Dad - 95

[The80sweregreat]

I just need to have a rant and also ask a question - maybe if anyone on here is a nurse or a doctor?
long story short, dad lives alone and has done for 7 years. Last few months since July been awful with a water infection ( UTI) nearly every two weeks. He is now on anti biotics every day - was given stronger ones on monday, but it appears he has developed an allergy to them, so currently not on anything ( came up in a rash)
showing signs of dementia - had a telephone assessment with me 3 weeks ago , but been waiting on home visit for him since August. ( the community health team)
When the infections are really bad, he has terrible dreams and delusions which he believes to be true. The dementia symptoms ( if that is what he has got) are not as bad when he hasnt got a UTI, but he is very up and down and every day is different.
He has a carer come in to heat up his dinner at lunchtime, but nothing else apart from his children - we have been run ragged with it all and none of us live close to him. He can cope with some things but lots of things he just cant manage.
Just wanted to know if its common for someone his age to have so many water infections? the nurse at the GP practice said it was uncommon for men to have this so often.
waiting on the results of a head MRI he had done this week - not for his kidneys though. He used to have to do a self catheter each week, but some weeks he forgets to do it , so that isnt helping at all and taking all these anti biotics cant be any good for him either. i could go on and on , but i do feel that the doctors he has seen just say ' its another infection' and thats that really. I am not saying that they are unhelpful or not concerned, but I do feel that we are banging our heads against a brick wall and not getting anywhere and we;re all at our wits end really!

• the case meet is on monday apparently.

he has memory clinic next week too. i am sorry i cant make that one, but i suppose they go more than once to these clinics?

Oh I'm pleased that things seem to be making progress and it sounds like you have people taking your Dad's health seriously now, and Monday obviously isn't that long to wait.

Re: the memory clinic, whether he goes back or not really depends on what happens at the first clinic really and if he is diagnosed with anything or started on any medication and therefore whether they need to follow up or not.

So pleased they are taking us seriously. The nhs is so stretched we are grateful for any help.
Have a nice weekend.

Sorry if I've missed something as not read whole thread.
If his symptoms are just when he has a uti and he is normally ok this does not sound like dementia.
It sounds more like delirium which is really common with infections and very under diagnosed.
Hope he's ok soon.

From Alzheimers website :

8.Delirium

UTIs can cause a significant and distressing change in someone’s behaviour that is commonly referred to as ‘acute confusional state’ or ‘delirium’. Delirium is a change in someone’s mental state and usually develops over one or two days. There are different types of delirium and symptoms may include agitation or restlessness, increased difficulty concentrating, hallucinations or delusions, or becoming unusually sleepy or withdrawn. Symptoms of delirium vary in severity (fluctuate) over the course of the day.

It is important that family and friends who know the person well seek medical help if they see a sudden change in behaviour, to ensure that an assessment takes place. If the delirium is due to a UTI, treatment with an appropriate course of antibiotics may help to lessen the symptoms of confusion.

It is important that if someone is very distressed or agitated they are offered support and reassurance to keep them safe. In some cases, a short-term treatment with antipsychotic drugs may be considered if non-drug approaches have been unsuccessful. For more information, see factsheet 408, Drugs used to relieve behavioural and psychological symptoms in dementia.

Delirium is a change in someone’s mental state and usually develops over one or two days. There are different types of delirium and symptoms may include agitation or restlessness, increased difficulty concentrating, hallucinations or delusions, or becoming unusually sleepy or withdrawn. Symptoms of delirium vary in severity (fluctuate) over the course of the day.

Hi, we dont know yet, but dad also shows dementia symptoms , but these are worse when he has a UTI. He has had a constant infection since july. Its a bit of a mystery, but we are slowly unravelling and hope we can get to the bottom of it all soon. He lives alone and has started wandering off ( only this week)

Hope your meeting goes well today The80s.

Hi , the meeting is just with this community matron, dad's GP i think kitkat - the matron spoke to my brother on friday, but she didn;t say anything about us being there.
we are seeing his GP next week and he has the memory clinic on wednesday.
He still has this UTI i think, i saw him the weekend and he was still up and down and having delusions. He is on 2 antibiotics a day.

Ahh I see. Sorry I misunderstood and thought it was a meeting you and your brother was going to as well.

Sorry to hear your Dad is still unwell. Hopefully when the GP and matron meet they can get a plan together for how best to treat your Dad.

