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Thank you so much for your kind words, and sharing your experiences. I gave my mom and Azo UTI test today and it did come up positive. I called the PCP and she will see her tomorrow for a urine test.

Mom is only 72, a fantastic person and a wonderful mother. I'm hoping for the best. She has since stop crying and freaking out, and now she's starting to enjoy my animals. I have three cats a dog and my neighbor's white duck comes over every day for a visit. LOL. Whatever makes her smile. 

Yes I will definitely get her into a  geriatric physicians care. I would feel much better if someone were overseeing her meds especially now that anti-depressants and anti-anxiety meds have been added. Thanks again!
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Yes UTIs can case bizarre behavior. While you’re waiting on doctor appts give her a home AZO UTI test. They’re not 100% accurate but can give you an indication if she has a UTI along with the other issues. If positive I would recommend calling the Dr immediately for a office test.
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I am 60 and I don't have any physical ailments. We had a tragic loss in the family last year, also involving small children half orphaned, and I found myself doing things I had never done before, like forgetting a friend's mother was dead, locking my keys in the trunk and leaving the water on in the kitchen with the sink stopper in. (What a mess!) It went on for months and my husband was getting very concerned about me. If you combine grief with untreated diabetes and what sounds like depression (matted hair, dirty) you might mistake it for dementia.

Sounds like you are doing everything you can do. I agree with the caveat that medications...especially psych meds...can cause unusual side effects. If your mom is elderly, it might be good to have a geriatrician or geriatric psychiatrist overseeing her medications.
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My mother had a UTI while she had dementia. It made several of her dementia symptoms much worse. She was very confused. But she wound up in the ER within a week of the symptoms starting. I can't imagine how it could go on for months!

I recently had a UTI. I am not cognitively impaired, but I sure felt like it then. Brain fog, confusion, slow to comprehend what was being said to me, falls several times a day, auditory hallucinations. The culture for a UTI takes a few days. I did not drive during this period. I had an e-coli infection, and when it cleared up so did the symptoms!

It sounds like you are doing a great job getting to the bottom of this, and rescuing mom. I hope it is something that can be cured quickly. And if it isn't, your mom is certainly lucky to have you looking after her!

One other thought. After my husband died I expected to feel sad, perhaps to cry easily, to be emotional. Instead I became very forgetful and confused. I tried to pay for my groceries with my library card, for example. I was seeing a psychiatrist and a psychologist for different issues at that time and both of them assured me I was not permanently cognitively impaired. Having cognitive problems as part of mourning is not typical, but it does happen and it is as normal as any kind mourning. I am glad you have included grief counseling on your list of ways to help Mom. Is is indeed lucky to have you.
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Dear Pepsee,

I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of your sister-in-law. I can imagine its been very hard on your mom and the whole family.

From what I understand it could be a UTI, but my other concerns would be side effects of any new or existing medications? Everyone reacts to medications so differently. It could be that grief coupled with the diabetes could be the bulk of it, but maybe there could be something else. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, undiagnosed vascular dementia. I hope the blood work and talking to the grief therapist will shed some light.
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