herbsgal70
• Reply 3362824
• September 10, 2012 at 8:13 am
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Good Morning julieandjerry - I have an ileostomy and wake up like clockwork around 3 a.m., full of gas and some output. Empty bladder and "Buddy" and go back to sleep. We go to bed at 10 p.m. without fail, and I don't wake up again until about 6 a.m., so get a good night's sleep. As I have told so many on here, I wear an old pair of underpants and a Depends pull-up panty over them every night. The few times I had a blow-out at night it was fully contained and I was able to just throw them both out, shower, change, and go back to sleep. Never had to change any bed linen - or gross out my husband! LOL There is a new product out called Depends for Women - it is cloth-like and stretchy, fits close to the body, and can be worn during the day if you are doing something that makes you worry about leaking when away from home. I don't have to wear them for incontinence, and wear one under my shorts when playing golf. One time I had to get the ranger to run me back to our car - was playing with my husband, as usual, so I could go home - we live on the 12th fairway of the Delray Beach Golf Course - changed and went back and finished the round. We are planning an 3500 mile round-trip from south Florida to Ohio next month and will wear one in the car - wouldn't want to have a leak on the beige cloth seats of the car. One of our friends at the golf course yesterday suggested I use one of those big blue tarps under me! LOL These new Depends cost about $12 for 10, but I get 4 or 5 night's wear out of one if I have no problem.

Hugs from Marge

• By amt52
• Reply 3363208
• September 10, 2012 at 10:28 am
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julieandjerry, I sleep in a recliner by the bed. I don't suggest this as a solution for you, but it works for me. My body is a little more 'upright', and the gravity keeps my drainage from 'pooling' around the stoma. Although I sleep well, every time I re-position, I instinctively grab my pouch to check it. I can usually go like midnight to 7 or 8 am, but I have to pee by then anyway. I wear an high-output bag, that has a rubber drain and plug, and that's easy for 'burping', if it fills with gas. Like others have said, I never eat after 5-6pm. That helps as well. Best wishes to you!

• By Kristin66
• Reply 3363402
• September 10, 2012 at 11:37 am
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Hi all,
I too get up at least twice during the night, sometimes more. I have tried watching my diet, foods, and still I "dump" during the night. I do set an alarm but I beat it most of the time. Recently I have noticed that the out put is less and I empty once or twice. Bottom line is that my sleep is spotty at best and I wake in the am more tired than I did when i went to bed

• By alan41241
• Reply 3363565
• September 10, 2012 at 12:21 pm
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That's awful, Kristin. You must feel every day how I feel today. I was up six times in the night to empty my bladder so I never got the REM sleep that is so necessary. Consequently, today I am tired.
Blessings,
Alan

• By dollyme (Inactive)
• Reply 3363614
• September 10, 2012 at 12:37 pm
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Julie and all who have a broken sleep, this wears me out too. I have been up and down all night for the past few weeks. I hardly ever have to empty my bag at night but I am still up and down. Ever since I have had the surgery I do not sleep in my bed I sleep in my recliner like AMT. I would be up all night if I went to my big bed. I just cannot sleep so flat with my ostomy. I do not have to work so I can take naps during the day.
If the bag being full and fear of a leak is what is keeping you up at night you have it made if you can stop the over filling of the bag and the leaks.
Like others said nothing to eat after 6 and little meals through out the day.

Good Luck and God bless you Julie
Dolly

• By alan41241
• Reply 3363943
• September 10, 2012 at 2:33 pm
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Dolly, I had a similar problem sleeping on my back at all. I never slept that way before the surgery. However, with a little time and determination I trained myself to sleep soundly on my back....except for the fact that I'm up every two hours to pee. That is so aggravating.
Blessings,
Alan

• By tomo3240
• Reply 3363973
• September 10, 2012 at 2:43 pm
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Dolly, I also wake up every 2 hours to pee. I empty my pouch at the same time. I have found I can fall asleep without a problem. This took me a few weeks but now I am accepting what I cannot change and doing well with life. Hang in there.

• By Mom_to_Chris
• Reply 3364275
• September 10, 2012 at 4:25 pm
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We are new to all of this, my son, 17, just had his surgery (proctocolectomy) 4 weeks ago today. He hates having to empty his pouch, especially at night. His body is still run down from all he's been through this past year and he sleeps 12-14 hours. He mentioned this to the ostomy nurse while still in the hospital and she contacted Coloplast for suggestions. This might not work for most, especially if you share your bed with anyone, but my son thinks it's the greatest. He wears a two-piece pouch and at night he just switches to a High Output Ileo Night Drainable pouch. It holds up to 2 liters and allows him to sleep through the night without any worries. It has a long tube and a pouch at the end with a hanger that you can hang on the edge of the bed. When he's ready to dressed in the morning he just changes back to his regular pouch. It's drainable, but would be a chore to clean out. The representative at Coloplast was able to give the nurse a code for the insurance company that would allow for nightly pouches instead of only 5 per month. He just throws it away each morning.

