diff --git a/models/type_decorators/ByteColumn.py b/models/type_decorators/ByteColumn.py
index eba39dd..b084773 100644
--- a/models/type_decorators/ByteColumn.py
+++ b/models/type_decorators/ByteColumn.py
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+import logging
 from sqlalchemy import TypeDecorator
 from sqlalchemy.dialects.postgresql import BYTEA
 
+_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 
 class ByteColumn(TypeDecorator):
     impl = BYTEA
@@ -8,10 +11,14 @@ class ByteColumn(TypeDecorator):
 
     def process_bind_param(self, value, dialect):
         if value is not None:
-            return value.encode()
+            return int(value).to_bytes((int(value).bit_length() + 7) // 8, 'big')
         return value
 
     def process_result_value(self, value, dialect):
         if value is not None:
-            return value.decode()
+            try:
+                return str(int.from_bytes(value, 'big'))
+            except Exception as e:
+                _logger.error("Error decoding value '%s': %s", value, e)
+                return ''
         return value