Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Grandads suddenly delusional

20 replies

Goofytwoshoes · 08/05/2018 13:16

My 95yr old grandad who was very much still sound of mind and body, was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Mesothelioma (asbestos related cancer), and given a couple of months to live.
He is weak and on constant oxygen and bedbound, but he wanted to come home.
The first night he came home he got out of bed in the night to go for a pee, fell over and needed 20 stitches in his arm. But once fixed up we bought him back home.
We're all sleeping from being up 12hrs on A&E, when he decides to get out of bed again, and falls down without his buzzer to alert us, and can't get up from the kitchen floor until we find him.
So back into A&E again. They want to keep him in as he is a danger to himself and needs 24hr nursing assistance.

9hrs later when we visit him in hospital, he is sitting on the edge of his bed in a diaper and nothing else. He has ripped out his cannula and oxygen mask, is refusing to eat, drink or lie down, and claims that he's in danger, that people are drugging him to make an army out of the people in the ward. That we should call police, and we aren't who we say we are cause he can't trust anyone.
We spoke to the nurses who really didn't seem too bothered and said they were giving him space to calm down, and that they cannot make him do anything or it will make him worse.
So we sat with him until weren't allowed to stay any longer.

I called this morning to see if he had improved, and they went off to check. She came back and said he is still sitting there in his diaper only, refuses clothes, food, drink and oxygen.

Now he NEEDS his oxygen, his blood oxygen levels are super low even when he has his oxygen mask on. Behaving like this is going to kill him fast.
Should we take him home? Should we ask he be sedated so we can get a drip to hydrate him in and oxygen in his lungs....?
Has this happened to anyone else, I don't know what to do! He is distressed and we are distressed.
He was mentally sound literally hours ago, and now this. I don't want him to die sooner than necessary because of this.
His long might this go in for?
Thank you

OP posts:
aladyofindeterminateage · 08/05/2018 13:18

Have they checked he doesn't have a urine infection or is dehydrated.
It sounds grim.
Couldn't he have hospice or hospice at home care?

letsdolunch321 · 08/05/2018 13:20

It could be an infection that is making him like this or the cancer could be on the move making his thinking process disturbed. I would speak one to one with the nursing staff. Explain to them he isn’t usually like this

Littlelondoner · 08/05/2018 13:28

Sounds like he may have a water infection. They play havoc with the elderlys mental health.

My grandfather went from being sound minded one minute to hallocinating aliens in the room the next.

Was heart breaking to see. So I can only imagine your pain. But insist that he gets his bloodwork done and checked for infection.

Lucky11111 · 08/05/2018 13:29

Does he have a urine infection?

I have seen UTI's often cause this kind of bizarre behaviour in otherwise normal elderly people.

A simple urine test will give you an answer.

(Ex-paramedic here)

Original poster
Goofytwoshoes · 08/05/2018 13:31

They are only 10 hospice beds in my area (apparently) and they are for people literally in their last week of life. At least that is what I was told.

He does have a chest infection along with the cancer, and he is/was on antibiotics, although I am presuming he will not take his tablets anymore either. I am leaving to go back up there in a few mins.

My first thought was dehydration, and my sister mentioned the Urine Infection to me last night when I got home.
At the time I said to the nurses he could be dehydrated..but they didn't seem to think now was the time to interfere as he has only been on the ward for 3hrs and they wanted him to settle.

OP posts:
Original poster
Goofytwoshoes · 08/05/2018 13:32

Thank you so much for your replies, I will make sure he gets a test if he hasnt already.

OP posts:
WipsGlitter · 08/05/2018 13:35

Definitely check for UTI. My mum was "away with the fairies" due to painkillers as well so it could be that.

Agree you need to make it clear to nursing staff this is unusual behaviour for him.

AnnaMagnani · 08/05/2018 13:35

A chest infection can do this as can being very low in oxygen. Mesothelioma alone can make you very low in oxygen.

I hope you both are having a better day - please make sure he is seen by the hospital palliative care team who will be able to support him and you and make sure his symptoms are managed best and give you and your family the best advise on what to do for the best.

letsdolunch321 · 08/05/2018 13:47

Another thought is speak to The McMillian nurses if you have a local one. I found these very helpful where a cancer patient was concerned.

Hugs that today your grandad is improved today

planningpartyfreak · 08/05/2018 13:49

100% urine infection needs checking. My gdad gets like this and gets them often (MS)

Shampaincharly · 08/05/2018 13:50

UTI

MrsKOBrien · 08/05/2018 16:48

Infection causes confusion in elderly people.

greathat · 08/05/2018 16:55

I was coming to say urine infection? I don't know what it is about uti's and the brains of the elderly... maybe some clever person can explain

simonisnotme · 08/05/2018 21:42

I was going to say water infection as well
my uncle thought for hours someone was going to shoot him until the antibiotics kicked in

Original poster
Goofytwoshoes · 11/05/2018 08:35

To anyone who may check back in on this subject, here is an update.
My Grandad had no sign of a urine infection, but is being treated with antibiotics anyway for the bad fall he had and the gash in his arm.

He still believes he was in the situation I described above, but thinks he has been moved away from it to a nicer place and is just afraid to go back.
So in a way that is good as we have been able to get him to sleep, eat, take meds and use oxygen.
He has reasonable days followed by bad days.
The day before yesterday he was happy and smiley, but yesterday although he was awake, he kept his eyes closed while we were there and spoke to us in a soft dreamy voice.
Poor old boy has dropped down to 8stone from 10.5stone and is wasting away.
Cancer is so cruel.
Just glad the delusions are at least under control, and he is not scared right now.
Nurses, although extremely lovely don't seem too bothered.
He wil come home in the next few days and get 24hr care.

OP posts:
Shampaincharly · 11/05/2018 13:50

Ok ; Thanks for the update!

MissTulipan · 11/05/2018 22:39

Liver damage? This can cause Hepatic Encephalopathy, this can cause confusion and delusion. My dad had this when very ill.

dot91 · 11/05/2018 23:24

Sounds like delirium my 98 year old father in law is the same

sproutsandparsnips · 11/05/2018 23:48

How very sad and difficult for you all Thanks.
My feeling is priority should always be comfort and dignity in this type of situation as far as possible.
So e.g. if refuses cannula consider whether forcing it upon him would be in best interests or whether at some point treatment might prioritise comfort ie painkillers and sedation rather than fluids and antibiotics.
Only you and hcps caring for him would have that insight.

NeeChee · 12/05/2018 08:49

When FIL had a major operation (due to cancer), they put a kind of inflatable transparent "tent" on his head to provide oxygen. He also had to wear what looked like boxing gloves to stop him pulling the tent and his tubes off. I think he was still under sedation at this point though.
As he became more lucid, he clearly didn't like the tent, and got quite upset by it.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread