Underwood,
Do you know for certain that all the possible causes of your Father's delirium have been investigated? Just a thought!
Quote:
The most common causes of delirium are:
•a urine or chest infection
•having a high temperature
•side-effects of medicine like pain killers and steroids
•dehydration, low salt levels, low haemoglobin (anaemia)
•liver or kidney problems
•suddenly stopping drugs or alcohol
•major surgery
•epilepsy
•brain injury or infection
•terminal illness
•constipation
•being in an unfamiliar place.
There is often more than one cause – and sometimes the cause is not found.
How is delirium treated?
To treat delirium, you need to treat the cause. For example, an infection may be treated with antibiotics.
Can sedative medication (tranquillisers) help?
Sedatives can make delirium worse, so should only be used in a few situations:
•When someone who drinks a lot of alcohol stops suddenly, they will need a regular dose of a sedative medication (benzodiazepines) that is reduced over several days. This will stop withdrawal symptoms, but should be done under close medical supervision.
•To calm someone enough to have investigations or treatment.
•To stop someone endangering themselves or other people.
•When someone is very agitated or anxious.
•When someone is seeing or hearing things that are not there.
Low doses of antipsychotic medication should be given to help with frightening hallucinations or beliefs that people are trying to harm you.
Any sedative medication should be given in the lowest possible dose for the shortest time possible.
How long does it take to get better?
Delirium gets better when the cause is treated. You can recover very quickly, but it can take several days or weeks.
In a whirl, Thank you so much for that! - Mys father has high and low temperatures, he had and may possibly still have a urine infection, he is presently on high dose paracetamol x 3/4 x per day (this as far as I understand is an opiate and not good for his condition) He is dehydrated, in that when we saw him last he drank quite quickly 3 cups of tea, had we not been there I doubt these would have been offered.
Re liver kidneys - My father had a fall in the bath in June and really hurt himself, he called for help but no one heard him. He managed to get up but complained he wasn't feeling well, my mother after the 'big fall' said he had been deteriorating but 'that's what they do' 'Meybe I should have taken him to the doctors but 'that's what happens to people like that'.
Drugs not sure of
Major surgery, yes, the really worst possible fracture of the hip.
Epilepsy - no
Brain injury - really possible - Fell down the stairs and knocked his head. - In a new 'high tech best of the best hospitals and fell knocking his head' - Another hospital fell and knocked his head. - I weny ballistic (which will not suprise some who are watching this thread) and demanded to know if a brain scan had been done on admittance and if a brain scan had been done after the 2 falls - It hadn't, but it was, there was no indication of shadowing, or bleed or brain damage, there was a polyp on the brain but this was said not to be a problem and certainly wouldn't cause the delirium.
Terminal illness - no - My father had TB when young and that is seen on the lung Xrays but no indication of anything else.
Constipation - Yes, they stopped exercising and he ws put on laxatives as a result.
Being in an unfamiliar place - Yep since the end of June he has now been in 4 different places.
Calming - He cannot be calmed he is in hell and wants out.
Agitated - All the time, he shouldn't be there, he knows it I know it. (rephrase we know it!)
Delirium - We were told it could take months!
In a whirl, thank you so much for your post. Really grateful you've read mine and realise there is more to this than just dementia. Thank you!
HOWEVER and I appologise if I have skirted through your questions, but I had a fall today took cocodomol and had a glass of wine (I know really bad idea, but I did it, so sue me!). Anyway tried to speak to my father tonight, but the care home nurse was upstairs and my father was downstairs having supper. I said I would call back 30 mins later. BUT having done this before and been told my father was in bed, I called 22 mins later. In that time of having supper, he had been showered, creamed, dressed/ undressed and was now fast asleep. - Naturally everything I do is taped, and the nurse confirmed that this is exactly what happened. MY question is, how is that possible???
Sorry in a whirl, but am in a whirl myself, I cannot understand how this can happen in under 15 minutes.
But my father I am 95% sure stll has delirium!!
I was on the up today and after trying to speak to him I just wish I'd taken more cocodamol to ease this pain I am feeling for him.
In a whirl. If any of the above is offensive I genuinely am sorry - If anyone else takes it as abusive, derogatory or offensive I apologise profusely. Having a bad day!!!