Urgent advice needed-mum is delirious

[flygirl767]

My mum has been gong down hill rapidly, suffering from extreme anxiety and thinking there are people in the house/she's not in her own home. This has been sporadic and the GP could find nothing wrong initially. Over the last few days she has been particularly bad and today she is talking no sense at all. She usually comes round mid morning and is relatively ok but she is talking about being able to see a room full of people, saying she wants to go home etc.

I spoke to the GP this morning, he as already put in an urgent referral to the elderly care team with a view to getting her assessed and scanned but we are unsure how long that would take right now. He said the only other way of getting her assessed is to have her admitted to hospital which she would hate and probably make her even more confused.

I'm going over there now but can't stay over as I have my son at home (she is 30 mins away). Really not sure what to do? She sounds really bad and I wonder if any one has any advice? She is completely delirious at the moment but the GP says if she is a danger to herself I must call an ambulance. Seems extreme but not sure if she is ok on her own?

Thanks all, I spoke to the doctor at length late last night. CT scan clear so she was passed to a mental health worker who had a long chat with her. She was completely coherent and couldn't remember any episodes of confusion or hallucinations. I gave them a full run down of what has been going on.

She is having a full mental health assessment this morning which is good news. I spoke to her this morning, she's fed up but being well looked after.

@Wolfiefan

We are in the same situation. It’s awful. My mum has been sectioned. Offering a hand hold.

Thanks @Wolfiefan sorry to hear you too are in this stressful situation!

This happened to MIL. We had to really push the mental health team to get involved as they wanted to discharge her despite visual and audible hallucinations. They diagnosed extreme delirium. She saw some truly awful things and was convinced they were watching her, recording, just waiting to murder her in various ways.
It was a long slow recovery and she was prescribed antipsychotics. They said it was essentially health anxiety that got out of control. She is now back home.

I’m so glad she was coherent and able to engage with mental health services. My mum wasn’t. The crisis team struggled to get her to agree to a visit. She did. But then wouldn’t engage. She wasn’t safe and was completely paranoid and psychotic so she’s safer where she is.
But it’s frustrating. They aren’t really cracking on and getting a diagnosis and starting treatment. Daily phone calls don’t reveal much more than she’s eating.

@Wolfiefan

I’m so glad she was coherent and able to engage with mental health services. My mum wasn’t. The crisis team struggled to get her to agree to a visit. She did. But then wouldn’t engage. She wasn’t safe and was completely paranoid and psychotic so she’s safer where she is. But it’s frustrating. They aren’t really cracking on and getting a diagnosis and starting treatment. Daily phone calls don’t reveal much more than she’s eating.

Thanks @Bettysprocker that is interesting to know. Mum's anxiety has become extreme in the last few weeks which is when the delirium started to get worse. Hopefully they can help her on both issues.

sorry I quoted the wrong post!

Please keep her very hydrated

In terms of hydration. My nan had too.much fluid which caused her sodium levels to drop. She became very confused

I'm surprised she was "medically cleared" quickly enough in A&E to be referred to & accepted by the psych team - this usually takes at least 24 hrs. Sounds like your hospital is a lot more efficient than mine!

Just reread my post above & it sounds disbelieving - sorry. Didn't mean it to sound that way at all. Hope your mum gets better very soon xx

@TinnedPearsForPudding my mum went to A and E over the weekend. Straight into (took hours) a psych hold. I’m not sure if that’s efficient though or just gets her out of A and E and into a place where eventually they may medically clear her and then approach the psych issue if there is one.
I have much negative experience of the NHS. I hope I’m wrong.

@Wolfiefan psych won't (usually) accept anyone until a medical cause for their confusion / agitation has been found. In younger patients & patients with a psych history this can be relatively quick. In older patients this can take many hours as all physical causes of agitation must be excluded (and in an elderly pt, this is a very long list to be excluded). I hope your mum also recovers quickly x

They took her straight in. No tests. No med reviews. The GP has written her off as psychotic. No psych assessment. No blood tests done before. I could understand if she had a clear psych history. But she doesn’t.
@TinnedPearsForPudding

Well I've just spoken to the social care team. She's not on a MH ward yet, she is still on CDU. She's been seen by 2 psychiatrists today and they want to admit her. She has refused so she is being detained under section 2. They said she is actually ok in herself but they will not discharge her until they find out what is going on due to the severe confusion. They don't have a bed at the moment so no idea where she will end up. It is just so awful not being able to see her.

She just called me to ask me what time I was picking her up, they obviously haven't told her yet. I feel terrible, she will be so bewildered as she thought she would go home today. They said they can only treat and observe her as an in patient so this is how it has got to be. I feel sick with worry now.

She is in the right place and hopefully they will be able to work out what is going on with her soon.

My mum is also on a section 2. She’s safe and monitored and under the care of a nurse, doctor and psych too. Hope there’s good news for you soon.

You have a legal right to be consulted about any detention under S2 as nearest relative (as long as she doesn't have a living spouse and you are the eldest child)

The AMPH (social worker arranging the assessment) should call you. You can query why not treat at home if you want to. They should look at less restrictive options before detaining. They may have very good reasons but they should explain to you

@Wolfiefan

My mum is also on a section 2. She’s safe and monitored and under the care of a nurse, doctor and psych too. Hope there’s good news for you soon.

Does your mum understand what is going on @Wolfiefan? I know Mum will be calling me asking why she is not going home. I know this is the best thing really it is just the shock of the section which I guess you had too. How long has she been in? Are you talking to her on the phone?

I guess if she is refusing eg to take medication or accept visits then that would be the reason to detain

My mum isn’t coherent. She doesn’t think I’m me. I haven’t spoken to her. She doesn’t believe it’s me even when she can see me.
If you’re the next of kin they will write to you. They will set out your rights and let them know what info your mum has been given. They will tell you who is responsible for her care. We have been told we can call and talk to staff daily.

@WokeUpSmeltTheCoffee

You have a legal right to be consulted about any detention under S2 as nearest relative (as long as she doesn't have a living spouse and you are the eldest child)

The AMPH (social worker arranging the assessment) should call you. You can query why not treat at home if you want to. They should look at less restrictive options before detaining. They may have very good reasons but they should explain to you

Yes she did call me. I found it all very confusing, but as she said that as the 2 psychiatrists had recommended it, I thought that was the only option. She didn't mention treating at home. After the state she was in yesterday I'm not sure how she would be at home anyway. She would probably have to have someone with her all the time

Just spoken to my cousin who is a nurse and she said that at the moment, she would struggle to get any proper assessment or treatment if she went home plus she could refuse so admitting her is the best option. This has made me feel a bit better I guess. Large gin needed later!

That’s a great idea. I might have one too. My mum called the emergency services out for no reason in the middle of the night.
This way medical causes can be ruled in or out and a treatment and support plan can be put in place. They are safe and cared for.
Maybe a VERY large gin.

I agree with your cousin. As long as your mum is in hospital she will get the referalls and see the people she needs to see if only because they don't want her taking up one of their beds longer than is necessary. If she goes home it all becomes much harder. Is she still having the delusions, if so it's also better for the to see them rather than hear about them second hand.

You have absolutely done the correct thing and she is in the best place.

Sorry no time to read whole thread... has anyone suggested earwax build up?