Trouble in Paradise
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Any Doctors/Nurses/Elder Care Folks lurking?
I have a question about delirium.
Mom just sent me a text report disorientation and "out of it" type situation with my Grandmother. I have read that delirium is a very real thing to watch for with elderly patients.
I asked her to mention it to the doctor because they can help I think, but I remember it being an issue with my dad when he was in ICU. I know they treated him for it, but I've forgotten what they did for him.
My question is how do they normally treat it? If there is anyone out there lurking that could answer this I'd be very grateful.
Re: Any Doctors/Nurses/Elder Care Folks lurking?
He needs to see a doctor. Immediately. It could be anything from an interaction between medications, dementia, vitamin deficiency, a mild stroke or even depression.
My grandmother is already in the hospital. That is what I am concerned about since she just had surgery on her hip.
My grandfather had symptoms of dementia for the first time ever after a surgery. His doctor said it wasn't uncommon for older patients who have a surgery to come out from under the anesthesia with symptoms of dementia. He was fine a few days later.
*lurker in* Could also be a UTI. Elderly people can get them fairly easily and get really goofy (hallucinations/delusions/etc). Hospital staff should check for that.
*Lurker out*
This. I would immediately ask them to test for a UTI. I have worked with the elderly for years and in the nursing home I worked in, you'd be amazed at how downhill they go from a simple UTI. The minute it cleared, they were fine again
Also, unfortunately, we saw a lot of people do something like break a hip and it just began a quick decline
There are medications that can help with symptomatic treatment (anti-psychotics to treat hallucinations and paranoia, for example), and re-orientation (i.e., signs in her room) can help with confusion. However, an important part of treatment is figuring out what might be causing/contributing to the delirium, and there are MANY possible causes. As mentioned above, UTI is a common cause in the elderly. Medication (including pain meds, if she had surgery) or withdrawal from medication/alcohol are also common causes. Although symptoms of delirium can mimic dementia, these are really two separate issues, and one can't become demented overnight, whereas delirium comes on rapidly. Hope that helps.
Thank you so much. I will forward the info on to my mom to ask the doctors to check for UTI and the rest.
I have heard that after a hip fracture most elderly patients don't usually live longer than a year. Sad...
Betty, if she recently had hip surgery my bet is that she is on narcotic pain medications (Norco, morpine, dilaudid, oxycontin, etc). Narcotic pain medications are infamous for causing mentation problems in the elderly. Try to see if they can get her on a non-narcotic pain medication (toradol, ketorolac, tramadol, etc.) and see if the symptoms clear.
Also, if she has a foley catheter, see if they can take it out ASAP. She can use a bedpan or bedside commode to use the bathroom.
HTH.
Best of luck!