Any experiences of Delirium ?

[MrsCarmelaSoprano]

My mum has this at the moment and is in hospital, she is hallucinating and so, so frightened of... everything. It's absolutely heartbreaking. We're on week two of it now. Hard to see how it will resolve.

They did the lot plus had a week of antibiotics just in case.

That's good.

It's so hard to support someone through that, isn't it? I really feel for you. My mum had delirium about 18 months ago after a serious emergency open-heart surgery op, and she was unwell for many weeks, many of them delirious. There is something about hospital: the lack of natural light, constant noise, lack of sleep, strange faces you don't know which keep changing every shift, coupled with medical reasons like infection etc which seems to be the perfect storm for creating delirium in older patients. It must be so frightening for them. I spoke to my mum about it once she was recovered and she said it's hard to explain when you are in it, thoughts feel like facts. And she forgot a lot of the worst of it. She was refusing treatment, meds, attacking nurses who tried to intervene. It was very frightening to witness and kind of broke my heart. She thought I wasn't real and was a figment of her imagination planted there by demonic beings and tried to exorcise me. :(
It does get better, but brace yourself that it might take a month or so and her leaving hospital (whenever that is) will help a lot. In the meantime, photos of family, a clock for bedside so they know what time it is, familiar things from home and a steady calming presence (which you are already doing) will help a good deal. Let yourself cry if you need to, and if you have someone to give you a hug, take the hug. 💐

Actually, I will double check on that tomorrow just in case.

That's very reassuring. I took the clock off her wall as it kept the wrong time and she didn't like it at all I will take in her bedside clock, also her crochet blanket which she always had on her bed. She's refusing meds sometimes too. She is very frightened of the phone so I've put her mobile away and she doesn't think it's me when I phone so I'm stopping that.

Fortunately she had 2 windows in her room, it's really pleasant, so lots of natural light.

Today was a day of two halves ,she was in the bathroom when I arrived which was amazing as she couldn't have left the room yesterday.

She was horrified at my face and kept asking what on earth was wrong with it?!

She tolerated looking at my phone as I was showing her photos and we very briefly face timed my sister and she waved to her.

The rest of the time was her asking me where she was and saying she doesn't understand, crying and waiting and asking me to get her out of there.

It was a lot. I came home and cried my eyes out but have had something to eat and will watch some telly and have an early night and hope tomorrow is better.

My relative had delirium after an operation. It was very difficult for everyone involved. I think he was dehydrated but suspicious of the drinks he was being given so wouldn't drink them. Refusing to take meds and kept pulling out the cannula so difficult to treat. Eventually everything sorted itself out he pretty much went back to normal after 10 days (ish).

One thing you might want to look up is Capgras syndrome - tips on how to cope with it. It doesn't sound exactly like what you have described, but your mum struggling with faces and not thinking it is you on the phone reminded me of it. Maybe there's some ideas on how to calm her worries.

Hope your mum is better soon

Thank you, that reassuring and I'll look it up.

I slept really well last night so feel a bit stronger today. Let's see what today brings.

Turned a bit of a corner today, horrendous morning and I took myself off to the loo and cried and cried then this afternoon it was like she suddenly woke up and she was back in the room. I wheeled her out into the garden ,she ate all her dinner ,kissed me good bye and just smiled and smiled.

She might have to go into a nursing home before coming home apparently but we'll see what happens. One day at a time.

Just an update in case it's useful for anyone else I'm a similar situation. Things took a nosedive after my last post and they started her on a low dose of Olanzipine as she was getting really paranoid. It worked like an absolute charm and when I visited today she was sitting up texting and friend and sorting out her bills on line just like normal. It's been such a tough month and the specialist said it's rare to see someone with it so severely and for so long so I'm very relieved it's finally lifting. Working towards discharge but they don't seem to be in a hurry which is good.

sounds like a horrendously tough time. X