My mother was sent to the hospital because of an untreated UTI, which turned into encephalopathy. After 6 days at hospital, we decided to send her to a SNF because she was still speaking gibberish, couldn't follow a conversation, and most frighteningly, was refusing to open her eyes when she spoke (so we feared she would fall if she tried walking/getting up). The SNF was to help her with PT/OT.
We are two weeks in to her stay at SNF and while she is objectively better: no longer on antibiotics, her vitals are all "good," and she is opening her eyes and walking with assistance during PT, she is still unable to follow a conversation, stumbles her words, cannot follow reality, confuses objects for other objects, and I think is having hallucinations (last time I saw her, she confused a bag of grapes for a rabbit, and "saw" a dog under the table, there was no dog).
There has been decline these past two years, but when I took her to the hospital 3 weeks ago because of symptoms of confusion (which revealed the UTI) she could still walk on her own and for the most part, could hold a conversation for about a minute or two. Now, she can't hold a thought for more than 20-30 seconds.
Doctors have told me that encephalopathy and its confusion may take weeks to go away. Is this true? We're three weeks in now. Is this her new baseline? That is my fear...
This doesn't solve everything but the relief I feel... thank you SO MUCH for suggesting this.
I would ask that she be retested for the UTI. Some can be VERY stubborn.
The antibiotic that has been prescribed may not work on the type of bacteria. Have they cultured the specimen?
Then they know which antibiotic will work, as opposed to giving her random stuff.
Congratulations for getting the SNF to listen to you!!!!
I’m glad you got retested - but please please ask them NOT to put her back on whatever they had her on - that type of delirium is from toxic and metabolic encephalopathy and should not ever be put back on that whatever class drug they were using. I am right now treating a uti at home after literally coming home after them treating one in the hospital and sending her home after going through pure hell for 3 weeks. They sent her back home with 2 different hospital acquired bacteria’s vs the one we went in with.
I can tell you we have since used Invanz IV and now at home doing Invanz antibiotic intramuscular injections (as I do not want to treat in her in hospital setting anymore - too many screw ups- delirium is worsened and additional bacteria’s as I’m trying my hardest to treat at home with home health. The Invanz still brings on delirium because she is just vulnerable now woth the injury to her brain - but she does much better on that class antibiotic. Ask for infectious disease consult to get her on an antibiotic that she will not have such an awful toxic reaction too. I did so much research after watching what happened to my mom with encephalopathy - cephalosporins are bad for many with dementia or older or those brain injuries. Wishing you the best - keep us posted and praying for your mom 🙏🏼
One thing is they need to culture the specimen to determine the type of bacteria. Antibiotics are not a one size fits all.
She needs to have her UTI clean out from within by a trained Urologists'
My mother had Chronic UTI but this doctor saved her life.
Now 3 years later, dementia has set in and its frustrating for all.
I am ready to leap off my balcony but I only live on the second floor condo.
Would love to talk more with you. I thought I was the only one going through this.
We love our mothers but gee ... how much more can I take of this insanity.
My mother is a whole new person and she is 91. There are also gratitude seals there and we honour you seals ... your way of saying how much you love them.
They have a great music video where they include your mom in the song in the first 24 seconds with photos. They love it - heart warming!
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