PRYR RQST For Mom (Update Post #44, 70)

day late

day late

money? whats that?
In the past 36 hours my mother has gone full blown demetia. As I type this, she is trying to pick up needles and pins off of the breakfast table that aren't there. Last night, because of things that had happened earlier, I brought her to my home. We spent from 11 P.M. to 4 A.M. watching TV and talking. most of that time she didn't know who I am.
 
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summerthyme

Administrator
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Get her checked for a urinary tract infection ASAP! And, of course, make sure she hasn't had a stroke, or other brain injury. But oddly enough, in the elderly, dementia (especially sudden onset or worsening) is often the only symptom of a bladder or kidney infection. Praying for you!

Summerthyme
 
Walrus Whisperer

Walrus Whisperer

Hope in chains...
Sad to say, a locked ward may be in your mother's future, Day Late. If so, be prepared to be popping up to visit at every odd moment you have. Middle of the night, crack of dawn, any old time. Keeps the aides on their toes and not so likely to be abusive.
Believe me, the abuse will be there. It can be incredibly subtle.
 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
If she has gotten to this point, she's in the best place she can be.

I hope you have the physical and financial resources to care for her as all most of us can do is add prayers. My wife's prayer line group call is scheduled for this evening and you & your mom are on the list.

Now comes one of the tests we'll all have to face. I know you're up to it but I know it will tear you up.
 
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FireDance

TB Fanatic
summerthyme said:
Get her checked for a urinary tract infection ASAP! And, of course, make sure she hasn't had a stroke, or other brain injury. But oddly enough, in the elderly, dementia (especially sudden onset or worsening) is often the only symptom of a bladder or kidney infection. Praying for you!

Summerthyme
Click to expand...
Precisely. Do it ASAP because if you don’t get her on antibiotics quickly she can go septic. I have never seen someone blow into dementia land that quickly. It’s usually a long process with ups and downs.

A UTI? That will make them act like that in less than 48 hours.

Prayers added!!

ETA: if she is already in long term care you may have to jump up and down to get this done. If so, start at admin and if that doesn’t work, then you can call her doctor. But Admin doesn’t like their customer’s upset so you should be good there.

And you want a UA/C&S : that’s the urine and culture and sensitivity (the UA will result first, but it will tell them more than likely if she has a UTI. The culture generally results in about 2 days after and let’s the doc know what antibiotics whatever bacteria is susceptible to.

REMINDER: if you have a loved one on hospice, it does NOT mean you don’t treat them for these things. It does not mean you can’t send them to the hospital. It is not the dying place. So if you suspect something is wrong with your loved one, call the hospice nurse and get them treated.
 
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bluelady

Veteran Member
I agree with all the others...ger her tested! My mom started slowly with dementia before we realized what was happening; changing her environment made it more noticeable. But when she had a uti or kidney issues it would be noticeably worse. For it to come on sooo rapidly with your mom, even if she was already tending that way, it *has* to be some kind of acute condition. She needs to go to urgent care or er now!! Praying it will be taken care of quickly.
 
Laurane

Laurane

Canadian Loonie
My sister in law has had ongoing UTIs which seem to clear up and also coincide with dementia - yesterday, after having not recognized most of her children, she told her eldest to let the Nurse know that her long dead sisters and brother and sister in law were coming into her room, mentioning them by name. And other people too.

On telling the Nurse that, she said it won't be long now...... it is a good sign for the patient that they see family they know & that the ones left behind can consider that a gentle passing with "family" coming around to "help".
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I don't know if this is the proper answer.
But my grandmother only had it mildly before she passed.
She was in a care place, always remembered who we were but thought she was still in her house.
So she would say go down to the basement and get your self a beer. (beer fridge was in the basement at the old house)
So I would walk out of the room for a few minutes and come back. If she noticed I was empty handed I would say she was all out and I'll pick some up.
One of the other similar things was almost the same but "go get yourself some ice cream".
This was easier because there was a freezer full of the little cups by the nurses station and they would let us take a few whenever we wanted. So I would grab one for me and one for her.
 
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Countrymouse

Countrymouse

Country exile in the city
summerthyme said:
Get her checked for a urinary tract infection ASAP! And, of course, make sure she hasn't had a stroke, or other brain injury. But oddly enough, in the elderly, dementia (especially sudden onset or worsening) is often the only symptom of a bladder or kidney infection. Praying for you!

Summerthyme
Click to expand...
SECONDING THIS!!! My husband's mom demonstrated the same symptoms--and it WAS a bladder infection.

I know from personal (frequent) problems with that, that it DOES make it hard to think---it makes me SO weak (beyond all the pain) -- just saps my energy, both physical and mental. It's like trying to make my 'brain-wheels' move through molasses.

GET HER TO A DOCTOR!
 
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