Mum seems to have had a personality change after operation!

[Beesinmybonnet]

I have posted on here before but have name changed for this.

My mum has just had major surgery. The surgery took place on Thursday and when I visited yesterday, all seemed to be fine. She was awake but quite sleepy. She is in her late 70s and has no dementia or other issues (so we thought).

I have just got back from the hospital now and from the moment I arrived there she was shouting at me and threatening to throw things at me. She appears to know who I am as she was calling me by name but she was very suspicious of me, telling the staff how awful I am and how she has had an awful life with all her children! She said we are scheming against her and want rid of her. She has three children and we all dote on her as she's always been such a loving, caring mum.

She is refusing her medication and food. She even grabbed the nurses lanyard at one point. I tried to give her a drink, she said I have probably poisoned it so there is no way she was drinking it.

I'm starting to think this must be what she really thinks of me. Can this happen after anesthetic? The staff reassured me this is quite normal, especially if someone has memory issues but she didn't have anything like this before the operation. I'm scared her 'true thoughts' must be coming out and she actually thinks we are all terrible children who want to harm her.

Yep- please, please bring infection possibility. UTI's post surgery linked to a catheter are common and a UTI is one of the leading causes of sepsis.

This isn't your mum - you know this and the staff need to look into the cause

Should read 'bring up infection possibility'

It sounds like post-operative delirium

By now she should have had a confusion screen which includes bloods and a urine dip, as well as a medication review.

I wouldn't worry too much. Delirium is so common with older people in hospital, especially if they've been through a big op or picked up an infection. UTI's are notorious for turning the most gentle older person into a demon momentarily! She'll be mortified by her behaviour when it resolves so please try and take it all on the chin.

Should have said, post operative delirium usually resolves in a couple of days. They just need to rule out infection, drug side effects, electrolyte imbalances etc in the meantime.

I think ring the ward and ask to speak to the nurse in charge and make it very clear your mum had no issues before going in and that this is a drastic change. If this is clear they should be doing what Prequelle said in terms of screening- ask if this has been done.

another one saying really important to be checked for infection and dehydration
Staff don't know your Mum and may be used to this behaviour from those who have dementia so it's really important they understand this is completely out of character for her

Did they give her any opiate painkillers after surgery, e.g. oramorph or codeine? She may be having a reaction to these if so.

Just echoing other people here but please do stress to the doctor caring for your DM that this is completely out of character for her. Sudden change in behaviour, memory problems or confusion could all be signs of a medical problem that they need to be aware of.

This is most probably Post Operative Delirium.Some elderly people suffer this after an Anaesthetic.It does in most cases resolve but the change in your mothers personality needs to be addressed with the medical staff so that she can be helped.

Check for water infection.

My granny was saying the man at the gym was poisoning the water supply to try and kill her.

She is in her 80s and doesn’t go to the gym!

My mum always got like that if she had an infection or was on opiate pain relief. It often carried on for a few days even when she seemed to be over the infection.

One thing that may help is a vitamin B complex or vitamin B12. Many people are quite low in the B vitamins as they get older and stress uses a lot up.

When I was nursing I used to see it particularly in those who had had their gallbladder out, not sure why that was.

As PPs said, it could be either an infection or post operative delirium but either way you need to let the nurses know this is not normal behaviour for her and that they need to investigate and if possible treat. Anaesthetic does funny things to some people, like flat out hallucinations and altered states, painkillers also.

Post-operative delirium, OP. Common enough. My sharp-as-a-pin grandmother told me she had just come back from Selfridges, two days after hip surgery while still immobile and in hospital. Later that day she was also convinced someone was trying to poison her. It didn't last too long.

Risk factors for delirium are known as ‘pinch me’

Pain
Infection
Nutrition
Constipation
Hydration
Medication
Environment

Having had surgery and being in hospital will usually tick multiple boxes! Dr’s should rule out infection, and wearing own clothes, following a few normal routines can help.

It’s distressing for family, but hopefully will resolve quickly. On my ward, the delirium rate is really high and your mums current behaviour sounds fairly typical.

Sending you

Just on to say that you must stress to nursing staff and doctors this is out if character. Post operative delirium is common and there should be information on the ward about it. It might be an idea to ask straight out and for some information.

my uncle was like this in hospital, convinced someone was coming to shoot him and all sorts, he had a water infection and the nurses and doctors didn't explain to the family or his sister (my Mil) was so distressing to see

Morphine can make people seriously hallucinate. Happened to my mom.

It’s not what she really thinks of you, and I think you owe it to her to give her the benefit of the doubt at this vulnerable time while she is healing. You will have your lovely mum back when she’s well again

My dad had the same and it was a reaction to morphine. He thought I was trying to kill him and wouldn't accept any drinks or snacks I'd given to him from home! It went away as soon as he was off morphine

Haven’t read everything properly but I think that there is something called post-anaesthesia psychosis.

I had this with my Mum after a few days in Hospital, she had been given steroids which for a small number of people can cause steroid induced psychosis, it flipped a switch and she turned from a very kind, gentle lady to convinced that people were going to kill her. I don’t want to worry you but do check what medication she has been given and what the side effects are.

@Beesinmybonnet I think it could be a reaction to the GA. DH was in the hospital last summer with very ornery patients and the nurses said they this is what it was. I would ask about it if I were you.

This is definitely NOT personal, OP. As pps have said, you must let the medical staff know that this isn’t normal for your Mum.

My granny had this every time she was in hospital and it really frustrated me that the Nurses just put it down to her age. One Sister even tried to explain away Granny’s hallucinations as “reflections in the windows” until I said “I doubt that, unless you’ve had horses and wedding carriages on the ward along with robots at the top of very tall trees”. 🙄

It’s likely to be a UTI if she has a catheter but as pps have said could be dehydration and the anaesthetic contributing. They MUST check for infection though. It’s definitely not what your Mum really thinks of you!

My Dad had hallucinations after he had gallstones removed. He'd been given Tramadol for pain relief, things calmed down when he stopped taking them.
Hope she recovers soon