OT: but a PSA anyway: Hospital Delirium

RRP

For the 25 years I have been an egger on this forum I have learned a lot. And not all has just been about BBQ foods and how to egg them, but also about life in general. Here's my OT contribution for today that I have witnessed first hand. Background: my 84 year old b-i-l was a defensive football star in college the 1960's. As a result he has now had 2 shoulders replaced, both knees, one hip replaced twice and has a pacemaker. Last night he was admitted calmly and happily for yet another knee replacement. Even at 84 he is still a strong, big man. Every time he has been in the hospital for these surgeries he goes bananas! I don't mean just upset, I mean a holy terror and has to be physically restrained and strapped to the bed frame. I used to think he was just covering up being scared, but the pattern is the same surgery after surgery. It is called Hospital Delirium and it is not uncommon in older patients. Amongst a number of reactions it can cause anger, confusion, hallucinations and just like with my b-i-l it can even be dangerous to the patient and the staff. There are other symptoms, but if you encounter similar odd behavior with an elderly loved one I encourage you to research it for yourself, as they might not just be having a bad reaction to some drug! 

GrateEggspectations

Thanks for the info, Ron. Was not aware of that, and with two aging parents and two aging in-laws, it’s a good thing to be aware of. 

Hope his procedure went well and that recovery is smooth. 

lkapigian

Speedy Recovery for your BIL !

Dobie

My mother fell, broke her hip. Had surgery and fell into this, never recovered. Its horrible. 

lousubcap

Thanks for that insight.  

fishlessman

I was sent to Dana faber for a blood test for DVT blood clot. You might  not understand how many pages I had to sign for not yelling. Insulting, stabbing, poking an eyeball,  carrying a knife, a gun. I'm 60, you get older and the news is worst or it is

Not as accepted so well

Legume

This 👆🏼 explains a lot @fishlessman

MrCookingNurse06

It’s the real deal RRP, I’m a nurse practitioner in cardiac surgery and it’s a very common and can be very dangerous complication. Have to keep people engaged and moving forward. Especially older patients, but can happen to anyone out of their element for a few days with meds and being in a weird environment. 

Hope your BIL has a quick recovery!

RRP

Update from S-i-L:  Surgery went well but still is very”confused”.  Big time la-la land.  I can’t talk to him at all. Sees clouds of bugs, a white motorcycle in the pre-op area and on & on.  After surgery, kept trying to get out of bed by moving legs—even operated one—to edge of bed where either I or a nurse stood to prevent that. Last night he was so bad at trying to get out of bed that they put him in soft wrist restraints which stayed on him all day today.  Feel sorry for the nurses as he can’t be reasoned with.  So…that’s how he is. If he were only coherent maybe it wouldn’t be so bad but it is what it is. 

bluebird66

My poor mother gets this every time she is in the hospital.

OhioEgger

Wow! I have never heard of this, but I'm glad to know about it. Thanks for the very OT but useful info.

RRP

I'm only going to bump this because being a Friday night then maybe more people will see it. BTW my b-i-l is doing fine, except that his behavior is still very erratic. Now he has been hallucinating even more today seeing nonexistent people and "calling" people on his cell phone even though his wife has it in her purse and his arms are still anchored to the bed frame! 

REB17

My father had the same exact behavior after hip surgery. Never really recovered from the anesthesia and sun downing syndrome. It was hard to handle