• By alan41241
• Reply 3364311
• September 10, 2012 at 4:38 pm
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Great idea, Mom. I hadn't that before.
I also hadn't heard of you before. I believe this is the first time I've seen your screen name.
Blessings,
Alan

• By herbsgal70
• Reply 3364632
• September 10, 2012 at 6:40 pm
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Welcome home_to_Chris - how unfortunate for your son to be in this position at his young age. I was almost 80 when I got my ileostomy last December. It sounds like you two have been handling this well - just remember, we here at our "ostomy family" are always available for emotional support, hints, suggestions, tricks we have picked up along the way, and just venting if necessary. We have become very attached to each and every one of us and please keep posting and let us know how Chris is doing.

Hugs from Marge

• By debleerl
• Reply 3364876
• September 10, 2012 at 8:41 pm
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Julie,

You will eventually get used to the feel of the bag when it's full and only waken when you notice that feeling. At first I was up often just checking and worrying about leaks during the night. Believe it or not, I found wearing underpants compressed the pouch at night and caused more leaking than just letting it hang loose. Neither me or my husband has ever rolled on it. Avoid heavy meals late in the day and foods that produce gas and eventually you will settle in and get a good night's sleep. At least until the hot flashes and night sweats start waking you up;-)

Hugs,
Debbie

• By julieandjerry
• Reply 3365006
• September 10, 2012 at 9:38 pm
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Thanks for your thoughts...keep them coming :)

I am looking forward to being off these darn steroids...then I will find myself able to follow the #1 advise here:
Avoid late meals/snacks. I am SURE that will be the most helpful thing.

Also, I have tried to learn how to sleep on my back by putting a pillow under my legs and have found that more and more when I go to deliberately change positions I wake up enough to check the fullness of the pouch.

I like the advice of checking it when I have my hot flashes and night sweats waking me up. LOL! (Actually, there is truth to that! I don't now if it is the steroid taper, but they are new to me over the last month. It's always something ;)

I LOVE the idea of the high output bag... but, things run a bit too thick for that to help :( (although I am told that with my j-pouch I am going to be really glad for the thick consistency, so I am thankful at the same time)

Lots and lots of great ideas to ponder here (as always!) I have really benefited from reading everyone's thoughts on all of the discussions here. I go back and look at older discussions for tips and tricks. This forum has been a life-saver!

Thanks everyone!

~Julie

• By alan41241
• Reply 3365205
• September 10, 2012 at 11:12 pm
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That's what we are here for, Julie. To help each other. Nothing thrills me more than to know I helped somebody with my experience or advice. This site brings me many blessings.
Blessings,
Alan

• By herbsgal70
• Reply 3365552
• September 11, 2012 at 6:07 am
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Alan - get better fast - we need you, your blessings, explanations and advice. Morning hugs - Marge

• By MsJearl
• Reply 3366485
• September 11, 2012 at 12:59 pm
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Hello
I am new to forum, glad I joined.. I have a permanent ileostomy since age of 3 years old, childhood illness of cancer, but I never have problems with that during the night. I do not eat after a certain time anyway.. But I had a urostomy as well when I was 3 but about 17 years ago I had that converted to urinary koch pouch and all I did was cauterize myself thoughout day and hardly during the night, LOVED IT, BUT, BUT just 6 weeks ago I had to go back to my urostomy, so its taking a little getting use to especially empting my pouch a lot because it is constanly draining. At night has become a challenge because i do get up at least twice in middle of night to drain and sometimes can not get back to sleep. I was using a night drainage, but just seem to get in way, so I guess I have options. But still I have dealt with so much in my life with my ostomies, I take good with bad and keep moving because it won't change, i'll just adjust as I have done in past. Keep your head up, change is coming.

• By tjane
• Reply 3366964
• September 11, 2012 at 4:14 pm
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Ms Jerl so sorry you had to go back to your urostomy pouch. Did that involve surgery? I hope not. Will you be able tocgo back to the J pouch. Life is certainly full of ups and downs. I realy enjoyed you journal post. I read it when you first joined. Have not heard much from you lately. Hopefuly it is because you have been so busy and that you have not been ill. It was good to hear from you again.

• By ET-Anita
• Reply 3409201
• September 26, 2012 at 8:53 pm
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Have you considered using a hi output pouch for the evenings/sleep? They have a larger capacity. Also I would stop eating early in the evening if possible. Think about putting a neck pillow (like for airlines) around your stoma to help position it if that's a problem too...