Anonymous wrote:OP, for the record, this is NOT TMI territory. A lot of us either needed to figure it out, or will. I wish we talked about this kind of caregiving more.

Big hugs.

+100000

Can't you get some sort of eldercare assistance with this? How old is your MIL?

Anonymous wrote:OP, a spray bottle with warm soapy water works well if you don't want to do a sprayer or bidet type situation.
Do you have a walk in shower with a shower chair?

That's what we had - the shower chair is like a wheelchair with a hole in the seat, and then you attach a mobile spray nozzle to the water spout.

OP, a spray bottle with warm soapy water works well if you don't want to do a sprayer or bidet type situation.
Do you have a walk in shower with a shower chair?

http://www.amazon.com/bumGenius-890077002003-Diaper-Sprayer/dp/B000ZKHVMU

diaper sprayer, spray the MIL butt

Mom of a disabled child.

Talk to her doctor about the consistency of her poop. If she is constantly having bowel movements that are profusely difficult to wipe rather than solid, this is a diet and also motility/constipation issue.

Anonymous wrote:Get a squeeze bottle...it costs like $2. I got one from the hospital after birthing each of my kids. Much cheaper than buying/ installing a bidet. I use the squeeze bottle to clean my 3yo who is potty trained but needs help wiping.

http://www.amazon.com/Lavette-Bottle-Perineal-Irrigation-DYND70125H/dp/B000VSXSX2

+1. It's the gentlest, least-messy, quickest way possible. Use warm tap water. We have a bidet-style toilet seat at home. Would you consider putting one in? It functions really well at the touch of a button, and cleans 100% of the perineal area, leaving you to just dry gently with a small piece of tp. It may restore some independence for your MIL. FWIW, I was a nurse and moreso than nothing else we had to learn, dealing with perineal hygiene was one of the most intimidating thing for most new nurses - especially when having to clean up the opposite sex. It often helps to talk through the situation to eliminate the surprise of finding another person's hand in a very private spot - especially for people who are disoriented. Tell her what you're about to do before you do it - ie. 'You're going to feel some water now to help wash away the poop; I'm going to use tp to wipe up now; etc.'. You are awesome for helping out your MIL!

Wet wipes and a diaper sprayer attached to the toilet.
You are a good person, OP.

OP, for the record, this is NOT TMI territory. A lot of us either needed to figure it out, or will. I wish we talked about this kind of caregiving more.

Big hugs.

Get a squeeze bottle...it costs like $2. I got one from the hospital after birthing each of my kids. Much cheaper than buying/ installing a bidet. I use the squeeze bottle to clean my 3yo who is potty trained but needs help wiping.

http://www.amazon.com/Lavette-Bottle-Perineal-Irrigation-DYND70125H/dp/B000VSXSX2

PP again. Sorry, I don't know how to do this without wipes unless you have a bidet or rinse her off in the shower.

Put on disposable gloves and wipe her with wet wipes. Do not flush these down the toilet but throw them into a plastic bag for disposal. Use as many wipes as it takes. If she starts to get redness from chafing, an ointment like A&D or another diaper ointment but use a new pair of gloves when applying the ointment to the clean skin. If it's really a mess (like diarrhea), wipe what you can and then have her step in the shower/bath and rinse her off with warm water. My mom had to do this with my grandmother and I have an adult disabled daughter. I hope your MIL and husband appreciate you!

Anonymous wrote:Trim pubic hair.

I was just telling my DH this! But I can't imagine she would let me….

Trim pubic hair.

and by taking care I mean changing diapers, wiping poop among other stuff… any tips on how to clean poop quickly and efficiently? I know it is TMI but there is no other way to explain it: when I wipe my MIL when she poops (still goes to the bathroom with help but can't clean herself) it take forever. One of the issues is that the poop gets stuck in her (scarce but long) pubic hair.

And she doesn't cooperate and complains a lot during the whole ordeal. Any ideas of how to deal with this quickly besides wipes (believe me, I use a ton!).