Mother with potential water infection - does it honestly make people this crazy?!

[HalloweenOnChristmas]

I'll try and keep it brief. DM has stage four terminal cancer. Hospitalised for sepsis earlier this year. Moved to hospice for rehabilitation. Discharged last week and now at home with a care package. Legs have atrophied since being in hospital/hospice so is wearing incontinence pants. I live 400 miles away but drove up to see her this week. Well, she was absolutely away with the fairies. Asking whether me and 'Dave' were still going to Jamaica (not my DH name, definitely no Jamaica!). Where's her KFC, who's stolen it (she's a vegetarian). Who smashed her red vase (no red vase). Amongst other things. Carers think she might have a water infection and that would explain the confusion. DH agrees and said his GM was similar when she had one. Is this right??? My main worry is that the cancer has spread to her brain and that's what's causing it?

Yes! Your story is almost identical to mine. UTI was diagnosed by me from over 100 miles away because lack of care etc etc... Anyway yes, it sends them doolally.

It’s really important YOU act immediately to get her anti biotics. Now you know what it is, do something now.

Just adding my voice to PPs that this is very common in older people with a UTI. My grandmother was always prone to UTI’s, but as she got older it would be like she had developed severe dementia overnight. She would start talking about events that happened 30 years ago as if they were the present day; was always a sign she needed antibiotics. As soon as the infection cleared up, she’d be back to normal.

Agree with OnOldOlympus
New confusion can be due to many things - she needs a medical assessment. Does she have symptoms of a uti such as new incontinence or pain , frequency or strong smelling urine?
It could be secondary to pain medications, infection, deranged bloods - low sodium, kidney impairment or unfortunately connected to the cancer diagnosis ( high calcium, mets).
Call the GP tomorrow ( presuming she's ok in herself) and ask for a home visit. Consider taking temp or doing a covid test

The reason I gave the reply I did is that I'm a carer too and we see this all the time in people, they sound on the ball which is great. Dont think they meant to worry you so much, its that frequent in the job maybe we can forget this isn't common knowledge and unsettles people. I would say it needs dealt with immediately though, who has permission to speak with the GP? It can be a bit difficult sometimes to get the sample from a patient using pads, given your mum's condition hope either carers can call if needed or you have other family support too. Didn't mean to post a long reply but it can be really stressful for families on top of everything else when something like this happens.

As a carer I've learnt a lesson from your thread. Must explain reasons and help the family a little more. You have enough to deal with 💐

Yes my MIL could see witches on top of the wardrobe.

Very common. she has been treated for this hasn’t she? Don’t bother calling 111, new onset confusion they will just call an ambulance anyway.

When my sister’s cancer spread to her brain she had very different symptoms.

I write this with tears in my eyes - my beloved gran died 3 months ago and it was a water infection that finished her off - she already had heart failure. She was talking rubbish, wandering off, and making things up and before that her mind was sharp as a pin for almost 92 years. It was a horrible end. Please get DM seen

When my MIL had a UTI she insisted that her brother had landed a plain down the main street in our town and did it really well.

Other time she had given birth the night before, she was in her 80's.

Yes, can cause elderly to be very crazy indeed. I once had another patient attempt to start packing my clothes into her suitcase in hospital. Next day they accused me of stealing their dinner . The nursing staff explained to me they had a UTI, helped me unpack my clothes and then they ended up sitting in our 4 bed bay watching this lady all-night. I hope your mum can get anti biotics tonight or tomorrow.

Yep. My nan's had multiple episodes in the last year or so. Lots of imagined events, confusion, paranoia, saying random things. The last one she became violent.

Yes, uti do cause the issue you describe.

My dad attempted suicide when he last had a UTI it's no joke.

Thank you to everyone who responded. I phoned her Dr this morning and he was very helpful. Has prescribed her antibiotics for a possible water infection and Mums lovely neighbour has picked them up already and given them to the lunchtime carers. Fingers crossed this helps!

I hope they work. My mum ended up calling the police as she believed that her granddaughter was trapped in the chimney.

But will the Dr also see your DM given there can be other reasons for the confusion also.