Just call me lazy
After staying up most, well truth be told, all night, watching a Netf!ix movie and then playing Mahjongg on my laptop until my eyes were crossing, I finally went to bed at 8 AM. I know! You don't have to say it. But the craziest thing was that I had a really hard time walking and doing the getting ready for bed things I had to do.
One of the reasons I stayed up so late was because DH lit a big fire and then went off to bed himself without saying anything to me. If he had checked with me, I would have told him I was just about ready for bed myself and not to build it. The thing is, when a really hot fire is burning in the wood stove, the fan needs to be on -- I had to stay up until the fire had burned down by at least half before I could safely turn off the blower. So I ended up falling asleep in my chair.
When I woke up, I was able to walk (very carefully) well enough to turn off the wood stove, and make my way into the bedroom. Then the extreme weakness hit me. I still had to empty my night bag, and my belly bag**, and I could barely remain vertical when emptying the night bag, so I sat to empty the BB, and I could hardly get up! I did, finally, and stood long enough (while leaning heavily on the vanity) to brush my teeth, and oh.so.carefully made it back into my bedroom without falling. Whew.
[**FYI - Belly Bags were prescribed to me by my ARNP, and I love them. I don't know of they can be used with regular Foley catheters or not. I have a supra-pubic catheter. If interested, ask your Dr. They are expensive, but my insurance pays for them. I like them so much better than a leg bag - especially in summer.]
So, even though I napped in the chair for an hour, I slept until 4:30 when I asked my husband to let the cat out of the room, then instead of getting up I fell back to sleep until 7 PM! That is the reason I didn't even see daylight today, let alone get out to do anything. I don't know if my body just needs extra sleep sometimes, even though I don't usually do much of anything, or if it's MS, or if I'm fighting a bug, or what - Maybe I really am just lazy.
I use a leg bag when out of bed and a bed bag while in bed. I never used a belly bag and I wondered if it can be seen as a bulge when you stand up? Otherwise, is it noticeable to anyone looking at you that wouldn't know you had a catheter?
ReplyDeleteI was just curious.
Well, I'm a big girl and don't like to wear really form fitting clothes anyway, but unless I let it get more than half full (It holds 1000cc), on top of my already round belly it doesn't really show much at all. It also fits comfortably under all my pants.
ReplyDeleteIf you are really thin, you might like to wear tops that are not form fitting. The belt goes around your natural waist, or just below.
Even though my doctor is attached to the hospital supply where I get them, they were totally unfamiliar with them, and I had her Google them so she could order them for me. Also, as I said, I don't know if they will work with a regular catheter. We went this route (the supra-pubic cath) because I have a 'failure to store' bladder, and my urologist said that a Foley would "erode the urethra" eventually.
After using a leg bag for about a year with a Foley, this system, even with its drawbacks, is far superior.
Hope that helps. Google Belly Bags and see!
I have always had trouble sleeping as many MS people do, but all night I cannot do. Keep on blogging.
ReplyDeleteHi Webster,
ReplyDeleteI hope you get back to more normal sleep patterns soon ... I'm sure it's disorienting to be awake all night, then asleep most of the day!
Best,
Marty