Experiences of deliverium recovery

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Hi all
I’m looking for experiences of this who have watched loved ones go through delerium and how their recovery has gone
my mum is experiencing this and I just feel heartbroken and hopeless ThTs will be the 7th day she was near death on Tuesday/weds

Delirium is different for everyone in pretty much every case. Sometimes people come out of it quickly, sometimes slowly, sometimes it only lasts for days, but can potentially last up to 6 months. Sometimes it highlight an underlying cognitive impairment and people don’t go back to how they were. It’s all just a wait and see game.

im assuming she’s being tested for the underlying cause. Seeing familiar people and objects can help sometimes. Having a daily routine and trying to keep them as orientated as possible or being in familiar surrounds (though this isn’t always possible or safe) can also help.

hopefully it’ll settle on its own before too long. It’s horrible while it lasts though. 💐

Should be treated for the underlying cause.

My mum had it literally every hospital admission when she was in her eighties. It would start when she was given anti sickness drugs on several occasions, but as soon as she came home she would become perfectly herself again. It's a most odd thing.

I just wonder will she ever know how to use a phone again? Will she be able to read a text or remember her email again? Will she ever be independent
she just keeps asking me to collect her and I feel so bad that she doesn’t understand
she thinks the nurses are going to kill her all she cares about is saving me abs my dc for it, she thinks the nurses are killing patients in the ward and she’s next
how long can this go on for?
iv brought calendars note pads sticky notes pictures clocks even a parcel she ordered for her to unwrap today

I’m sorry your mum is so unwell. It must be so scary seeing her experience this. I work in ICU and lots of our patients experience some delirium during their ICU stay. Sometimes it can last a long time and it is not possible to predict its course.

i wanted to share a positive story with you though - I met a former patient a few months ago and he had suffered weeks of delirium and was very paranoid and took a long time to recover. But now he is taking part in his hobby again and seeing his friends in the pub most weeks and has his wonderful sense of humour back. It took time to get there but he is enjoying life again so don’t give up hope xxx

That’s so lovely to hear
my dm was a bit wary abs paranoid anyway abs I’m worried it’s something else
I would love to see her feel safe and enjoy her life, I can’t stand the thought of her feeling this way for weeks
unfortunately she won’t be able to return home for a while

Sorry that might not be as reassuring as I wanted it to be but I just mean that people can and do become functional again and ‘return’ to themselves if you know what I mean. So try not to worry about that aspect and please try to take care of yourself and rest and eat when you can. The hospital staff will take care of your mum and she will need you to be as well as you can be while she recovers so try to pace yourself xxx