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Elderly parents

Confusion

10 replies

Sux2buthen · 06/10/2019 21:53

My mum is 66. She's physically disabled and last year had an accident that left her bedbound until recently. She's started a little walking with aids and sitting a bit. She currently has carers a few times a day to help and my dad and brother are living at home with her too.
A few times over the past couple of months she's said a couple of small things that were muddled.
But I brushed them off as she was tired and worn out.
But today was slightly different and has scared me. I had a health scare recently that turned out to be nothing serious. I didn't want to worry her so only told her after it was all sorted. Anyway, we visited today and she said
'I must tell you something, but it's really a secret and you must promise really promise not to tell Sux'
Pause. I waited. Then I said to her 'mum, I'm sux'
Another pause.
She looked a bit spun out and then said oh yes well, then I was going to tell you about your health but you already know.
I can't quite express how unlike her this was. I can't work out a) who she thought she was talking to or b) how worried I should be.
Could this be a sign of a water infection maybe? I'm really quite worried. Thanks if you've read this

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Sux2buthen · 06/10/2019 22:54

Anyone?

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Sunnysideup321 · 06/10/2019 22:59

UTI (water infection) is a common cause of confusion, you can usually get a strong odour from the urine if infection is present. Dehydration can also cause confusion and UTI's. Is she on any strong pain or sedative medication?

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Sux2buthen · 06/10/2019 23:12

She's on numerous medications but they've been quite well organised now after a few hits and misses with side effects. She's had water infections before that made her a bit confused but never to the point of forgetting who I am or anything as blatant as that. Carers change her a couple of times a day as well as my dad and she's started trying to get herself to the toilet. Nobody has said anything to me about any issues but I suppose they might have noticed things already.
I'm wary about talking to my dad about it as he's not young himself and has problems with worrying.
It's just bothering me that she looked me straight in the eyes and told me not to tell...myself. And that I had to correct her because she still didn't realise herself

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Sux2buthen · 06/10/2019 23:12

Thanks for replyingThanks

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alexdgr8 · 06/10/2019 23:12

I'm sorry, but this sounds so similar to an experience I had with a loved one who was shortly later diagnosed with dementia.
there is obvious cognitive impairment, but I guess it could be caused by some temporary disruption to mental functioning.
I don't know whether it could be linked to post trauma stress, infection, drug side-effects...etc.
but whatever it is, I would counsel against trying to challenge or correct the person. it is hard not to do so, but is a mistake.
perhaps might be worth contacting GP privately to share your concerns, so she can be assessed discreetly when having a regular physical check-up.

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Sux2buthen · 06/10/2019 23:21

That's what's worrying me more. Ive always made a mental note of the small confusions but this one felt different.
It's also out of character for her to have wanted to tell a secret in the first place, she's not gossipy. She brought it up randomly.
I will speak to my brother, see if he's had any similar experiences and go from there. I'm praying it's something and nothing.
Thankyou for replies

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exexpat · 07/10/2019 23:00

Does she take diuretic tablets? They can cause low blood sodium which is another common cause of confusion in elderly people, along with UTIs and other infections. I think there are various other possibilities to rule out before you are facing a dementia diagnosis.

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GooseberryJam · 07/10/2019 23:05

Sounds very like my Dad's dementia symptoms, I'm afraid. But call her GP and ask for her to be checked for a UTI. Then if that's ruled out or treated, and anything similar happens again, you can go back to the GP and ask for a memory test, which is the start of dementia diagnosis procedures. There are dementia threads on here and also the Dementia Talking Point site is very helpful.

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GooseberryJam · 07/10/2019 23:06

Sorry, agree to ask about low sodium too. That was the cause of confusion for another relative at one point.

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Sux2buthen · 08/10/2019 15:11

Thank you all. I've spoken to my brother and my mum and she's going to ask for her urine to be tested and I'll ask about the sodium too.
My brother said he's noticed some things but she's on sixteen different tablets a day at the moment so I'm going to speak to her doctor when he comes to her house in the next week or two and see what they think.
I think being bed bound for so long could easily lead to losing track of what day it is and things like that.
Thankyou for replying

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