Hi, no we were not asked to attend.
Dad is still having these delusions, he drifts in and out. We dont know if he can go back to the one a day antibiotic when these ones finish.
Have to see what his GP recommends. I am curious over the blood results as they have always been clear up to now. The memory clinic sample was only taken on thursday. They test for all sorts i think.
It is still a worry why these UTIs are not clearing up. He still has symptoms. I am still at a bit of a loss.

Dad is going to have to take anti biotics for 3 months after this current course finishes on wednesday.
2 a night to start with, then 1 day or something - not sure why its different again. Is this normal to keep elderly people on this medication for so long? i know its to keep the symptoms under control, but it is also worrying me a bit! My brother said he isnt too bad today, still rambling on a little bit, but nothing that bad and no more night time wanderings.

Hi. Yeah it's fairly common to keep people on a 'preventative' dose of antibiotics if they've been suffering from recurrent UTIs, especially (as in your Dad's case), the UTIs have been causing confusion and distress. It may be worth asking the GP when you next see him to check your Dad's urine to make sure the infection has definitely cleared up. I'm pleased to hear that your Dad sounds a bit better today though. x

Thank you. Im still concerned about his kidney function and becoming antibiotic resistant, but there isnt much else we can do.
I am worried about him.

HI, bit of an update, but the MRI of my dad's is showing ' hardening of the arteries' ( Doctor today didnt use those words, but that is what it is )
Dad still isnt drinking enough and , because of the rash, he is now on one tablet a day ( anti biotics). last sample i gave the surgery was clear.
the nurse who knows him and did his flu and b12 jabs, doesnt think he needs respite care ' yet' and is doing okay. wandered off at the weekend next door, but the lady just told him nicely to go back home as it was cold and he would be okay. So not sure how long he can stay on the anti biotics though and just hoping a worse infection doesnt come back again. One sample had e-coli, but this latest one was clear, so its up and down still and as long as he has people doing things for him, he isn t too bad. getting him to drink is a nightmare though!! any advice or pointers as to if this is normal or not is appreciated!! he is still living at home for now.

Hi. Glad to hear your Dad is currently UTI free! I have to say a lot of older people struggle to drink a lot. No magic solutions sadly, just leave lots of favourite drinks lying around his house so he's always got one nearby he can sip at. Juice / milkshakes etc often can be more appealing than water etc. Also if you get some extra fluid in at meal times that would be a bonus (so maybe have porridge or cereal for breakfast made up with milk, soup for lunch, gravy / sauce on evening meals)?

hi kit kat, thank you for your reply, hope your okay and also keeping well.
my dad is a man of routine from the day he was born i think, can only drink at certain times, have a bath in the afternoons, eat at set times, blooming hard work! so any change he is thrown. I think that this day and age he would have been diagnosed with high functioning asperbergers or something along those lines!
yes, he is better at eating now and had three small chocolate cakes today , he will do it when we are there to tell him.( i know thats not healthy however!) the carer is good and sits with him and encourages him to eat too and he has cereal for breakfast and wholemeal bread sandwich for tea or bread and jam. not massively healthy, but he doesnt usually snack that much or have much sugar.
have you heard of ' hardening of the arteries' before? my grandad ( his dad) had this. is is just another way of saying dementia? i think it is really, but the Doc didnt seem too concerned. more worried about his rash. i hope that the infections stay away, but we've been here before.
thanks for replying though.

Oh if he'll only drink at certain times do you think you may be able to get away with giving him drinks in a bigger cup / mug so he's getting more fluids, but he's still only having a drink at certain times of day?

'Hardening of the arteries' isn't the same as dementia, although it could potentially cause a reduction in blood flow to the brain. I've put a link below which explains.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/conditions/heart-and-blood/a1138/atherosclerosis-arteriosclerosis-8211-hardening-of-the-arteries/

thank you kitkat. Yes, its not too bad when we're around as he will drink a lot more ( big mug of tea, more water) when we're not about, the problems start. the carers change his carafe of water and make sure he has a drink, but they are only about for a while.
He is a worry and will not listen to anyone though, always been the same i'm afraid to say!

I understand. My Dad was the same. Thinking of you though. It's very hard on you I'm sure. xx

Thanks again. It is a worry.

HI, dad is still up and down and still on anti biotics, which are keeping the infections away. I am sure that he will need a break from taking them soon though. not sure what will happen then of course.
just wondered if anyone has had this with older relatives - can they take these anti biotics for a long time? what will happen if he has to have a break? His been okay today, but the talking to himself has increased and he still has bad dreams and delusions from time to time. Not today though! its such a roller coaster still.