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Mom was put in a regular room late last night or early this morning. She was still disoriented. In Sunday ICU visit. She said credit card stolen, and fake pharmacy drug charging a lot of money asked me to call and get money back. She knew who I was. This morning I called. She said the people there told her she was crazy and she needed to talk to a lawyer or head of the hospital. She is not crazy. She also said that I wasn't her daughter. That her daughter didn't know she was in the hospital. She had been asleep and the phone woke her when I called. She never had disorientation before. She is on pain medication. Can that cause it?

Barbara

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There's also a phenomenon called ICU psychosis. One of the nurses told me about it when my father was in ICU once.
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Barbara, you make darn sure the discharge planners at the hospital know about your mother's living conditions...like the lack of a sink in her bathroom, the fact that your brother won't pick up meds for her and that neither of them will answer the phone. Make it abundently clear to discharge that you are not going to be around setting up rehab therapists, and that your own health is taking priority right now. I wouldn't be above breaking down and sobbing, just to make it clear how draining and impossible handling your mother has become. Don't whine...CRY!
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Barbara, I have first-hand, intimate experience with ICU psychosis. I was 58 when I was in ICU for a few days. I hallucinated. I obsessed. I had delusions. I cried an entire afternoon. I tore the automated blood pressure cuff off my arm. This lasted even after I went to a regular room, and in fact for a few days after I got home.

If the medical staff thinks she will be fine, she most likely will be. Give her a little more time.

And I agree with Babalou -- make it clear that Mom is not really safe at home. And that YOU ARE NOT CAREGIVING AT THIS TIME.
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Jeannie I can second your experiences in ICU and the PTSD that followed
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MidKid, I think your husband's limited drinking ability after being on a vent was more likely from the effect on the swallowing muscles than from PTSD. Did he get any speech therapy afterwards? It might have helped his swallowing muscles regain their flexibility.
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BARBARA how is your mom doing? How are you?
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Yes. The pain meds can cause extreme disorientation and situations like you described. It's very frightening for you and her.
I would try to find out what she was given and if she has eaten and then see if there are alternatives to try. It happened to my mother in ICU. When the meds were adjusted the mental confusion was gone. It's difficult to get staff to understand sometimes because they don't realize your mom is not normally confused. I would Insist they not give her more until I could speak with the dr. I suppose it might be necessary for her to be on stronger meds depending on the pain she is in. My mother would rather hurt than be confused. I hope you are able to help her.
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Garden Artist--
He was fine once he was off the vent. He could swallow and talk just fine (never STOPPED talking :) It was the trauma of not being "in control" that got to him. They keep them in a state of semi-consciousness after a long surgery like that (20 hours) and he was only sort of aware of what was going on, but he's big (6'5" and 280 lbs) so someone that size trying to fight off the vent, the tubes, etc., I know they took good care of him and all--like I said, he did develop this phobia and he finally got over it, but it was years.

My son was in the ICU after brain surgery. This time I was allowed to stay with him. He was 21--but he wasn't on a vent, just semi paralyzed for a few days. ICU's are just scary, not-fun places to be. I DO wish they had educated my hubby better--he did not know he'd wake up there and be on a vent. He's a control freak and this was very scary.
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MidKid, I totally understand your explanation, and appreciate your offering it. Being on a vent and unable to talk can terrorize anyone. It's such a feeling of helplessness.
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Just called moms nurse. She is off the narcotics and becoming clearer.
She thinks mom just needs a little moretime and she will be fine.
I wish I didnt have negativity so deeply ingrained in me. It's making this time with mom in hospital so much harder. Its not just the confusion. Its everything.

Barbara
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